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f thunder and blasted bright arcs of lightning across the tunnel； charring some minotaurs into cinders； and burning great black wounds in others。
In the searing light of the lightning ball； Halisstra saw something taller and lankier than the minotaurs； behind the front ranks； a demonic presence…no； several demons…driving the angry monsters on。 Huge black wings shrouded the things in shadow； and their dark horns glowed red with heat。
Roars and bellows filled the passage with rage； while the ring of steel on steel came so fast and hard that Halisstra could barely hear herself shout； 〃There are demons back there！〃
〃I see them；〃 Quenthel replied。 She fell back a couple of steps and seized Pharaun by the arm。 〃Can you dismiss them？〃
〃I have no such spell ready；〃 the wizard replied。 〃Besides； getting rid of the demons isn't going to get us out of this little imbroglio。 I think we…〃
〃I don't care what you think！〃 Quenthel screamed。 〃If you can't banish the demons； then bar the passage！〃
Pharaun grimaced； but he plied by beginning another spell。 Halisstra reloaded and searched for another clear shot。 Ryld crouched low and hamstrung a minotaur attacking him with an axe big enough to split an anvil； and gutted the creature with an upward draw cut across its belly。 Valas was upended by a flailing chain that yanked his feet out from under him。 The scout rolled away； narrowly escaping having his skull pulped。
One or more of the demons behind the battling minotaurs hurled a barrage of green； fiery bolts at the dark elves。 One dissipated against Quenthel's inborn resistance to magic； while two others burned Pharaun and Danifae with vitriolic fire。 Somehow the wizard managed to plete his spell。
What Halisstra assumed was some sort of invisible barrier forced most of the minotaurs and their demonic masters back； while a pair of the frontline fighters found themselves suddenly cut off from their allies。 While the main host of the bull creatures hurled themselves against Pharaun's invisible wall and tried vainly to batter their way through with their crude； clumsy weapons； the dark elves quickly cut down the minotaurs unfortunate enough to have been caught on the drow's side。
In a few moments the screams and impacts of the fight had died away to the dull； attenuated bellowing of the minotaurs on the other side of the wall； milling about and shaking their weapons in anger at the drow。 The minotaurs turned away all at once and darted back the way they'd e； running hard。 A dozen or more hulking carcasses remained scattered on the floor。
Ryld backed away carefully； helping Valas to his feet。 Jeggred stood panting； bleeding from a dozen small wounds。
〃How long will that wall hold？〃 Quenthel asked。
〃No more than a quarter of an hour；〃 Pharaun answered。 〃The demons can probably get through it if they wish； but I suspect that they're leading those minotaurs around through other tunnels to e at us from the other side。 May I suggest we remove ourselves from the vicinity before we find out how they mean to circumvent my barrier？〃
Quenthel scowled； grabbed her pack； and said； 〃Fine。 Let's go。〃
If it had been in his nature to show alarm by pacing back and forth across his sanctum； Gromph Baenre would have spent most of the previous hour doing so。 Instead； he peered into the great crystal ball that rested in the center of his scrying sanctum； confirming Pharaun's report。 How exactly had the Master of Sorcere worded it？
Felicitations； mighty Gromph。 It may interest you to learn that the army of Gracklstugh now marches on Menzoberranzan。 We continue on our course。 Good luck！
〃Arrogant popinjay；〃 Gromph muttered to himself。 The boy had no respect for his elders。
Before dashing off to the matron mothers in a panic； Gromph had of course decided to investigate Pharaun's report with his own careful scrying and study。 The milky orb revealed a fine scene for the archmage's eyes； a long column of marching duergar warriors winding through the Underdark。 Huge pack lizards carried heavy bundles of supplies and various infernal devices of war。 Siege engines trundled along behind long lines of ogre slaves。
Gaining even that glimpse of the army on the move was difficult； as duergar wizards sought to conceal the movements of their prince's army from the scrying efforts of hostile mages。 Gromph； however； was an extraordinarily capable diviner。 It had taken him some time； but he had eventually pierced the duergar wizards' defenses。
Gromph examined the scene closely； seeking out the most minute details…the insignia of marching soldiers； the exact size and condition of the tunnels they passed through； the cadence of the Dwarvish marching chants。 He wanted to be absolutely certain he understood the scope and immediacy of the threat before he brought his news to the attention of the Council； as the matron mothers would doubtless expect him to have already divined the answers to any questions they might think of。 The most disturbing question； of course； was how long it might have taken him to learn of the marching army if Pharaun Mizzrym hadn't been passing through Gracklstugh。 The duergar might have covered half the distance between the cities before an outpost or a far…ranging patrol detected the army。
〃Damnation；〃 the archmage growled。
Whether or not Menzoberranzan was ready； the next challenge to the city gathered in the smoky pits of the duergar realm a hundred miles to the south。 Gromph sighed and decided that he might as well deal with the unpleasant business of telling the Council what he'd seen sooner rather than later。 He rose with one smooth motion； arranged his robes； and took up his favorite staff。 It would not do to appear before the matron mothers in anything less than plete and total self…assurance； especially when bringing such dire news to them。
He was just about to step into the stone shaft at the rear of the chamber and descend to his apartments in Sorcere when he felt a familiar； crawling sensation。 Someone was scrying upon him…an acplishment of no small skill； considering the steps he took to prevent such occurrences。 Gromph started to work a spell to sever the magical spying； but stopped himself。 He was engaged in nothing he cared to conceal； and he was curious to discover whether a duergar wizard had managed to detect his own scrying。
〃Do you have anything you wish to say to me；〃 he asked the air； 〃or shall I simply strike you blind where you sit？〃
Save your spell； came a cold； rasping voice in his head。 As I haven't had eyes in my skull in over a thousand years； I doubt you could do them much harm。
〃Lord Dyrr；〃 Gromph said； frowning。 〃To what do I owe the honor of your attentions？〃
And how did you find me？ he wondered； though he was careful not to voice the question。
I wish to continue the conversation we began a few days past； young Gromph； the lich's voice replied。 I intend to expand upon my earlier offer by describing in greater detail some of the schemes I have in mind。 After all； if I am to ask you to trust me； then I suppose I must extend you a token of trust fir