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if we retraced our steps a bit？〃
〃It will take several more days to circle the city；〃 the scout answered； 〃but I could guide you past Gracklstugh's borders。〃
〃Fine；〃 Quenthel said。 〃We will head back for the docks and make use of Coalhewer's boat。 It's the most direct route out of the city from here； and unless I miss my guess； the lakeside will be less heavily guarded than the tunnels。 Is everybody armed？〃 She looked around quickly。 No one requested more time to prepare； so the Baenre priestess nodded with a small gesture of approval and turned to Pharaun。 〃What must we do for your spell to succeed？〃
〃Join hands and stay close to me；〃 Pharaun said； 〃or wander off if you like； in which case you will find yourself inconveniently visible。 I will not be held responsible for any difficulties that ensue。〃
Fully armed and armored； packs shouldered； all but Valas joined hands and waited。 The Master of Sorcere； standing in their center； hissed out a sibilant string of arcane words and wove his hands in mystic passes。 They all vanished from view。 Halisstra could feel Danifae's hand on her left shoulder； and she clasped Ryld's cuirass with her own right hand； but as far as her eyes could tell； only the scout was in the room。
〃Are you ready； Master Hune？〃 Pharaun asked； unseen。
Valas offered a small nod。 He was dressed in what passed for his own finery； a simple vest of chain mail over a good shirt of spider silk and dark breeches； his piwafwi thrown over one shoulder in a rakish fashion。 Odd badges and tokens pinned here and there to his clothing； the defenses and charms of half a dozen races； pleted his ensemble。
〃I'll dawdle in the courtyard a moment。 Make sure you're all out swiftly； it will look less suspicious if I don't stand around for long。 I'll join you at Coalhewer's boat in ten minutes。〃
〃You'll be tailed；〃 Ryld said。
Valas Hune seemed honestly offended。
〃No one alive can follow me when I do not wish to be followed；〃 he said。
Valas went out into the courtyard； throwing open the door to their room and taking a long moment to stretch。 Halisstra felt Ryld shuffle forward； and she did likewise； crowding close behind him as Danifae pressed up behind her。 The girl's breath was warm at her neck。
While the Bregan D'aerthe scout casually strolled out of the inn's gate and turned left toward the city's central district； Halisstra and the others bent around in an awkward circle and headed right； back to the docks。 The streets were not deserted； but neither were they busy。 Most duergar were back in their drab residences after a long day in the city's forges and foundries。 Had the pany been forced into flight at the beginning or the end of the workday； their deception might have been given away by the sheer accident of a busy gray dwarf bumping into their invisible chain as they skulked down the street。
Halisstra risked one more glance over her shoulder at Valas； who strolled quickly down the street in the opposite direction； looking a little furtive himself…a better disguise than plete nonchalance； which would have been jarring in a place like Gracklstugh。 She also noted a gray dwarf porter who hefted a small cask of brandy to his shoulder as the scout passed and turned to follow； seemingly nothing more than a mon laborer hired to carry goods from one part of the city to another。 Valas could not have missed him； she decided。 The mercenary is too sharp to miss a straightforward tail like that。
Though Halisstra expected a hue and a cry at any moment from hidden watchers； their progress was unimpeded until they reached the docks。 As they hurried across the stone quays toward the strange vessels moored there； Ryld suddenly halted； surprising her。 Halisstra walked into his back before she realized he'd stopped。 Danifae bumped into her as well； as the whole column came to a halt。
〃Trouble；〃 whispered Pharaun。 〃A patrol of duergar soldiers in the crown prince's colors just came around the corner of the next street over。 They're invisible； too； and there's a wizard…looking fellow leading them in our direction。〃
〃They see us？〃 Jeggred rumbled。 〃What use are you； mage？〃
〃There are spells that allow one to see the invisible；〃 Pharaun replied。 〃I'm using one right now； in fact； which is why I can see the guards； and you cannot。 I suppose that begs the question； what use are y…〃
〃You there！ Dismiss your spell； and lay down your weapons！〃 the leader of the duergar patrol called。 A clatter of arms echoed across the silent street； though Halisstra still could not make out any of the gray dwarves。 〃You are under arrest！〃
〃Jeggred； Ryld； Pharaun…deal with them；〃 Quenthel ordered。 〃Danifae； Halisstra； stay with me。〃
She dashed off down the pier； ghosting into visibility as she left Pharaun's magical influence behind。 Jeggred and Ryld charged in the opposite direction； Splitter appearing in the weapons master's hand as if he had worked an enchantment of his own。 Pharaun snarled out a short phrase of words that seemed to shiver the very air of the quay； and a moment later a ripple of light washed over the opposite side of the street； revealing the armored duergar where they stood。 The wizard followed instantly with another spell； being visible himself as he pointed a black ray at the wizard among the gray dwarf soldiers。 The purple lance struck the duergar mage in the center of his chest； and the enemy wizard collapsed like a puppet with its strings cut。
〃Next time； strike first and issue challenges later；〃 Pharaun remarked。 He started to work another spell as the draegloth and the weapons master crashed into the ranks of the patrol； hewing and slashing with abandon。
Halisstra followed Quenthel as she ran down the pier and leaped onto Coalhewer's boat。 The massive undead skeletons stood motionless in their well in the center of the hull； nothing more than inert machinery awaiting mand。 Beneath the bridge； the duergar smuggler stirred and sat up from a thin bedroll； snatching up a hand axe close by his sleeping place。
〃Who goes there？〃 he roared； scrambling to his feet。 〃Why； ye…〃
He was cut off by the impact of Quenthel's boot in the center of his chest； slamming him back down to the deck。
The Baenre raised her whip to finish the smuggler； but Halisstra called； 〃Wait！ We may need him to run this thing。〃
〃You believed that story of his？〃 Quenthel said； not taking her eyes from the dwarf。 〃Of course he wanted us to think we needed him to run the boat。〃
〃True or not； now is not the time to gamble on our escape；〃 Halisstra said。 〃We'd look damned foolish if we fought our way through a patrol of the prince's soldiers and couldn't leave the pier。〃
〃Fell out of the crown prince's favor； did ye？〃 Coalhewer said。 He stood slowly and offered a fierce grin。 From the end of the pier a sudden bright glare of lightning and a booming thunderclap announced the arrival of duergar reinforcements。 〃If ye kill me； ye'll never escape。 Now； what's a fair price fer taking you off this pier； I wonder？〃
Quenthel bristled and doubtless would have struck him down then； but Halisstra stepp