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d him from fatal burns。
Ryld had drawn Splitter。 An arrow whizzed down from a rooftop across the street； and the burly swordsman batted it out of the air。 A huge flying mount wheeled overhead； vanishing from view before Pharaun could get a good look at it。
〃Are you all right？〃 Ryld asked。
〃Just singed a little；〃 Pharaun replied。
〃Here are your rogues； not so canny after all。 We'll either have to rise into the air after them or pull them down to the street。〃
〃We'll do neither。 Follow me。〃
〃Run？〃 the weapons master asked； swatting away another arrow。 〃I thought we wanted to catch one of them。〃
〃Just follow。〃
Pharaun began moving down the street； meanwhile peering upward； looking for his attackers。 Ryld scowled but trailed along behind him。
The Master of Sorcere glimpsed a swirling motion from the corner of his eye。 He pivoted。 Crouched on the edge of a roof； a spell caster spun his hands in fluid mystic passes。
Gesturing； speaking rapidly； Pharaun rattled off his own incantation。 He was racing the other mage； and he finished his magic first。 Five darts of azure light leaped from his fingertips； shot at the spell caster； and plunged into his chest。 From that distance； he couldn't tell how badly he'd hurt his colleague； but at the least his foe flailed his arms in pain。 The Academician's attack had disrupted his spell。
Ryld knocked another arrow away； and only then did Pharaun realize that this time； the shaft had been hurtling at him。 An instant later； a studded mace seemingly made of shadow flew out of nowhere and swung itself at his head。 Splitter flicked over and tapped that manifestation。 As conjured objects often did； the war club vanished at the great sword's touch。
〃In here；〃 Pharaun said。
The two masters ran to the arched sandstone door of one of the modest houses on the street。 Pharaun suspected that the tenants had locked it at the first sign of trouble； and evidently Ryld agreed； because he didn't bother trying the handle。 He simply booted the door and broke the latch。 The weapons master scrambled inside。
The front room of the home was crowded。 Pharaun might have expected that。 The population of the city had grown considerably since its founding but the number of stalagmite buildings was of necessity fixed。 The poor had to squeeze in wherever they could。
Thus； an abundance of paupers lived in the hovel； and a goodly number of them had gathered in this mon space； either to relax or to dip rothe stew from the iron caldron on the trestle table。 Surprisingly； the simple meal actually smelled appetizing。 The aroma made Pharaun's mouth water and reminded him that he hadn't dined in several hours。
Ryld brandished Splitter at the occupants of the house with a flashy facility calculated to quell aggressive impulses。
〃We apologize for the intrusion；〃 Pharaun said。
The weapons master glowered at him。 〃Why are we running？〃
〃That pillar of fire was divine magic； not arcane。〃 Pharaun lifted his hand； displaying the silver Sorcere ring and reminding his friend of its power to identify； not just protect him from； magic。 〃It's priestesses attacking us。 Killing them would call attention to us； make the Council even more eager to put a stop to our inquiry。 It might even make them want to kill us irrespective of how our mission turns out or of what Gromph decides。〃
Pharaun grinned and added； 〃I know I promised you glorious mayhem； but that will have to wait。〃
Ryld replied； 〃It's a difficult thing to sneak away from foes who hold the high ground。〃
〃I'm an inexhaustible font of tricks； haven't you noticed？〃 Pharaun beamed at the assembled paupers and said； 〃How would you all like to assist two masters of the Academy engaged in a mission of vital importance？ I assure you； Archmage Baenre himself will wax giddy with gratitude when I inform him of your aid。〃
His audience stared back at him； fear in their eyes。 One of the female moners produced a bonehandled； graniteheaded mallet and threw it。 Ryld caught it and hurled it back。 The makeshift weapon thudded into the center of the laborer's forehead； and she collapsed。
〃Would anyone else care to express a reservation of any sort？〃 Pharaun asked。 He waited a beat。 〃Splendid； then just stand still。 I assure you； this won't hurt。〃
The Master of Sorcere pulled a wisp of fleece from a pocket and recited an incantation。 With a soft hissing； a wave of magical force shimmered through the room。 When it touched the paupers； they changed； each into a facsimile of Ryld or Pharaun himself。 Only a single child remained unaffected。
〃Excellent；〃 said Pharaun。 〃Now all you have to do is go outside； at which point； I remend you scatter。 With luck； many； if not all of you； will survive。〃
〃No〃 cried one of Ryld's doubles in a high； agitated voice。 〃You can't make us—〃
〃But we can；〃 said Pharaun。 〃I can fill the house with a poisonous vapor； my friend can start chopping you to pieces。 。。。 So please； be sensible； go now。 If the enemy breaks in here； your chances will be significantly worse。〃
They looked sullenly back at him。 He smiled and shrugged； and Ryld hefted Splitter。 The moners began to scurry toward the door。
The two masters fell in at the back of the crowd； prepared to chivvy folk along as necessary。
〃Shadows of the Pit；〃 murmured Pharaun； 〃I wasn't at all sure they would actually do it。 I am a persuasive devil； aren't I？ It must be my honest face。〃
〃Decoys aren't a bad idea；〃 said Ryld； 〃but now that I think of it； why not just turn us invisible？〃
Pharaun snorted。 〃Do I tell you which end of the sword to grip？ Invisibility's too mon a trick。 I'm sure our foes are prepared to counter it。 Whereas the illusion may work。 It's one of my personal； private spells； and we Mizzrym are famously deft with phantasm。 Now； when we get outside； don't lose track of me。 You don't want to go skipping off with the wrong Pharaun。〃
Most of the moners had vacated the house。 Pharaun drew a deep breath； steadying himself； and he and Ryld plunged out into the open。
The moners were scattering as directed。 As far as Pharaun could tell； no one had attacked any of them。 Perhaps； as he'd hoped； the enemy was entirely flummoxed。
The masters； fleeing like the rest； turned one corner and another。 Pharaun was beginning to feel the smugness that es from outwitting an adversary when something rattled and rustled above his head。 He looked up in time for it to slam him in the face and knock him down。 Dropped from a fair height； the thick； coarse strands of rope prising the net struck with the force of a club。
Also trapped； Ryld cursed； the language vulgar enough to make the Braeryn proud。
Pharaun needed a second to shake off the shock of the impact； and he realized his current situation was even more unfortunate than he'd initially thought。 The net； woven in a spider web pattern； was animate。 Scraping his skin； striving to render him pletely immobile； the heavy mesh shifted and tightened around him。
A foulwing landed on the street。 In the saddle sat an otherwise handsome priestess with a scarred face—a Mizzrym face； lean； intelligent； and sardonic。 Strangely； she wore a domino mask； and Pharaun suspected he knew why。
Grinning； the female said； 〃I knew you'd try to trick me with illusions； Pharaun。 That's why