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em to a dead end； or the difficulty in obtaining the passes was unfeigned。 For the first possibility； Ryld couldn't see any reason why Coalhewer would delay the pany in Gracklstugh。 Perhaps the dwarf meant to set them up in some way； but if that was the case； wouldn't he have had ample opportunity to spring whatever surprise he might have had in mind？ On the other hand； if Coalhewer and Thummud weren't collaborating in some elaborate deception； why would the crown prince happen to choose the occasion of the pany's visit to Gracklstugh to crack down on foreigners moving about the realm？
Because he's got something he doesn't want foreigners to see； of course； Ryld decided。 What wouldn't he want outsiders to see？
Ryld halted dead in the street。 Valas and Coalhewer turned a few steps farther on； looking back at him。
〃What is it？〃 Valas asked。
〃You and I have something we need to do；〃 Ryld said to Valas； then he turned to their guide。 〃e to the inn tomorrow morning。〃
Coalhewer frowned。
〃Fine；〃 he said。 The duergar turned and headed down the street； muttering under his breath； 〃Don't blame me if ye get arrested for doing whatever it is ye have in mind。 I won't speak up for ye。 I'll be on me boat if ye need me。〃
What is it？ Valas asked after the dwarf disappeared into the shadowed street。
The crown prince is limiting freedom of movement for foreign merchants and travelers； Ryld answered。 He doesn't want news from the city to get out。 1 think the army of Gracklstugh is going to march。
Valas blinked and signed； You think so？
〃It's what I would do；〃 Ryld answered。 〃The question is； how to make sure of it。〃
He glanced around the street。 As always； any gray dwarf in sight was staring at the two dark elves with undisguised hostility。
Investigating your suspicion makes us exactly the sort of fellows the crown prince's soldiers will be looking for； Valas signed。 The wiry scout frowned； thinking。 What would you need to see to confirm your fear？
A supply train； Ryld answered at once。 Wagons； pack lizards； that sort of thing。 You wouldn't gather that together unless you meant to march； and it would take several days to do it。 You'd need a lot of space。
Agreed； Valas answered。
Valas thought； frowning as he tugged absently at the odd charms and tokens he carried on his clothing。
Feel like taking a chance？ the scout signed。
Ryld glanced around the street。 Thummud had pretty much told them outright that things wouldn't change for several more days at a minimum； and that was not going to please Quenthel。 If Gracklstugh meant to attack Menzoberranzan； he wanted to know about it before the duergar army marched。 They would want to find a way to send a warning back home。 The duergar were no slave rabble to be crushed at the leisure of the great Houses。 The army of the City of Blades would be large； strong； disciplined； and well armed for an assault on the drow； and Ryld didn't like the thought of what an army of that sort might do to his home city。
Let's go； he replied。
Valas nodded and set off at once。 Instead of heading back to the lakeside district and the Cold Foundry； he turned deeper； toward the heart of the cavern。 They weaved through the foul…smelling streets and dark alleyways for a fair distance； passing through business districts where duergar artisans and merchants kept their shops in cramped buildings of field…stone。 The hour was growing late； and traffic along the dwarf city's streets seemed to be diminishing。 The two dark elves finally reached a street that ran along the edge of a deep cleft or chasm bisecting the city's higher； more inaccessible districts from its ramshackle lakeside neighborhoods。 Numerous bridges of stone spanned the gap； leading to narrow streets that continued on the far side。 A squad of vigilant duergar soldiers stood watch at the foot of each； barring passage across the chasm。
The scout drew Ryld into the shadow of an alleyway and nodded toward the rift and its bridges。
Laduguer's Furrow； he signed。 Also known as the Cleft。 Everything on the west side is strictly off limits to foreigners。 There are a couple of large side caverns on the far side that might serve as good marshalling grounds； and they'd be secure from any casual observation。
Ryld studied the Bregan D'aerthe scout thoughtfully； wondering how he knew so much about a part of the city that was supposedly off limits。
I take it you've been there before？ Ryld asked。
I've passed through Gracklstugh a couple of times。
I wonder if there's anyplace Valas hasn't been； Ryld thought。 He shifted in the shadows to get a better look at the guarded bridges。 He was a fair hand at staying out of sight when he needed to； but he didn't like the possibilities offered by the narrow； railless spans。 There was no cover at all once one set foot on any of the bridges。
How do we cross？ he asked。
Valas finished his knots and stepped close； setting his right foot in one bottom loop and crooking his right arm through the topmost。
〃Stay close to this stalagmite as you ascend；〃 he said。 〃We'll want the cover。〃
Ryld nodded and reached up absently to touch the insignia pinned to his breast。 It identified him as a Master of Melee…Magthere； and like the clasps and brooches of many noble Houses； it was enchanted with the power of levitation。 Valas didn't doubt that Ryld had fought long and hard to win the right to wear it。
As he'd hoped； the enchantment proved strong enough to support both Ryld's weight and the Bregan D'aerthe's。 Effortlessly they glided up into the smoke and gloom of Gracklstugh's upper reaches； until the fumes obscured the streets below。 From the top of the great cavern； the floor seemed shrouded in haze and smoke； glaring firelight making bright circles of glowing red mist in a hundred spots around them。
〃This is better than I thought；〃 Valas said。 〃The smoke and fumes give us some concealment。〃
〃And they make my eyes water；〃 Ryld said。 He reached the ceiling and found that the cavern roof was rough and pitted。 〃Which way？〃
〃To your right。 Yes； that's it。〃
Valas indicated the northern wall of the city with a jerk of his chin； keeping his foot and arm secure in the rope stirrups he'd fashioned。 Carefully； Ryld turned to face the ceiling more evenly； and he pulled himself along hand over hand as if he were climbing a vertical wall of rock。 The scout shifted to secure his grip； and kept his own eyes down at the cavern floor below； directing the weapons master in his progress。
〃One gray dwarf wizard with a spell of cancellation would certainly ruin our day；〃 Ryld remarked。 〃Aren't you a little nervous in that arrangement？〃
〃I've always had a good head for heights； but let's not talk about it anymore。〃
Ryld chuckled。
For days； the journey had been simply uneventful and dreary。 The tactical challenge of spying in the heart of the duergar city； though； fully engaged them both。
〃Head more to your left；〃 Valas said； interrupting his own thoughts。 〃There's a bit of a ledge on the cavern wall that should run