The tanarukk captain called Ruinfist leaned on his huge greataxe； spattered with the foul juices of the creature。 The orc…demon's left hand had been mangled in some battle long before； and was encased in a locked battle…gauntlet that served as a better weapon than the damaged hand it covered。
〃The warriors heard it moving in the rock；〃 Ruinfist continued； 〃but it came through the ceiling and dropped on them。〃
〃I didn't bring you here to slay mindless worms；〃 Kaanyr said。 〃Nor did I bring warriors to this spot to feed whatever monster happens by。 This was a battle best avoided； Ruinfist。 These seven warriors won't be with us when we meet the dark elves； will they？〃
〃No； my lord；〃 the tanarukk growled。 He lowered his head。 〃I will tell the patrol leaders to do what they can to avoid needless battles。〃
〃Good；〃 said Kaanyr。 He offered the tanarukk a hard grin and clapped the creature on the shoulder。 〃Save your axes for the drow； Ruinfist。 We'll be on them soon enough。〃
A hungry light flared in the tanarukk's eyes； and the demon…orc raised his tusked jaw again。 He growled in assent and trotted off to go find his fellow captains。
〃You did not discipline him？〃 Aliisza asked； slinking out of the shadows。 〃Mercy is not a quality I am accustomed to in you； love。〃
The cambion lord turned at her approach。
〃Sometimes；〃 he replied； 〃one soft word serves the purpose of two hard ones。 Knowing which to choose and when is the art of leadership。〃 Kaanyr nudged one of his dead warriors with his toe； and smiled。 〃Besides； how can I take offense at a show of the very fighting spirit I've worked so hard to instill in my Scoured Legion？ It's the nature of a tanarukk to throw himself into battle and bring down his foe or die trying。〃
Aliisza looked at the purple worm and shuddered。
〃I think that's the biggest worm I've ever seen；〃 she murmured。
The half…demon's seat of power in the ruins of ancient Ammarindar was the better part of two hundred and fifty miles southeast of Menzoberranzan； and the Darklake was an obstacle in their path。 Fortunately； tanarukks were fast； hearty； and could endure swift marches with few supplies。 The dwarves of ancient Ammarindar had carved great subterranean highways through their realm； broad； smooth…floored tunnels that ran for mile after mile through the endless gloom。 Kaanyr was somewhat disconcerted to think that the tremendous cavern of the Darklake lay somewhere a mile or two beneath his feet； but the old dwarven road offered far and away their best route to the environs of Menzoberranzan。 If the road happened to be plagued by hungry monsters； well； any other route would have problems of its own。
He shook himself from his reflections and started to walk back toward the long file of his warriors； streaming past the scene of the battle in a ragged double…column。
〃So； tell me again about this Nimor；〃 Kaanyr said。 〃I can easily understand Horgar Steelshadow's motive in mustering this attack。 The gray dwarves and the dark elves have fought many wars over the centuries。 What I don't understand is what's in it for a drow assassin？〃
〃As best I can tell；〃 Aliisza replied； 〃he hates the great Houses of Menzoberranzan enough that he'll destroy the city in order to bring about their fall。〃
〃Such a purity of intent is rare in a dark elf。 You know he's lied to you； of course。〃
Kaanyr suspected； as always； that Aliisza was holding something of her encounter with Nimor to herself。 After all； she was an alu…fiend； the daughter of a succubus； and her weapons and methods were obvious。
〃Lied？〃 she quipped。 〃To me？〃
〃I merely point out that that one should beware of dark elves bearing gifts；〃 Kaanyr replied。 〃He might have convinced you it was in my best interest to bring my army here； but I don't believe for a heartbeat that your mysterious assassin doesn't have more to gain from this alliance than I do。〃
〃That goes without saying； doesn't it？〃 she said。 〃If you see that； why did you agree to bring your army to the Pillars of Woe？〃
〃Because something is going to happen there；〃 Kaanyr said。 〃My ambitions have reached the borders of old Ammarindar； and I don't care to arrest them there。〃
The cambion watched his fierce warriors marching by； staring past them to the dark visions that enthralled him。
〃We'll be approaching from above and to the east；〃 Kaanyr said； 〃perfectly positioned to flank a force trying to hold the Pillars against the approach of Gracklstugh's army。 On the surface； that is why Horgar Steelshadow and his drow assassin want us there。 It might suit their purposes to sit in the gorge a few days and let the drow decimate my soldiers before they attempt to force the pass。 Being on the same side of an obstacle as our enemies carries a liability； as well as an opportunity。 I wouldn't put it past Horgar to manufacture some excuse for a delay in order to let my tanarukks handle the brunt of the fighting。〃
Aliisza cozied up beside him and purred； 〃Until the battle is joined； love； you haven't chosen sides。 The dark elves might pay； and pay well； for your assistance at a critical juncture of the campaign。 Even if that assistance takes the form of simply not doing anything to aid the gray dwarves in their attack。〃
Kaanyr Vhok bared his pointed teeth in a wry smile。
〃There is that；〃 he admitted。 〃All right； then。 We'll see what happens when the Pillars of Woe stand before us。〃
Halisstra was marched for several miles through the forest； gagged； hooded； her hands manacled behind her。 The surface elves had healed the wound in her calf in order to keep her from slowing them down； but the rest of her injuries they didn't bother to tend。 While they'd removed her mail and shield； they did permit her to keep her arming jacket against the cold night air…after searching carefully to make sure they didn't miss any hidden weapons or magical devices。
Eventually they reached a place where the forest floor underfoot gave way to stone； and she could hear the whispers and rustles of a number of people around her。 The air grew warmer； and sullen firelight penetrated the hood over her eyes。
〃Lord Dessaer；〃 a voice close by said； 〃the captive Hurmaendyr spoke of！〃
〃So I see。 Remove her hood。 I would look on her face；〃 said a deep； thoughtful voice from somewhere ahead of her。
Her captors removed the hood； leaving Halisstra squinting in the bright light of an elegant hall made of gleaming silver…hued wood。 Flowering vines wound along posts and beams； and a fire glowed to one side in a large hearth。 Several pale elves watched her carefully…apparently guards of some kind； dressed in silver…hued scale mail with polearms and swords at their hips。
Lord Dessaer was a tall half…elf with golden hair and pale skin with a faint bronze hue to it。 He was well…muscled for a male； nearly as big as Ryld； and he wore a breastplate of gleaming gold with noble accoutrements。
〃Remove her gag； too；〃 the elf lord said。 〃She'll have little to say otherwise。〃
〃Careful； my lord；〃 spoke the captor beside her； whom Halisstra saw was the black…bearded human she'd fought in the forest。 〃She knows something of the bard's arts； and may be able to speak a spell with her hands bound。〃
〃I will exercise all due caution； Curnil。〃 The lord of the hall moved closer； gazing thoughtfully into Halisstra's blood…red eyes； and said； 〃So； what shall we call you？〃
Halisstra stood mute。
〃Are you Auzkovyn or Jaelre？〃 Dessaer asked。
〃I am not of House Jaelre；〃 she said。 〃I do not know of the other House you name。〃
Lord Dessaer exchanged a worried glance with his advisors。
〃You belong to a third faction； then？〃
〃I was traveling with a small pany； on a trade mission；〃 she replied。 〃We sought no trouble with surface dwellers。〃
〃A drow's word is regarded with some skepticism in these lands；〃 Dessaer replied。 〃If you're not Auzkovyn or Jaelre； then what was your business in Cormanthor？〃
〃As I said； it was a trade mission；〃 Halisstra lied。
〃Indeed；〃 drawled Dessaer。 〃Cormanthor was not entirely abandon