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〃My ring。 It allows me to see and interpret patterns of magical force。 No wizard should be without one。〃
〃You were a fool to try to thwart me here in my private world。 Don't you understand that inside this construct； I'm a。 god。〃
〃I'm dead regardless；〃 replied Pharaun； 〃and when a drow knows his life is forfeit； he bends his thoughts to revenge。〃
〃But you're mistaken。〃 Syrzan loosened the grip of the tentacles and said； 〃I'm not going to kill you。 That would be wasteful。 As you observed； my objective is to enslave all Menzoberranzan。 Certainly you； with all your talents； will make a useful thrall。 Had you not manhandled me； your bondage might have been relatively light； for I enjoy the society of other mages。 Now I'm afraid you aren't going to enjoy it in the slightest。〃
Pain ripped through Pharaun's head。 He screamed。
C h a p t e r
T W E N T Y
〃Let me do it；〃 Houndaer growled。
His scimitar at the ready； he stalked toward Ryld。
The Master of MeleeMagthere tried and failed to rise。 As a student at the Academy and in all the years since； he'd studied techniques for transcending pain； but he'd never felt anything parable to the invisible blow the undead illithid had struck him。 It had been like a spear driving through his mind。
Syrzan emerged from its momentary trance and said； 〃No。〃 Houndaer turned。 〃No？〃 he asked。 〃You were right about them。 Obviously。〃 〃And I trust；〃 said the lich； its mouth tentacles wriggling； 〃that you'll remember whose judgment is superior。 Now that they're here； however； they might as well serve our cause as you hoped they would。 It's just a matter of reshaping their minds。〃
The bard lifted an eyebrow and asked； 〃Can you do that？〃 〃Yes；〃 said Syrzan； 〃but not instantaneously； and not now。 I need my strength to give the Call。〃
It pulled Pharaun's silver ring off the unconscious drow's finger。
〃Lock them up for the time being；〃 the alhoon ordered。
〃All right；〃 saidTsabrak。 〃I hope you're going to fix it so we can all control them。〃
He too advanced on Ryld。
The weapons master struggled once again to rise。 Someone lashed him over the head with the flat of a blade； and all the strength spilled out of him like wine from an overturned cup。
The next few minutes were a blur。 Houndaer； Tsabrak； the bard； and another renegade carried their captives to a cell。 It had the same grime and air of desolation as much of the rest of the castle； but someone； exhibiting a proper dark elf's sense of priorities； had gone to the trouble to refurbish the locks and restraints。
The rogues divested Ryld of his cloak and armor； then chained him to the wall。 As he'd expected； the conspirators took more elaborate precautions with the wizard； even though Pharaun had suffered a violent seizure shortly after Syrzan stunned him； had apparently passed from that into plete unconsciousness； and showed no sign of rousing any time soon。 In addition to shackling him； the rogues locked a steel bridle around his head； forcing the bit into his mouth to keep him from enunciating words of power or anything else。 They inserted his forearms into the two ends of a hinged metal tube； a sort of muff or double glove that would make it impossible for him to gesture or crook his fingers into a cabalistic sign。
By the time they finished； Ryld's strength had begun to return； enough； at least； to permit him to speak。
〃It'll get you； too；〃 he croaked。
Houndaer turned； scowling。 〃What？〃
〃The lich。 It doesn't want to share power。 It's planning to turn every Menzoberranyr； including you； into its mindslave。 That's what illithids do。〃
〃Do you think we trust the beast？〃 the Tuin'Tarl sneered。 〃We're not idiots。 It'll serve its purpose； and we'll dispose of it。〃
〃So you intend； but what if Syrzan's already working on subjugating you； so subtly you don't even know it？ What if； when the time es—〃
Houndaer punched his former teacher in the mouth； dashing his head against the calcite wall。
〃Shut up；〃 the noble said。 〃You fooled me once and made me look like an imbecile。 It's not going to happen again。〃
The rogues made their departure。 With his spidery lower body； Tsabrak had to squeeze through the door。 The last one out； the bard gave Ryld a wry smile and a shrug。 The door slammed shut。
Ryld licked the salty taste of blood from his gashed lower lip。
〃Pharaun；〃 he said in a low tone。 〃Are you truly unconscious； or is it a trick？〃
Slumped with the steel harness clamped around his head； the Master of Sorcere didn't respond。 If not for the rise and fall of his chest； Ryld would have feared him dead。
The swordsman tried to go to Pharaun； but his chains were too short。 He undertook an examination of the shackles。 The cuffs fit tightly； and the locks were strong。 The links were heavy； well fed； and anchored securely in the wall。 Ryld had broken free of bonds a time or two in his turbulent early years； but without tools or a miracle； he wouldn't be sundering these。
Nor； denied the use of his voice and hands； was Pharaun likely to fare any better。 Still； Ryld suspected the mage was his only hope。 Pharaun was clever。 Perhaps he could think of a workable ploy； if only he was conscious。
〃 Wake upr Ryld roared。 〃Wake up； curse it。 You've got to get us out of here〃
To add to the din； he beat a length of chain against the wall。
To no avail。 He shouted until his throat was raw； but Pharaun didn't stir。
〃Bleed it〃 the weapons master swore。
He hunkered down on the floor and tried to work up some saliva to wash away the dryness in his mouth。 As the renegades hadn't bothered to provide a water jug； spit was the best he could do。
〃You have to wake up；〃 he said in a softer voice。 〃Otherwise； they've beaten us； and we've never let anyone do that。 Do you remember when we hunted that cloaker lord？ We found out too late that it had sixtyseven other chasm rays in its raiding party； many more than our little band of thirdyear students was prepared to confront。 But you said； 'It's all right； it just takes the proper spells to even the odds。' First you conjured a wall of fire 。 。 。〃
Ryld rambled on for hours； talking his throat raw； recounting their shared experiences as they occurred to him。 Perhaps the stories would strike a spark in Pharaun's unconscious mind； and in any case； it was better than just sitting and wondering what life would be like after Syrzan corrupted his mind。
Finally the wizard's chin jerked up off his chest。 His eyes were wild； and he tried to cry out。 The bit turned the sound into a strangled gurgle even as it cut into the corners of his mouth。 Beads of blood blossomed from the wounds。
〃It's all right；〃 Ryld said。 〃Whatever the lich did to you； it's over。〃
Pharaun took a deep breath and let it out slowly。 Rationality returned to his eyes。 Ryld got the feeling that if not for the harness； the wizard would have smiled his usual cheery smile。 He nodded to the weapons master； thanking him for the reassurance； then he inspected the sheath constraining his hands。 He bashed it on the floor a few times to see if he could jolt the catches open。 They held with nary a rattle。 He shook his head； sat still for several seconds； then closed his eyes and settled back against the wall； no doubt pondering their plight。
After several minutes； the