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instantly to charred flesh and blackened bone。
Quenthel and Jeggred were equally quick to react。 Quenthel lashed at the rats with quick flicks of her whip； and Jeggred batted whole handfuls of them away with powerful sweeps of his fighting arms。
Pharaun chuckled as he blasted the last of the swarm with his wand。 Was that the best the demon could do…summon up a few undead rats？
The laughter died in his throat。 He'd been expecting a plicated trick worthy of a sava master and had felt somewhat disappointed when the demon had done nothing more than send a swarm or undead rats against them。 Then Pharaun realized the demons real plan…one so simple it had slipped under Pharaun's guard。 The undead rats' attack on Pharaun； Quenthel； and Jeggred was just a diversion。 All the demon needed was for a single rat to survive。 That animal's true target； as directed by the imperative telepathic mands of its demonic master； was the chain。
The soft lead chain。
An instant later the rat's sharp teeth parted the chain； and the demon was free。 Whirling in place； it lashed out with its tail once…knocking Jeggred headlong down the slanting deck； through the dome of force and out into the whirling sea…then again； sending Quenthel tumbling after him。
It turned to face Pharaun； whiskers quivering。
〃Wizard；〃 it squeaked。 〃You are mine。〃
Pharaun made no answer as his free hand plunged into his pocket； whipping out a glove。 As the demon bared its fangs； then leaped for his throat； Pharaun was silently thankful it had chosen a simple frontal attack； rather than to use its magic…it would give him the instant he needed to cast his spell。
Demons really were predictable。
Sometimes。
Chapter Thirty…four
As the mouth of the tunnel came into view； Ryld's heart sank。 Fresh snow lay ankle…deep on the slope that led up to the surface； and enormous flakes of white were falling into the tunnel so thickly it was impossible to see more than a few paces beyond the opening。 How were he and Halisstra ever going to find their way across the Cold Field in that curtain of white？ Without landmarks to guide them； they were likely to wander in circles until the cold finally claimed them。
Over and above that small problem； Ryld was already tiring。 His House insignia allowed him to levitate； so that Halisstra could tow him through the air like a child's floater； but the concentration required to sustain the brooch's magic was wearying him。 Allowing it to lapse； he sank gently to the ground and contemplated the snow falling into the tunnel。
Halisstra shivered； making him aware of just how woefully inadequate her clothes were to ward off winter's bitter chill。
〃Do you have any magic that will keep you warm？〃 Ryld asked。
She nodded and answered； 〃Eilistraee will grant me a spell that will help me resist the cold； but。 。 。〃
〃But what？〃 Ryld prompted。
Halisstra sighed and said； 〃It only lasts a short time。 I'd have to recast it…several times…to keep warm all the way to the edge of the Cold Field。 And that would mean not being able to recast the spell that's keeping you alive。〃
〃Then leave me。〃
The look Halisstra gave him needed no words。
〃How long do I have？〃 he asked instead of arguing。
〃The spell I cast on you should last the rest of the night； at least…until just after the sun rises；〃 she told him。 〃I'll use my magic sparingly until then and count on the sun to keep me warm afterward。 That should leave enough magic to slow the poison a second time。 Let me know…immediately…if your pain worsens。 The spell's duration isn't that precise。 It could wear off suddenly； without warning。 If the poison returns full force to your body； the shock could kill you。 The fewer times I have to recast the spell； the better。〃
Ryld nodded。
Halisstra shivered； then added； 〃Let's get moving。 I'll be warmer if I'm walking。〃
Once again Ryld levitated。 Halisstra trudged up the slope and onto the open plain； boots squeaking in the fresh snow； towing him behind her； then she broke into a jog。 After no more than a dozen steps Ryld was unable to see the worm hole behind them。 Ahead lay a thick veil of falling snow that hid the landscape from sight。 No stars or moon could be seen overhead。 The sky was a solid； sullen gray。 Thick flakes landed on the weapons master's close…shaved scalp； melted； and froze again。
For a time； the rapid pace Halisstra set kept her warm。 But by the time the snow had deepened to calf level； she was shivering。 She pressed on until her teeth began to chatter； then at last she paused and whispered a quick prayer to Eilistraee； her breath fogging in the bitterly cold air。 When it was done she breathed easier。 Gradually her shivers subsided。
As she'd predicted； the soothing effects of the spell didn't last long。 Halisstra was able to continue for some time more； her jog slowed to a walk by the deepening snow； but then she began to shiver again。 When she raised a hand to her lips； blowing on it； Ryld saw to his dismay that her fingertips had a grayish tinge。 The surface elves had a word for it： frostbite。 Ryld was ing to understand why they'd chosen such an odd term。 His own fingers and toes…and the end of his nose…felt raw； as if invisible creatures were gnawing on them。
〃That spell doesn't last long enough；〃 he observed。
〃No；〃 Halisstra agreed； her teeth starting to chatter again。 〃It doesn't。〃
Ryld squinted at the thickly falling snow that formed a curtain on every side。 Though the sky was getting lighter； he could no longer see the battlefield debris that littered the ground due to the snow。 A moment later； however； Halisstra's boot crunched down onto a piece of frozen bone； snapping it； reminding him that they were still on the Cold Field。
〃We're not going to make it；〃 Ryld said。 〃Not without help。〃
He paused as pain twisted his gut； making him gasp。
Halisstra's eyes widened。
〃What's wrong？〃 she asked。 〃It can't be the spell ending…it's too soon。〃
Ryld allowed himself to sink to the ground and stood for a time with his hands on his thighs； breathing away the pain。 When he felt steady again； he answered her question。
〃It's the strain of levitating。 I'm weak。 Your spell delayed the poison； but by then the venom had already done a fair bit of damage； by the feel of it。〃 He nodded at the Crescent Blade strapped to her backpack。 〃I'm expendable； but you have a job to do。 If you're going to make it off this plain； you've got to save your magic for yourself。 Leave me。〃
Halisstra didn't argue。 She merely stared at Ryld； her eyes watering。
Lips pressed in a tight line； she took his hand and squeezed it。 He nodded at her； encouraging her； and she started to turn away。
Then she stopped。
〃No；〃 she said； turning back to him again。 〃There must be a way。 Let me think。 There must be a spell I can use…something that will help me to move more quickly。〃
Ryld nodded； staring dully at the falling snow。 The flakes drifted straight down from the sky； there wasn't a breath of wind。 Strange； then； that patches of falling snow seemed to b