mple tavern brawl。
Tathlyn and his other two friends saw their chance and rushed in。 Ryld knew that he didn't have time to pull the embedded short sword out of his victim's flesh。 If he tried； his other enemies would have him。 He cloaked the wounded Godeep in a ragged bulb of darkness and shoved him at the others。
Ryld couldn't see through the obscuring field any more than his adversaries could； but； peering around the edges of it； he saw the wounded Godeep reel into his fellows and stagger them； startle them； too； with the sudden； unexpected impediment to their sight。 That gave the weapons master the time he needed to whirl； take in the obstructive clutter of furniture and gawking sava players before him； and leap up onto the table where his own game sat waiting。 His racing feet annihilated the snare he'd so cunningly laid for the merchant； hurling the pieces rattling across the board and onto the floor。
He jumped down on the other side； grabbed Splitter； and spun back around to face his enemies。 In one smooth blur of motion； he yanked this most trusted of all his weapons from its scabbard and came on guard。 Despite its hugeness； the great sword was so perfectly balanced that it felt as light as a dagger in his grasp。
He noticed that the nonbatants in the taproom had begun shouting encouragement and insults at the fighters。 A couple quickthinking gamblers were giving odds。
Ryld's three remaining adversaries manhandled their shadowshrouded kinsman out of their way and stalked forward； manifestly hoping to pin the fencing teacher against the wall。 The one on the left hung back a bit； none too eager； but he didn't look as if he'd actually turn and run unless Tathlyn told him to； or else he saw the weapons master himself go down under Splitter's razor edge。
Ryld had no intention of letting himself be trapped。 He moved away from the wall the same way he'd moved up to it； springing onto the table and charging across。
When he reached the far edge； he discovered a rapier poised to skewer him in the vitals when he plunged off。 The Godeep on the other end of the blade—the bolder of Tathlyn's two kinsmen—was quick； and he'd conceived a pretty good tactic。 Ryld's impetus was such that he probably wouldn't have been able to stop himself from hurtling right onto the Godeep's point。
But he could whirl Splitter through a sweeping lowline parry。 The great sword clanked into the other male's lighter blade and snapped the last six inches off。
Ryld jumped down almost on top of the rapier fighter； so close it would require a moment to bring Splitter's blade to bear； a moment that the other Godeeps might turn to good advantage。 Instead； the weapons master bashed the great sword's heavy steel ball of a pommel into the center of the rapierwielder's forehead。 The impact thudded； and the male fell backward。
Something clacked hard but harmlessly against Ryld's breastplate。 He glanced down and saw that one of the spectators； someone who'd bet on his opponents； perhaps； had shot a hand crossbow at him—but the weapons master didn't have time to look for the culprit。 He had to pivot to fend off his fellow swordsmen。
Predictably； Tathlyn was in the lead。 Ryld cut at the weapons master's head； and his erstwhile student instantly backpedaled； retreating just far enough to avoid the stroke。 He'd learned good footwork somewhere along the way； better than Ryld remembered。
Slipping in and out of the distance； Tathlyn feinted and invited； putting on a show。 Meanwhile； the other Godeep； the wary one； circled； trying to get behind Ryld。
The weapons master allowed the boy to creep part way round to his flank； then he sprang at Tathlyn and cut wildly； seemingly offbalance and over mitted to the attack。
The other Godeep had Ryld's back； at a moment when the teacher looked entirely incapable of turning and defending。 Reluctant or not； the boy couldn't pass up such an opportunity。 He charged。
Ryld whirled； bringing Splitter around in a sweeping horizontal stroke。 The greatsword with its superior length struck one step before the Godeep would have initiated his own attack。 Thanks to Ryld's deftness； the huge； preternaturally sharp blade merely gashed the boy's wrist instead of lopping off his hand。 The petty noble dropped his broadsword； then had the bad judgment to reach for his dagger。 The weapons master slashed his leg； tumbling him to the floor。
Ryld knew that by spinning to attack the one Godeep； he had given his back to Tathlyn； who was surely driving in to kill him。 The teacher whirled back around。 Sure enough； Tathlyn had rushed into the distance and was cutting at his head。 Ryld parried with Splitter's edge； hoping to snap the Godeep weapons master's long sword as he had the rapier。 The crimson blade struck the great sword on the forte； just above the parrying hook； rang； and rebounded； still in one piece。 It was made of good metal； Ryld thought； well fed； with strengthening enchantments woven in。
But its virtues alone couldn't save its master。 Ryld feinted low to draw the red sword down； then cut high。 Splitter sliced Tathlyn's brow； and blood poured into the Godeep weapons master's eyes。 He reeled backward。
