The space still framed the spirit； and as far as Gromph could see； the shadowy thing was unharmed。 Darting and wheeling through curtains of pale phosphorescence； it was casting about in the bent spaces surrounding the stronghold。
Gromph didn't see how the creature could find him。 Nothing could locate a refuge hidden in a haze of scrambled time； not without the tenant in some way guiding it in。 Nonetheless； the wizard hurried into one of the protective golden pentacles adorning the marble floor。
An instant later； a different window burst inward； the casements flying from their hinges。 The spirit flowed through； in the process resuming the form it had worn before Gromph transformed it into the semblance of a kind of demon。 It somewhat resembled a wingless dragon with long； taurine horns sweeping from its head； which also possessed a single globular eye。 The Archmage couldn't actually see the orb—it was one with the inky shadow of the spirit's body—but he could feel its baleful regard。
Slightly anxious and uncertain； and all the angrier for it； Gromph shouted； 〃K'rarza'q〃
The netherspirit released a humid stink that somehow conveyed the essence of scornful laughter； then it bounded forward。
Very well； Gromph thought； have it your way。
He thrust the curved blade of his ritual dagger into his belly。
As he'd expected； the creature floundered in agony； but only for an instant。 Anguish erupted in the Archmage's own stomach。 He yanked the athame out of his flesh an instant before it would have dealt him an actual wound。
K'rarza'q lunged。 Ignoring the residual pain in his gut； Gromph recited a brief incantation and thrust out his arm。 The air rang like a bell； and a little red ball of fire shot from his hand。 It struck the creature and 。 。 。 nothing。 The missile winked out of existence。
The entity reached the edge of the pentacle。 A barrier of azure light sprang up and vanished with a tortured whine as the spirit drove though。 The creature dipped its head and jerked it upward； ramming the tip of one of its horns into Gromph's chest。
The spirit was entirely solid。 If not for the Robes of the Archmage and his other protections； the long blade of shadow stuff would surely have impaled Gromph。 As it was； it picked him up and tossed him across the room。 In midair； he strained to throw off the numbing shock and activate the powers of levitation in his House insignia。
The power woke with a sort of sickening pang； but wake it did。 He floated down as light as a wisp of spider silk； avoiding what might have been a boneshattering fall。
As soon as he got his feet under him； he snatched a polished wooden wand from its sheath on his left hip； pointed it； and murmured the trigger word。 A bubble of pungent brown acid swelled on the end； then hurtled at the spirit。 It plunged into the being's cyclopean mask； but apparently without inflicting any harm。
The spirit charged。 Gromph stood in place until his foe was nearly on top of him； then he spoke a single word。 A minor teleportation shifted him instantaneously to the other end of the circular room； behind his attacker's back。
K'rarza'q skidded to a halt and cast about in confusion。 Gromph had bought himself a second； no more。 He quickly dropped the wand of acid； snatched a spiralcut staff of polished carnelian from its place on a rack of wizard's tools； lifted it over his head； and began to chant。 The rod possessed special virtues against beings from other levels of reality。 Perhaps with it in his hand； he could finally drive a spell through his foe's defenses。
The netherspirit heard his voice； turned； and hurtled toward him。 This time it charged without moving its limbs； simply shifting over the distance with terrifying speed。 Preserving the cadence and intonation as only a master wizard could； Gromph picked up the pace of his incantation。 He very much wanted to finish before the creature closed with him again。
He succeeded； though only barely。 K'rarza'q was nearly within arm's reach when the magic blazed into existence。 A lance of dazzling glare plunged into the nether spirit’s eye。
The reeking creature dropped to the floor； its substance unraveling into shapeless clumps and tatters。 Gromph smiled； and a dozen strands of spiritstuff reared up at him like the vipers in his cursed sister's whip。
The Archmage gripped the scarlet staff with both hands； just as a Master of MeleeMagthere had taught him centuries before； during the six months every student mage was obliged to spend in the warriors' pyramid。 Wielding the implement like a mon spear； he thrust one end of it into what seemed to be K'rarza'q's ragged； squirming core。
The netherspirit burst into inert flecks of grayblack slime。 Gromph's protective enchantments prevented any of the splatter from fouling his own person。
He felt a certain satisfaction at his victory； but it withered quickly because he hadn't killed the object of his hatred； merely preserved himself from the result of another failed attempt； and in the process discovered he'd utterly failed to prehend Quenthel's resources and capacities。
