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ometimes I hate other dark elves myself。 I'd certainly despise them if they served me as they've treated you。〃
She eyed him skeptically。 〃But you're the one who's different from all the others？〃
〃I doubt it。 I'm a child of the goddess。 I follow her ways。 But I've visited the Realms that See the Sun； where I learned that other races think and live differently。 I understand that by the standards of your own people； we've treated you abominably。〃
For a moment； she looked up at him as if no one had miserated with her about anything since that longlost season when she was the belle； or at least the coveted curiosity； of the revels and balls。
She said； 〃Do you think a few gentle words will make me want to help you？〃
〃Of course not。 I just don't want your bitterness to get in the way of your good sense。 It would be a pity if you turned your back on your salvation。〃
〃What are you saying？〃
〃I can take away your sickness。〃
〃You're lying。 How could you do what the priestesses cannot？〃
〃Because I'm a wizard。〃 Pharaun snapped his fingers and dissolved his mask of illusion。 〃My name is Pharaun Mizzrym。 You may have heard of me。 If not； you've surely heard of the Masters of Sorcere。〃
She was impressed； though trying not to show it。
〃Who aren't healers；〃 she said。
〃Who are transmuters。 I can change you into a drow； or； if you prefer； a member of another race。 Whatever we choose； the transformation will purge the sickness from your new body。〃
〃If that's true；〃 she said； 〃then why do your people fear illness？〃
〃Because this remedy is inappropriate for them。 It's unthinkable for a drow； one of the goddess's chosen people； to permanently assume the form of a lesser creature except as a punishment。 Also； most wizards can't cast the spell deftly enough to purge a disease。 It requires a certain facility； which happily； I possess。〃
He grinned。
〃And you'll use it to help me？〃
〃Well； to aid myself； really。〃
The soothsayer scowled； pondering the offer。
Eventually she said； 〃What do I have to lose？〃
〃Exactly。〃
〃But you have to change me first。〃
〃No； first of all； we must establish that you do indeed possess the information my colleague and I require。 We're seeking a number of runaway males hailing from noble and humble residences alike。〃
〃We have a handful of drow hiding out in the Braeryn。 Some are sick like me。 Some are outcast for some other offense。 A couple are just taking a long illicit holiday from their responsibilities and female relations。 I can tell you where to find most of them。〃
〃I'm sure；〃 said Pharaun； 〃but I imagine they've resided here for a while； have they not？ We're seeking rogues of more recent vintage。 Menzoberranzan has suffered a mass migration in recent tendays。〃
Smylla frowned。 From a subtle shift of expression； the mage knew she was deciding whether or not to lie。
〃More drow males than usual have visited the Braeryn；〃 she said。 〃Indulging their most sordid impulses； I assumed； but as far as I know they didn't stay here。 If they did； I don't know where。〃
Ryld sighed。 Pharaun knew how he felt。 Generally speaking； the wizard relished a baffling； braincramping puzzle； but even he was growing impatient at their lack of progress。
Given the lack of any sensible leads； he resolved to follow where intuition led。 Still caught up in his role of sympathizer； he dared to step to the cot and pat Smylla on her bony shoulder。 She gasped。 In all likelihood； no one had touched her for a long while； either。
〃Don't abandon hope；〃 Pharaun said。 〃Perhaps we can still make a trade。 Fortunately； my rade and I are interested in other matters as well。 Has anything peculiar occurred in the Braeryn of late？〃
The clairvoyant rasped out another painfulsounding laugh。
〃You mean aside from the fact that last tenday； the animals rose up against me？〃
〃I do find that interesting。 As you confessed； your magical talents withered away some time ago。 Since then； you've dominated the goblins through bluff and force of personality； and it worked until a few days ago。 What changed？ Where did the Undercreatures find the courage to turn against you？ Have you noticed anything that might account for it？〃
〃Well；〃 said Smylla； 〃it could just be they saw me failing physically； but—〃 Her cracked lips stretched into a grin。 〃You're good； Master Mizzrym。 You give me a smile； friendly conversation； a soft touch on the arm； and my tongue starts to flap。 That's loneliness for you。 But I will have my cure before I give up anything of importance。〃
〃Very sensible。〃 Pharaun extracted an empty cocoon from one of his pockets。 〃What do you wish to bee？〃
〃One of you；〃 she said； leering。 〃I once heard a philosopher say that everyone bees the thing he hates。〃
〃He must have been a cheery fellow to have about。 Now； brace yourself。 This will only take a moment； but it may hurt a little。〃
Employing greater care than usual； he recited the incantation and used the ridged silken case to write a symbol on the air。
Magic shrilled through the air； and the temperature plummeted。 For a moment； the whole room rippled and shimmered； then the distortion concentrated itself on Smylla's shriveled body。 Tendons standing out in her neck； she screamed。
Beyond the door； one of the bugbears shouted； 〃We want to get even； too〃
Smylla's sores faded away； and her emaciated form filled out into a healthy slimness。 Her ashen skin darkened to a gleaming black； her blue eyes turned red； and her ears grew points。 Her features became more delicate。 Her snowy hair thickened； changing from brittle and lusterless to wavy and glossy。
〃The pain went away；〃 she breathed。 〃I feel stronger。〃
〃Of course；〃 Pharaun said。
She stared at her hands； then sat up； rose from the cot； and tried to walk。 At first she moved with an invalid's caution； but gradually； as she proved to herself that she wouldn't fall； that hesitancy passed。 After a few seconds； she was striding； jumping； and spinning like an exuberant little girl testing her strength； her grimy nightshirt flapping about her。
〃You did it〃 she said； and the pure； uncalculated gratitude in her crimson eyes showed that even wearing the flesh of a dark elf maiden； she was still human at the core。
Though it was foreign to his own nature； Pharaun found her appreciation rather gratifying。 Still； he hadn't transformed her to bask in her naive sentimentality but to elicit some answers。 〃Now；〃 he said； 〃please； tell us。〃
〃Right。〃 She took a deep breath to pose herself and said； 〃I do believe something emboldened the Undercreatures in this house。 What's more； I think it's affected goblinoids throughout the Braeryn。〃
〃What is it？〃 asked Ryld。
〃I don't know。〃
The warrior grimaced。
〃What led you to infer this agency？〃 Pharaun asked。 〃I assume you were housebound even before you barricaded yourself in your room。〃
〃I saw a change in the brutes who live here。 They were surly； insolent； and foultempered； ready to maim and kill one another at the slightest provocation。〃
Ryld hitched his shoulders； working stiffness out or shifting Splitter to lie more fortably across his back。
〃How is that different than normal？〃 asked the weapons master。
Smylla scowled at him and said； 〃All things are relative。 The creatures exhibited those qualities to a greater