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o see how Ryld had fared。
The warrior was facing only a single opponent； stepping warily around the slick pools of blood as he feinted a few times。 His ploys weren't terribly effective； and he was gasping for breath。 His close…cropped white hair was matted red with blood。
Valas crept forward； ready to get in another attack from behind the moment an opportunity presented itself； so the mage turned his attention back to his magical wall； confident his two panions had the situation well in hand。
On the other side of the barrier； several of the drow wizards were levitating； testing to see if Pharaun had left any gaps along the ceiling。 Another wizard was obviously casting； trying to find something that would dispel the effect。 Soldiers stood at the ready； fingering their weapons and eyeing Pharaun and his two panions balefully。 Pharaun knew by sense that the magical partition still held； but it would only be a matter of time before their enemies would find the right bination of magic to bring it down。
At that moment； Pharaun noted the smoke on the far side of the room。 It was where the matron mothers had been； but they were no longer there。
Of course not； the mage thought sardonically。 They're not going to e out until they know we're in custody again。
The smoke； however； was thick and black and seemed to be pouring into the room through a hole in the wall。 He could see flames licking the stone； and he realized what was going on。
〃We've definitely got to get out of here；〃 the mage said to Valas。
〃That's what I said；〃 Valas replied； 〃but you seem to have sealed us in here。〃
Ryld had dispatched his final adversary and sank down to one knee； trying to regain his breath。
〃Hello； Pharaun。 It's good to 'see' you。 You two aren't going to walk through walls again； are you？〃 Ryld asked； heaving himself to his feet again。
On the other side of the barrier； some of the House Melarn delegation had lost interest in them； turning and pointing back at the smoke or running toward it。 〃Whatever was happening in the obscured side of the audience chamber； they were very agitated。
〃Alas；〃 Pharaun answered the warrior； 〃I have exhausted my quota of wall…walking for the day。 I'll have to rely on more conventional means of egress； I'm afraid。 Still； we shouldn't tarry。 That smoke is from the same stuff we had to deal with during the insurrection back in Menzoberranzan。〃
〃The fire bombs that burned the very stone？〃 Valas asked。
〃Then that means 。 。 。〃 Ryld added。
〃Precisely。 We may be contending with associates of Syrzan； or others； who are inciting the populace to riot and arming them with the same tools of destruction。〃
〃I thought you said the alhoon was operating alone； an outcast from its own kind；〃 Ryld said； turning in circles and analyzing every nook and cranny of the corner of the room。
〃I did；〃 Pharaun admitted。 〃In my conversation with the thing during our captivity； it claimed that very thing。 Perhaps whoever supplied it or its minions with the alchemical incendiary jugs is serving multiple fronts。〃
〃Regardless of who's doing it； we know how grave the situation is；〃 Valas said。 〃We need to get out of the city。〃
〃Again； I agree；〃 Pharaun said。 〃I suggest we make a run for it once I lower the barrier。〃
〃Into that mob？〃 Ryld countered。 〃We should try to find another way out。〃
〃But that's the quickest way to the streets。 We don't know our way around in here； and House Melarn could be an inferno before long。〃
〃Look；〃 Ryld argued； 〃you may be feeling fine； but I can't take another stand…up fight right now。〃 He gestured at his own bloody form。 〃There's got to be other ways out of this House。 Let's go find one。〃 The warrior gestured toward a door in the corner and added； 〃Leave your barrier up and let's go。〃
Valas nodded and said； 〃Ryld is right。 We can't fight through all of them。 Let's try another route。〃
〃Very well；〃 Pharaun sighed； 〃but if the House falls down around our ears； I will personally blame both of you。〃
He gestured toward the door； inviting Valas to lead the way。
***
For the first few minutes； the halls of House Melarn were remarkably empty as Ryld； Pharaun； and Valas limped their way through them。 Occasionally； the trio heard running footsteps in the twisting； winding passages that threaded their way through the massive structure； but they were able to avoid confrontations by cither taking a detour or momentarily hiding。 It appeared to the Master of Melee…Magthere that most of the inhabitants were focusing their attention outside； where the bulk of the fighting was taking place。
As they reached an intersection； Valas held up his hand for a halt； and the scout slunk off in one direction； investigating the route ahead。 Ryld and Pharaun pressed themselves against the wall； trying to remain out of sight。 The wizard was no longer invisible； nor was he glowing with that annoying； flickering purple hue。 Ryld had taken care of that with a pass of his enchanted blade。 The warrior could see that his panion's skin was blistered； and he imagined that Pharaun was in considerable pain。 His own wounds troubled him only when he thought about them。
Don't you have some son of magic that can help us locate an exit？ Ryld flashed to the wizard as they waited。
Pharaun shook his head。
Such spells exist； but I don't know them； he silently replied。 Without knowing the way； we could be down here forever。 This is a fool's errand； Ryld。
Then perhaps we should just follow the soldiers。 They can unwittingly lead us out of here。
Pharaun waved away the warrior's suggestion； though whether it was in exasperation or acceptance； Ryld wasn't sure。
The risk of discovery or disaster is greater if we do that。
Ryld shrugged but gave no other reply。 Instead； he turned to Watch for Valas's return。
Why do I bother arguing？ the weapons master thought as his listened for telltale sounds。 He's already made up his mind。
Valas returned at that moment； gesturing for them to follow him。 Together； they crept forward into a new corridor； and Valas pointed to a doorway on the opposite side。
That's a kitchen； he signaled； and beyond it is a pantry。 On the other side； here…the scout pointed to a door near the trio…is a mess hall。 I think we're in the barracks section。
Well； that's not a good place to be； Pharaun gestured。 We want to avoid the guards； not e bunk with them。
Valas gave Pharaun a baleful look and motioned for the other two to follow him。 I think there's a stairwell leading up just past this area； he flashed as he led the way through the passage。
Ryld thought they might actually get lucky and get through the guards' quarters unnoticed； but as they neared the opposite end of the passageway that bisected the barracks and the mess； they heard the approach of a large contingent from ahead of them。 As one； the three drow turned to scamper back in the other direction； but at that moment several House Zauvirr soldiers appeared at the other end。 They were pinned between the two forces。
〃Damn！〃 P