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tle and Ryld's cloak and dwarven armor would probably protect them from infection。
〃Can you help us？〃 asked Ryld。
The sick woman leered。 〃Will you pay me with the magnificent greatsword you wear across your back？〃
Pharaun was somewhat impressed。 The illusion of pigfaced orcishness shrouding his friend made Splitter look like a battleaxe； but Smylla's rheumy； sunken eyes had pierced that aspect of the deception。
When he recovered from his surprise； Ryld shook his head。 〃No； I won't give you the sword。 I worked too hard to get it； and I need it to stay alive； but if you want I can use it to clear away the goblinoids outside。 My rade and I are also carrying a fair amount of gold。〃
Her dry white hair spread about her head； Smylla lay propped against a mound of stained； musty pillows。 She struggled to hitch herself up straighter； then abandoned the effort。 Apparently it was beyond her strength。
〃Gold？〃 she said。 〃Do you know who I am； swordsman？ Do you know my history？〃
〃I do；〃 Pharaun said。 〃The gist of it； anyway。 It happened after I more or less withdrew from participation in the affairs of the great Houses。〃
〃What do you know？〃 she asked。
〃An expedition from House Faen Tlabbar；〃 the wizard replied； 〃ventured up into the Lands of Light to hunt and plunder。 When they returned； a lovely human sorceress and clairvoyant acpanied them； not as a newly captured slave but as their guest。
〃Why did you want to e？ Perhaps you were fleeing some implacable enemy； or were fascinated by the grace and sophistication of my people and the idea of living in the exotic Underdark。 My hunch is that you wanted to learn drow magic； but it's pure speculation。 No outsider ever knew。
〃For that matter； why did the Faen Tlabbar oblige you？ That's an even greater mystery。 Conceivably someone harbored amorous feelings for you； or you； too； had secrets to teach。〃
〃I had a way of persuading them；〃 Smylla said。
〃Obviously。 Once you reached Menzoberranzan； you made yourself useful to House Faen Tlabbar as countless minions from the lesser races had done before you。 The difference being that you were accorded a certain status； even a degree of familiarity。 Matron Ghenni let you dine with the family and attend social functions； where you reportedly acquitted yourself with a drowlike poise and charm。〃
〃I was their pet；〃 said Smylla； sneering at the memory； 〃a dog dressed in a gown and trained to dance on its hind legs。 I just didn't know it at the time。〃
〃I'm sure many saw you that way。 Perhaps some saw something else。 From all accounts； Matron Ghenni behaved as if she regarded you as a ward； just one notch down from a daughter； and with the mistress of the Fourth House indulging you； few would dare challenge your right to port yourself like a Menzoberranyr noble。 Indeed； no one did； until she turned against you。〃
〃Until I fell ill；〃 said the sorceress。
〃Quite。 Was it a natural disease； bred； perhaps； by the lack of the searing sunlight that is a natural condition for your kind？ Or did an enemy infect you with poison or magic？ If so； was the culprit someone inside House Faen Tlabbar； who saw you as a rival for Ghenni's favor； or the agent of an enemy family； depriving their foes of a resource？〃
〃I was never able to find out。 That's funny ing from me； isn't it？〃
〃Ironic； perhaps。 At any rate； several priestesses tried to cure you； but for some reason； the magic failed； whereupon Ghenni summarily expelled you from her citadel。〃
〃Actually；〃 Smylla said； 〃she sent a couple trolls； slave soldiers； to murder me。 I escaped them and the castle； too。 Afterward； I tried to offer my services to other Houses； noble and merchant alike； but no door would open to a human who'd lost the favor of Faen Tlabbar。〃
〃My lady；〃 said Pharaun； 〃if it's any consolation； you were still receiving precisely the same treatment we would have given a member of our own race。 No dark elf would abide the presence of anyone afflicted with an incurable malady。 The Spider Queen taught us the weak must die； and in any case； what if the sickness was contagious？〃
〃It's not a consolation。〃
〃Fair enough。 To continue the tale： Unwele anywhere else； you made your way to the Braeryn。 Despite your infirmity； some magic remained within your grasp； and you employed it to cow the residents of this particular warren into providing you with a private space in which to live。 I daresay that wasn't easy。 Then； using divinatory rituals； your natural psionic gifts； and whatever secrets you'd discovered during your time with House Faen Tlabbar； you set up shop as a broker of knowledge。 At first； only the lower orders availed themselves of your services； then gradually； as your reputation grew； even a few of my people started consulting you。 We wouldn't let you dwell among us； but some were willing to risk a brief contact if they anticipated sufficient advantage from it。〃
〃I never heard of you；〃 said Ryld； 〃but within the district； your reputation seems to be considerable。 We've been asking questions all day； and more than one suggested we seek you out。〃
The door banged particularly loudly； and he glanced back to make sure the bugbears weren't breaching it。
〃That's all I know of your saga；〃 said Pharaun； 〃but I infer from the hostility of your cohabitants that a new stanza has begun。〃
〃I suppose I couldn't bluff them forever；〃 Smylla said。 〃My powers； sorcerous and psionic alike； are all but gone； devoured by my malady。 Once I acquired my stock in trade primarily through scrying； divinations； and such。 In recent years； I've cajoled my secrets from a web of informers； whom I betray one to the other。〃
The withered creature smirked。
〃Well；〃 said Ryld； 〃I hope you teased out the one we need。〃
She coughed。 No； it was a laugh。 〃Even if I did； why would I share it with you； dark elf？〃
〃I told you；〃 the warrior said； 〃we can protect you from the bugbears and goblins。〃
〃So can my little iron trinket。〃
〃But eventually； if you simply remain in here； you'll die of hunger and thirst。〃
〃I'm dying anyway。 Can't you tell？ I'm not an old woman—I'm a baby as you drow measure time—but I look like an ancient hag。 I just don't want to perish at the hands of those miserable Undercreatures。 I've ruled here for fifteen years； and if I die beyond their reach； I win。 Do you see？〃
〃Well； then； my lady；〃 said Pharaun； 〃your wish suggests the terms of a bargain。 Oblige us； and we'll refrain from admitting the bugbears。〃
She made a spitting sound and said； 〃Admit them if you must。 I loathe the brutes； but I hate you dark elves more。 It was you who made me as I am。 I bartered information with you for as long as I had something to gain； but now that the disease is finally killing me； you can all go to the Abyss where your goddess lives； and burn。〃
Pharaun might have replied that as far as he could tell； Smylla had sealed her own fate on the day she decided to descend into the Underdark； but he doubted it would soften her resolve。
〃I don't blame you；〃 he said； making a show of sympathy。 It wouldn't have deceived any drow； but even though she'd trafficked with his race for decades； perhaps she still had human instincts。 〃Sometimes I hate other dark elves myself。 I'd certainly despise them if they served me as they've tre