Ryld could tell that none of his adversaries had any fight left in them。 He turned once more； surveying the room。 Whoever had shot him； the fellow had prudently put his hand crossbow away。
〃Nicely done；〃 said Pharaun； lounging； goblet in hand； by the bar。
〃How long have you been there？〃 Ryld replied； walking to retrieve his short sword。 Its victim had pulled it free and left it on the floor。 〃You could have helped me。〃
〃I was too busy wagering on you。〃 The wizard held out his purse； and grumbling losers dropped coins into it。 〃I knew you wouldn't need help against a couple drunks。〃
Ryld grunted； wiped his weapons on a handy bar rag； and asked； 〃Do you want that red sword？ It's a good weapon。 Maybe a Godeep family heirloom。〃
Pharaun grinned。 〃Which would mean they acquired it when； last tenday？ No； thank you anyway； but what would a spell caster do with it？ Besides； I wouldn't want the weight to stretch and chafe my clothes。〃
〃Suit yourself。〃
The Master of Sorcere sauntered up to Ryld； then spoke far more softly。 〃Are you about ready to go？ I'd just as soon take my leave before Nym wanders downstairs。〃
Ryld wondered what mischief his friend had mitted。 〃Almost；〃 he said。 〃Give Nym something to pay for the cleanup。〃
The warrior walked to the sava tables； retrieved Splitter's scabbard and his own winnings； then looked around for the trader。 The boy had made a hasty withdrawal from the table the instant the fight began； but he hadn't gone far。 Most every drow had a taste for blood sport。
Ryld tossed him a gold coin with the Baenre emblem stamped on it。 〃Here are your winnings。〃
The young merchant looked puzzled。 Perhaps the drink was to blame。
〃If a player disturbs the arrangement of the board； he loses；〃 Ryld explained。 〃It's in the rules。〃
*
〃It was gratifying to e upstairs and observe you handling our confidential inquiries with your usual light touch；〃 Pharaun said。
He paused to let a float chest； attended by a dark elf merchant and six hulking bugbear slaves； drift across the lane。 The stone box looked like a sarcophagus。 Maybe it was。 In the Bazaar； a shopper could purchase nearly anything； including cadavers and mummies once embalmed with strange spices and laid to rest with mystic rites。 Indeed； such wares were available either whole or by the desiccated piece。
〃It wasn't my fault；〃 Ryld replied。 〃I did nothing to provoke that fight。〃 He hesitated。 〃Well； perhaps I was a bit brusque when the Godeeps first stalked up to the table。〃
〃You？ Never〃
〃Spare me your japes。 Why do we have to question people anyway？〃 The Master of MeleeMagthere ducked beneath the corner of a lowhanging rothehide awning and added； 〃You ought to be able to look in a scrying pool and find the runaways。〃
Pharaun smiled。 〃Where would be the fun in that？ Now seriously； why did the Godeeps take exception to your no doubt impeccably subtle questions in the first place？ Were they in league with the rogues？〃
〃I don't think they knew anything。 I think they were merely sympathetic to the idea of eloping and generally in a foul mood。 It looked as if one of the females in House Godeep had disciplined them with her fists or a cudgel； and they only needed an excuse to try and take their resentment out on someone。〃
〃This hypothetical priestess beat the House weapons master as if he were a thrall； or at best； the least useful of her male kin？ Doesn't that strike you as odd？〃
〃Now that you mention it； somewhat。〃
〃The Jewel Box was unusually crowded today as well。〃
Pharaun noticed a blindfolded orc juggling daggers for the amusement of the crowd and paused for a moment to watch the show。 Ryld heaved a sigh； signaling his impatience at the interruption in their deliberations。
The wizard counted five sharp knives； which the slave's scarred hands caught and tossed with flawless accuracy。 A laudable performance； even if it lacked a certain elan。 Pharaun tossed a coin to the orc's owner； then strolled on。 Ryld tramped along beside him。
〃So；〃 said the weapons master； 〃Tathlyn gets a thrashing； the brothel enjoys a glut of patrons； and you see a connection。 What？〃
〃What if all those boys endured a beating； or at least some sort of unpleasantness； at the hands of their female relations？ What if that's the reason they flocked to their sad little sanctuary； to lie low； lick their wounds； and kick around one of Nym's captives in their turn？〃
Ryld frowned； pondering the notion。 〃You're guessing that priestesses in a diversity of Houses have grown more harsh and unreasonable。 Obviously； that could provoke a spate of runaway males； but what could make the dispositions of all those priestesses curdle in unison？〃
〃I have a hunch that when we figure that out； we'll be getting somewhere。〃
The two masters circled around a colossal snail pulling a dozenwheeled cart。 The creature's mouth opened into an O and Pharaun—who had once only narrowly survived an encounter with such a giant mollusk in the wild—nearly sacrificed his dignity by flinching； even though he knew this particular specimen had undoubtedly been divested of its ability to spew a caustic sludge。 Sure enough； nothing fl