What was that bone wand？ Where had it e from； and how did it work？ Had it merely broken his own control； or had it summarily placed his minion under his enemy's dominance？
He glumly concluded that until he knew more； it would be foolish to continue attacking a foe seemingly capable of turning his own potent wizardry against him。
So he'd break off hostilities。
And； he thought； with a sudden pang of uneasiness； hope his sister didn't guess who'd engineered her recent perils。
Chapter
S E V E N T E E N
All the undercreatures gawked when Pharaun and Ryld strolled into the cellar； and why not？ The mage doubted this foul little drinking pit had ever seen such an elegant figure as himself； an aristocrat of graceful carriage； exquisite ornaments； dress； and coiffure 。 。 。 well； he hoped that； after some emergency adjustments； his hair was at least passable。
In any case； it was plain the goblins； ores； and whatevers had little interest in aesthetic appreciation。 They whispered； glowered； and fingered their weapons whenever they thought the two dark elves weren't looking at them； and the fear and hate in the sweltering； lowceilinged room were palpable。 Pharaun supposed that considering what Greyanna and her hunters had wrought in the Braeryn the previous night； a measure of surliness was； if not good form； at least understandable。
He wondered how they'd react if they discovered his sister had slaughtered their fellows by the score merely to create an opportunity to kill him。 Perhaps it was a question best left in the realm of the hypothetical。
Knowing that Ryld was watching his back； the Master of Sorcere sauntered to the bar and； with a sweep of his arm； scattered clattering coins across it。 The currency was the usual miscellany encountered in Menzoberranzan—rounds； squares； triangles； rings； spiders； and octagons— half of it minted by the dozen or so greatest noble Houses and the rest imported from other lands in the Underdark and even the World Above。 It was all silver； platinum； or gold； though； more precious metal than this squalid hole probably saw in a decade。
〃Tonight；〃 Pharaun announced； 〃this pany of boon panions drinks at my expense〃
The taverner； a squat ore with a twisted； oozing mouth and a mangy scalp； stared for a heartbeat or two； scooped up the coins； and began dipping some foulsmelling brew from a filthy tub。 Cursing and threatening one another； the rest of the undercreatures shoved forward to get it。 The wizard noted that no one thanked him。
After looking around for another moment； Pharaun spotted another dark elf slouched in a corner； evidently one of the wretches who'd sunk so low the goblinoids accepted him as one of their own。
〃e here； my friend；〃 the wizard beckoned。
The outcast flinched。 〃Me？〃
〃Yes。 What's your name？〃
The fellow hesitated； then said； 〃Bruherd； once of House Duskryn。〃
〃Indeed； until your noble kin kicked you out。 We have much in mon； Bruherd； for I myself am outcast twice over。 Now e advise me on a matter of vital importance。〃
〃I'm； uh； all right where I am。〃
〃I know you don't mean to be unsociable；〃 said Pharaun； setting blue sparks dancing on his fingertips。
The Duskryn sighed； and； limping in a manner that betrayed some chronic pain； did as Pharaun had bade him。 He was gaunt； and half a dozen boils studded his neck and jaw。 He'd evidently parted with his piwafwi at some point during his decline； but he still wore a filthy robe that； the Mizzrym noted with mild surprise； had once been a wizard's。 With the aid of the silver ring； he could see that the dozens of pockets no longer held the slightest trace of magic。
〃They may kill me for this；〃 Bruherd said； subtly indicating the goblins。
〃They only tolerate me because they believe me cut off from my own race。〃
〃I'll pray for your welfare；〃 Pharaun said。 〃Meanwhile； what I need to know is this： Of all the libations laid up in our host's no doubt vast and wellstocked cellar； which is the least vile？〃
〃Vile？〃 Bruherd's lip twitched。 〃You get used to them。〃
〃One hopes not。〃
Pharaun handed the other drow a gold； hammershaped coin minted in some dwarf enclave。
〃Tell the barkeep you want the stuff that bubbles；〃 Bruherd advised。
'The stuff that bubbles。' Charming。 Clearly； I've fallen among connoisseurs。〃
〃It'll do；〃 said Ryld； still unobtrusively studying the crowd。 〃The important thing is that we toast our victory。〃
Pharaun waited a beat； then chuckled。 〃You're supposed to ask him what he's talking about；〃 he said to Bruherd； 〃thus affording us a graceful way to mence boasting of our triumph。〃
The lip twitched again。 〃I don't think much about victories or triumphs anymore。〃
Pharaun shook his head。 〃So much bitterness in the world It weighs on the heart。 Would it cheer you to learn I've avenged us in some small measure？〃
〃Us？〃 Bruherd grunted。
Across the room； a scuffle erupted between a shaggy hobgoblin and a wolffaced gnoll。 As the batants rolled about the floor； somebody tossed them a knife； apparently just out of curiosity as to which would manage to grab it first。
〃Hark to the glad tidings；〃 said the Master of Sorcere。 〃I'm Pharaun Mizzrym； expelled first from the Seventh House and now Tier Breche； neither time for