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l the better。〃
〃Let's not dawdle any longer；〃 Pharaun agreed。 〃We go up。〃
Quenthel nodded her assent to the plan； and everyone prepared to depart。
As Ryld assembled his gear； he realized that he was exhausted。 Between his exploits with Valas at the taverns； fighting their way into and out of House Melarn； and dealing with both the duergar and the spiders； the warrior hadn't rested in over a day。
It has to be almost morning； he realized； and we're not even close to being finished； yet。 Let's hope we can find a relatively painless way to slip past the gate forces。
The team set out； but they had to move in shifts； for Jeggred had to carry both Valas and Danifae to higher ground； and the draegloth； despite his immense strength； could only transport one of the dark elves at a time。 Thus； half the group rose to the next web street overhead as Jeggred conveyed one drow； while the remainder waited with the other for the fiend to return。
The first team； consisting of Pharaun； Quenthel； and Jeggred carrying Danifae； alit atop a web street and discovered that it was actually being defended by drow troops。 Several of the dark elves leveled hand crossbows at the four of them； and when they saw the draegloth； they nearly panicked。
〃What in the Nine Hells is that？〃 one of the soldiers； an older male with plenty of battle scars； called out； pointing to Jeggred with his crossbow。
The fiend growled low； turning to face his would…be assailants； but Pharaun stepped between the draegloth and the others。
〃Easy； there；〃 the wizard said； his hands out； palms up in a placating manner。 〃We're just passing through。 No need to get jumpy。〃
Beside him； Quenthel sniffed； but when the drow soldiers saw that she seemed unconcerned by the fiend's presence； they quieted down； returning their attention below them； where the fighting was still taking place。 Jeggred departed to retrieve Valas。
Pharaun found a spot to take a seat and did so； reclining against a wall to rest for a few moments。
〃Might as well get fortable；〃 he said to the two females with him。 〃Rest when you can。〃
Quenthel scowled but consented to sit across from the wizard； and Danifae settled down； too。
The trio's rest was short…lived； though； for soon； shouts emerged from farther along the street。 All the drow around them grew restless as word spread that dark elves from an enemy House were heading their way。
A priestess of middling rank came stalking down the street； acpanied by a pair of male wizards。 They were cajoling the troops to form up。
〃On your feet！ It's time。 Get up； you worthless rothé； and fight！ Fight for House Maerret！〃
When she reached Pharaun and the others； she stopped and stared at them。
〃What are you three doing here？ You're not part of this unit。 Who are you？〃
Pharaun gave the priestess that same placating motion that he'd used earlier and said； 〃We're just passersby； not here to cause any trouble。〃
〃Well； you'll join ranks； then。 Get forward and help the other wizards。〃
〃We thought we'd better serve the cause by helping to watch this end of road；〃 Pharaun replied； smiling broadly。 〃You never know when those pesky grays will try to circumnavigate our flank and surprise us。〃
〃Get on your feet； wizard； and go join the other spellcasters。 And you two！ You can help me rally the troops and keep order。 Up off your hind ends…now？
Pharaun could see that Quenthel was about to lash out at the priestess； so before she could cause a scene； he pulled the drow mander to the side。
〃Listen；〃 he said quietly。 〃We're actually working on a special assignment for Matron Mother Drisinil Melarn。 We've got permission to avoid the fighting while we take care of a very important mission。〃
〃Oh； is that so？〃 one of the male wizards replied coldly。 〃Well； Drisinil Melarn was my mother； and I happen to know that she was murdered by traitors before this civil war even started。 Since you don't wear a House insignia； I'm guessing you're the spies who were accused of collaborating with her。 Maybe it's time you died。〃
The Melarn wizard stepped back； reaching into his piwafwi； but before Pharaun could react； a voice drifted from behind him。
〃Hello； Q'arlynd；〃 Halisstra said as she and the others floated up over the side of the web street。
The Melarn wizard stopped； peering at the priestess for a moment。 Then he broke into a broad grin。
〃Dear sister；〃 he said。 〃I thought you were dead。〃
NINETEEN
〃When the fighting got worse； several of the matron mothers； including Maerret； came to the Dangling Tower and asked us to aid them；〃 Q'arlynd explained。 〃They said it was a full…scale civil war and the rebels were going to tear the city apart if we didn't stop them。 Matron Mother Lirdnolu explained to me what had happened to House Melarn。 I knew Mother was dead； and we'd heard that she was killed by Ssipriina Zauvirr with collaborators from the outside who wanted to see the downfall of Ched Nasad。〃
〃And you thought I'd perished； too；〃 Halisstra said； squatting down beside her brother。
〃Yes； either at the same time Mother was murdered or in the fall of our House。 Is it really gone？〃 the Melarn wizard asked。
Halisstra only nodded。
〃By the Dark Mother；〃 he breathed。
〃Well； the family reunion is nice and all； but we still need to get out of this city；〃 Pharaun said； standing。 〃What's the situation？ Where's the closest way out that we can get through？〃
Q'arlynd shook his head and said； 〃There are none； so I've heard。 All the gates have either been mandeered by rebel forces or hordes of escaped slaves or they've collapsed outright because of the fighting。 This alchemical fire that burns through stone is wreaking havoc on…〃
〃Believe me； we know；〃 the Master of Sorcere interrupted； 〃but your report doesn't leave us with many options。 We've got to find a way to get free of the city。〃
Quenthel had just opened her mouth； most likely to mand Pharaun to figure out a method of escaping Ched Nasad； the wizard imagined； when a motion broke out from farther down the boulevard。 Pharaun turned and looked just in time to see a jumble of dark elves stumbling to their feet in disarray。 Many of them fell again just as quickly； cut down by a growing horde of gray dwarves who were emerging through a magical doorway hovering in the air only a couple of feet above the street。 The duergar were streaming through as fast as they could； firing off crossbows at any drow targets they could find before casting the missile weapons aside and pulling out axes； hammers； and the occasional mace。
〃Attack！ We're under attack！〃 the cry went up as more drow surged to their feet； moving to stop the advance of the gray dwarves。
〃e on； you flat…footed； sorry excuses for soldiers…get up there and fight before they split us down the middle！〃 the battle priestess yelled； returning from the far end of the street and shoving troops forward as fast as she could get to them。 〃Wizard！ Throw a spell！ Drive them back。 If they reach the square； we're done for。〃
Pharaun sighed and nodded； gr