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〃I think so；〃 said Houndaer as he and his rade advanced。 A goblin moaned； and the noble kicked the creature silent。 〃Why were you seeking us？〃
〃It's our understanding；〃 said Pharaun； stepping from behind the bar； 〃that you offer a haven for males who find existence under the thumbs of their female relatives uncongenial and who； for whatever reason； aspire neither to the Academy； a merchant clan； nor Bregan D'aerthe。 If so； then we wish to join your pany。〃
〃But you two already did aspire to the Academy；〃 the aristocrat said。 〃You rose to high rank there。 Some might say that gives my associates and I cause for concern。〃
The ore mask's tusked mouth perfectly copied the motions of his actual lips。 Pharaun couldn't have created a better illusion himself。
〃You speak of the dead past；〃 Pharaun said。 〃You've no doubt heard I'm in disgrace； and Master Argith finds MeleeMagthere stale and tedious。〃 The dark powers knew； his discontented friend shouldn't have much trouble convincing them of that。 〃We require an alternative way of life。〃
Houndaer nodded and replied； 〃I'm glad to hear it； but what assurances can you give that you aren't an agent the matrons sent to find us？〃
Pharaun grinned。 〃My solemn oath？〃
Everyone chuckled； even Ryld and the boy with the dagger； who were both quietly； thoughtfully watching their more loquacious panions palaver。
〃Seriously；〃 the wizard continued； 〃if our escapade in the Bazaar failed to convince you of our bona fides； I have no idea what other persuasion we can offer。 But it didn't fail； did it？ Otherwise； you wouldn't be here。 So unless you perceive something in our manner that screams spy 。 。 。〃
The faux moner smiled。 〃You're right。〃 He turned to Houndaer and added； 〃They smell all right to me； and if they're not； I doubt a little quizzing in this stinking goblin hole will prove otherwise。 Let's get them home before some servant of the clergy es sniffing for them and finds us。 Either way； it'll all get sorted out in the end。〃
For a moment； as the power of Pharaun's silver ring wavered； the drow's mild； civilized tone became an ore's growl。 He even smelled like a dirty undercreature。
The Tuin'Tarl's mouth tightened。 Pharaun suspected he didn't much like taking advice from anyone； his panion included。
〃I'm just being careful—as should you—but you may have a point。〃 He turned back to the masters and said； 〃If we take you to our stronghold； there's no going back。 You'll aid our cause or die。〃
Pharaun grinned。 〃Well spoken； and quite in the spirit of a thousand thousand conspiracies before you。 Whisk us away。〃
〃Gladly；〃 the noble said with a mean little smile of his own； 〃as soon as the two of you surrender your weapons and that cloak of pockets。〃
The wizard crooked an eyebrow and said； 〃I thought you'd decided to trust us。〃
〃It's time for you to show a little trust；〃 Houndaer replied。
Pharaun surrendered his piwafwi； hand crossbow； and dagger。 He was a little worried about Ryld's willingness to do the same。 He could easily imagine the warrior deciding that； in preference to entering the dragon's cave unarmed； he'd subdue Houndaer and his panion there and then and wring what information out of them he could。
The problem with that strategy was that the Tuin'Tarl and his nameless panion might not be privy to all the mystic secrets held by the cabal as a whole； and those who were might flee when the two emissaries failed to return。 Thus； while the masters would likely succeed in forestalling a goblin revolt； they'd miss acquiring the extraordinary power they sought。
Besides； it would be much more fun to join； and undo the rogues from within。
Apparently Ryld shared Pharaun's perspective； or else he was simply content to follow the wizard's lead； for he handed over Splitter and his other weapons to Houndaer without demur。
The Tuin'Tarl reached into his pouch； extracted a stone； and tossed it。 It exploded in a strange； lopsided way； tearing a wound in the air； a gash the size and shape of a sarcophagus standing on end and the color of the light that swims inside closed eyelids。
He gestured to the portal and said； 〃After you。〃
Pharaun smiled。
〃Thank you。〃
As easy as that？ Pharaun thought。 He was experiencing a certain sense of anticlimax； which was absurd； really。 It had been astonishingly difficult to get this far。
He stepped into the portal； and experienced none of the spinning vertigo of ordinary teleportation。 Save for a split second of blindness； it was just like striding from one room to the next。 The only problem was the drider waiting on the other side。
The wizard struggled not to make a sound。 Still； the huge creature； half spider； half drow； a bow in its hand and a quiver of arrows slung across its naked back； turned toward him。 Pharaun had no fear of a single such aberration； but the goddess only knew just how elaborate this trap actually was。 He whirled back toward the magical doorway just as Ryld came through。
Ryld； who'd slain his share of driders in the caverns surrounding Menzoberranzan； knew that this one—a hybrid creature with the head； arms； and torso of a dark elf male married to the body and segmented legs of a colossal spider—was larger than average； a robust example of its species； if species was the proper term。 Nature didn't make them； magic did。 Sometimes； when the goddess deemed one of her worshipers insufficiently reverent； the punishment was transformation at the hands of a circle of priestesses and a demon called a yochlol。
The Master of MeleeMagthere naturally focused on the venomous aberration as soon as he stepped through the portal； but like every petent warrior—and unlike Pharaun； evidently—he also took in the disposition of the entire area。
The portal had deposited them in a large； unfurnished hall with a number of openings along the wall。 It was the sort of central hub used in castles to link the various wings。 A couple males were wandering through； and while neither had ventured into the drider's immediate vicinity； they weren't preparing to attack him or flee from him； either。 Nor did the creature himself appear on the verge of assaulting anyone； though he regarded the newers with a scowl。
Somewhat pleased to be ahead of his clever friend for once； Ryld gripped Pharaun by the shoulder。
〃Steady；〃 the swordsman said。 〃Don't embarrass yourself。〃
The wizard looked around； then grinned and said； 〃Right。 Our friends didn't trick us into entering a trap。 The drider's magically constrained。〃
No。
Ryld glanced back to see that the two bogus ores had stepped through the portal； which dwindled to nothing behind them。 It was the bigger and more talkative of the duo who was speaking。
〃The driders help us of their own free will。〃
〃Interesting；〃 said Pharaun。
In the blink of an eye； the goblinoids turned into an aristocratic warrior—Houndaer Tuin'Tarl； specifically； whom Ryld had trained—and a craftsman of one sort or another。 The prince closed the portal with a wave of his arm。
〃Do you still use that secondintention indirect attack？〃 Ryld asked。 〃That was a nice move。〃
For the first time； Houndaer smiled a smile that had neither malice nor suspicion in it。
〃You remember that； Master？ It's been so long； I'm surprised you even remember me。〃
〃I a