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Why； then； didn't she leave off summoning it and attack in some other manner？ Why—
In a flash of inspiration； the answer came to him； and it was astonishing。
But he was scarcely in a place conducive to contemplation of his discovery； and it was time to remedy that。 He peered at the brooch he'd taken from Relonor； found the trigger word implicit in the kaleidoscopic pattern shining around it； and spoke。
Greyanna regarded the open space in the middle of the ring of aimlessly milling skeletons； and the stirges swooping and wheeling above。 A moment before； Pharaun and his hulking acplice had been standing there； but they were gone。 If her eyes had not deceived her； her brother had flashed her that old familiar mocking grin as he vanished。 How dare he smirk at her like that when it was she who had driven him from House Mizzrym
She regarded her iron staff； taller than she was； square in crosssection； graven with hundreds of tiny runes； and warm as blood to the touch。 The weapon had failed her。 She trembled with the impulse to swing it over her head and smash it against the stone beneath her feet until it was defaced； deformed； and useless。
She didn't； because she knew Pharaun's escape was really her fault； not the staff's。 She should have summoned the weapon sooner。 She should have been more aggressive with the sack。 Damn this degrading and inexplicable season Because of its vicissitudes； her mother had instructed her to play the miser with every personal resource； even though she was fighting for the welfare of House Mizzrym and all Menzoberranzan。
Well； she wouldn't make the same mistake next time。 It was her responsibility to look after her troops and return them to the castle。 She dismounted； squared her shoulders； put on a calm； manding expression； and proceeded with the business at hand。
Neither of the twins were hurt； and her cousin Aunrae merely needed the ball of darkness around her head dispelled。 It was Relonor who concerned Greyanna； but fortunately the mage was still alive。 A healing potion mended him sufficiently to stand； clutching his sash so it wouldn't slip off and shrugging out of his iceencrusted cloak。
While the twins helped Relonor hobble about and so restore his circulation； Aunrae came sidling up to Greyanna。 To her cousin's admittedly jaundiced eye； in Aunrae the usual Mizzrym tendency to leanness had run to a grotesque extreme。 The younger female resembled a stick insect。
〃My miseration on your failure；〃 Aunrae said。
Her expression was grave； but she wasn't really trying to hide the smile lurking underneath。
〃I didn't realize just how powerful Pharaun has bee；〃 Greyanna admitted。 〃Before his exile； he was quite petent but nothing extraordinary。 It was his cunning that made him so dangerous。 I see that all the decades in Tier Breche have turned him into one of the most formidable wizards in the city。 That plicates things； but I'll manage。〃
〃I hope the matron will five you your ignorance；〃 Aunrae said。 〃You've wasted so much magic to no effect。〃
The conjured skeletons and stirges began to wink out of existence； leaving a residue of magic energy。 The air seemed to tingle and buzz； though if a person stopped and listened； it really wasn't。
〃Is that how you see it？〃 Greyanna asked。
Aunrae shrugged。 〃I'm just worried she'll feel you bungled things； that your hatred of Pharaun made you blind and clumsy。 She might even decide someone else is more deserving of the preeminence you currently possess。 Of course； I hope not You know I wish you well。 My plan for my future has always been to support you and prosper as your aide。〃
〃Cousin； your words move me；〃 Greyanna said as she lifted the staff。
No one could heave such a long； heavy implement into a fighting position without giving the opponent an instant's warning； so Aunrae was able to e on guard。 It didn't matter。 Not bothering to unleash any of the magic within her weapon； wielding it like an ordinary quarterstaff； Greyanna bashed the mace from the younger priestess's fingers； knocked her flat with a ringing blow to her armored shoulder； and dug the tip of the iron rod into her throat。
〃I'd like to confer on one or two matters；〃 said Greyanna。 〃Do you have a moment？〃
Aunrae made a liquid； strangling sound。
〃Excellent。 Listen and grow wise。 Today's little fracas was not in vain。 It proved that Relonor can locate Pharaun with his divinations。 Even more importantly； the battle enabled me to take our brother's measure。 When we track him down again； we'll crush him。 Now； do you see that I have this venture well in hand？〃
Deprived of her voice； Aunrae nodded enthusiastically。 Her chin bumped against the butt of the staff。
〃What a sensible girl you are。 You must also bear in mind that we aren't hunting Pharaun simply for my own personal gratification。 It's for the benefit of all； including yourself。 Therefore； this isn't an ideal time to seek to discredit and supplant one of your betters。 It's a time for us to swallow our mutual distaste and work together until the threat is gone。 Do you think you can remember that？〃
Aunrae kept nodding。 She was shaking； too； and her eyes were wide with terror。 Small wonder； she must have been running short of breath。 Still； she had the sense not to try to grab the staff and jerk it away from her neck。 She knew what would happen if she tried。
Greyanna was tempted to make it happen anyway。 Aunrae's submission was a small pleasure beside the fierce satisfaction that would e from ramming the staff into the helpless female's windpipe。 The urge was a hot tightness in her hands and a throbbing in the scar across her face。
But she needed minions to catch the relative she truly hated； and； annoying as she was； Aunrae was game； and wielded magic with a certain facility。 It would be more practical to murder her another day。 Greyanna was sure she could manage it whenever she chose。 Despite her ambitions； Aunrae was no threat。 She lacked the intelligence。
Feeling a strange pang of nostalgia for Sabal； who had at least been a rival worth destroying； Greyanna lifted the staff away from her cousin's throat。
〃You will whisper no poison words in Mother's ears；〃 the First Daughter of House Mizzrym said。 〃For the time being； you will leave off plotting against me or anyone else。 You will devote your every thought to finding our truant brother。 Otherwise； I'll put an end to you。〃
Ryld had never experienced instantaneous travel before。 To his surprise； he was conscious of the split second of teleportation； and he found it rather unpleasant。 It didn't feel as if he were speeding through the world but as if the world were hurtling at and through him； albeit painlessly。
Then it was over。 He'd unconsciously braced himself to pensate for the jolt of a sudden stop； and the absence of any such sensation rocked him on his feet。
By the time he recovered his balance； he knew more or less where he was。 A whiff of dung told him。 He looked around and confirmed the suspicion。
Pharaun had dropped the two of them in a disused sentry post on a natural balcony。 The ledge overlooked Donigarten with its moss fields； grove of giant mushrooms； and fungus farms fertilized with night soil from the city。 Hordes of ore and goblin slaves either tended the mal