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And missed。 Somehow the demon arrested its charge； and the blade fell short。
Its fiery hooves churning eighteen inches above the rooftop； the nightmare snorted。 Thick； hot； sulfurous smoke streamed from its nostrils； enveloping Ryld； stinging and half blinding him。 He heard more than saw the black creature lunging； striking with its reptilian fangs； and he retreated a step。 The move saved him； but when he counterattacked； the nightmare too had taken itself out of range。
Through the stinking vapor； he glimpsed the infernal horse circling。 It sprang at him again； this time rearing to batter him with its front hooves。 He crouched and lifted Splitter。 The point took the steed in the chest； and for a moment； he thought he'd disposed of it； but； its legs working frantically； it flew upward； lifting itself off the blade before it could penetrate too deeply。
The next few seconds were difficult。 Ryld could barely make out his foes； while the nightmare could apparently see through its own smoke perfectly well。 He stood and turned precariously on the crest of the roof； in constant danger of losing his balance； whereas the flying horse could maneuver wherever it pleased。 Just to make life even more interesting； the rider started swinging his curved sword。 Fortunately； like most denizens of the Underdark； he had little notion of how to fight on horseback； but his clumsy strokes still posed a danger。
Ryld wanted to end the confrontation quickly； before someone discovered Pharaun's hiding place。 Unfortunately； in light of all his disadvantages； the weapons master thought the only way of doing that was to take a risk。 The next time the demon reared； he let one of the blazing hooves slam him in the chest。
His dwarven breastplate rang but held。 The blow hurt cruelly but didn't break any ribs or otherwise incapacitate him。 He fell backward； banged down on the east pitch of the roof； and started to tumble。 Kicking and scrabbling； negating his weight； he managed to catch himself and twist around into a low fighting stance。
The nightmare was rushing in to finish him off。 He swung Splitter； and this time the demon was too mitted to the attack to halt its forward momentum。 The greatsword slashed through its neck； nearly severing the head with its luminous scarlet eyes。 The steed toppled sideways and rolled； leaving a trail of embers。 The rider tried to jump free； but he was too slow。 The nightmare crushed him on its way to the ground。
Ryld tore open the dead male's purse； then floated down to the demon horse and checked the saddlebags。 There were no potions or any other means of mending a wound。
Why； he wondered； should he expect to find such a thing among the noble's effects？ The noble had e to the Braeryn for some lighthearted sport。 He hadn't believed the goblins couldn't hurt him or that he was in any other danger； so why bring a remedy for grievous harm to the festivities； even if he was lucky enough to possess one？
There were only five hunters who'd e there with a deadly serious purpose； prepared to cross swords with formidable foes： Greyanna and her retainers。 They were far more likely to carry healing magic than any other drow whom Ryld might opt to waylay。
Alas； they were likely to prove more trouble as well； but if he wanted to save Pharaun； he'd just have to cope。 Pharaun was a useful ally； and Ryld was unwilling to let that carefully nurtured relationship expire easily。 He skulked on； ignoring the hunters who obliviously crossed his path； until he finally spied a familiar figure on a rooftop just ahead of him。
Still masked； one of Greyanna's twin warriors was stalking along that eminence。 An arrow nocked； he peered down into the street below。
Ryld threw himself down behind a stubby little false minaret on his roof。 He peered around it； looking for the rest of the wouldbe murderers。
He didn't see them。 Maybe the band had split up； the better to look for their quarry。 They'd have to； wouldn't they； to oversee the entire district。
He ducked back； cocked his hand crossbow and laid a poisoned dart in the channel。 He and Pharaun had been reluctant to kill their pursuers； but with the wizard dying； Ryld was no longer overly concerned with a petty retainer's life。
He leaned back around； his finger already tightening on the trigger— and the space where the archer had stood was empty。 Ryld cast about； and after a moment spotted the male atop a round； flatroofed little tower adhering to the main body of the building。
That posed two problems。 One was that the warrior was farther away and ten feet higher up； at or beyond the limit of the little crossbow's range。 The other was that the male happened to be looking in Ryld's direction。 His eyes flew open wide when he spotted his quarry。
Ryld shot； and his dart fell short of the tower。 A split second later； the twin pulled back his bowstring and loosed his arrow in one fluid motion。 The shaft looked like a gradually swelling dot； which meant it was speeding straight at its target。
Ryld dodged back。 The arrow whizzed past； and the archer shouted； 〃Here〃
The weapons master scowled； feeling the pressure of passing time even more acutely than before。 He didn't want to be there when the rest of the enemy arrived； and the only hope of avoiding it was to dispose of his present opponent quickly。 The longbow simply had his hand crossbow outclassed。 He needed to get in close。
He drew Splitter； sprang out into the open； and strode toward his foe。 The archer sent one arrow after another winging his way； and he knocked them out of the air。 The defense was considerably more difficult advancing across the irregular surface of the roof than it would have been standing still on the ground。
Ryld began to sweat； and his heart beat faster； but he was managing。 There came another shaft； this one aglitter with some form of enchantment； and he swatted it down。 Rattling； it rolled on down the pitch of the roof。
He took another step； slapped aside another missile； then heard something—he didn't know what； just an indefinable change in the sounds around him。 He remembered that some enchanters created magical weapons capable of more than flying truer and hitting harder。
He spun around。 The sparkling arrow had launched itself back into the air and circled around behind him。 It was streaking toward its target and was only a few feet from his body。
Ryld wrenched Splitter across in a desperate parry。 The edge caught the arrow and split it in two。 Spinning through the air； the piece with the point hit his shoulder； but； thanks to his armor； did him no harm。
He lurched back around with barely enough time to deflect the next shaft； then marched on。 Four more paces brought him to the end of the roof。
The gap between this house and the next was five yards across。 He took a running start； made himself nearly weightless； and jumped。 The twin tried to hit when he was in the air； but for a blessed change； his arrow flew wild。 Ryld thumped down atop the same structure his opponent occupied。 It felt as if it had taken forever to get this far； even though he knew it had really been less than a minute。
Not that he was done running the gauntlet。 The arrows kept hurtling at him； including one that gave an eerie scream； fillin