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ight。
After several minutes； the wizard straightened up。 He started scraping the heel of one boot against the side of the other。
Ryld felt a stir of excitement。 He could only assume his fellow master had a talisman hidden inside the footwear。 It was odd the wizard hadn't remembered until then； but perhaps it was a result of the seizure。
Like all drow boots； Pharaun's were high and fit snugly。 By the time it slid off the mage's foot； Ryld was avid with curiosity to see 。 。 。 nothing。 Nothing but trews and a stocking。
Pharaun set to work shoving off the other boot。 Ryld wished he knew what his friend had in mind； but knew it would be pointless to ask。 With his hands concealed； the spellcaster couldn't answer even in the silent drow sign language。
Eventually the second boot slipped free； whereupon Pharaun pushed off his socks。 His bare feet were of a piece with his hands； slender and long； the digits included。
The wizard lifted his right foot； stared at it intently； and started curling and crossing the toes。 He fumbled through a sequence of moves； then repeated it。 It took Ryld another few moments to prehend； and he didn't know whether to laugh or cry。
In point of fact； the Underdark abounded in creatures； Syrzan included； whose extremities differed notably from a dark elf's； yet who worked magic nonetheless。 So maybe Pharaun had a chance。 Maybe he could cast one of those spells that only required movement； not an incantation or material ponents。
But only if he could shift his feet and toes through the proper patterns； those precise and intricate passes he'd spent years learning to execute with his hands。
When the toes of his right foot grew tired； he started working with those of his left。 After that； he shifted his weight back； lifted his legs； and practiced twining them together。 Ryld might have found it quite a ical spectacle had his life not depended on the mage's success。
Soon Pharaun began to sweat and occasionally to tremble； which always forced him to stop and rest for a bit。 After an hour； he moved on to the next phase of his experiment： putting the elements of the spell together； moving everything at the same time with the proper sequence and timing。
Ryld watched the process intently。 He was no wizard； but to his untutored eye； it appeared that after a while； Pharaun was producing exactly the same pattern two times out of three。 The rest he fumbled in one way or another。
Finally； breathing hard； he looked at the weapons master and shrugged。
〃That's all right；〃 the swordsman replied。 〃Two out of three is good odds。〃
Pharaun slumped back and spent the next few minutes resting。 When he sat up and； heedless of the fresh blood that started from the corners of his mouth； he growled through the mask。 He banged the box encasing his hands twice against the floor； then looked at Ryld。
〃I understand；〃 the warrior said。 〃Make noise。 Bring someone。〃
Pharaun nodded。 The cage around his head clinked。
〃Ho I'm a Master of MeleeMagthere。 I know secrets about the defenses of the great Houses； secrets you must know for your plans to succeed。 I'll trade them for my freedom〃
He continued in the same vein for several minutes； clashing his chains against the wall for emphasis。 Meanwhile Pharaun lay motionless； as if he were still unconscious。
Finally； eyes appeared at the little barred window in the door。
〃What？〃 the newer snarled。 It wasn't a voice Ryld had heard before。
〃I need to talk to you；〃 the weapons master said。
〃I heard；〃 said the other drow。 〃You have secrets。 The alhoon will rip them out of you； no bargain required。〃
〃Syrzan said it would take time to turn us into mindslaves；〃 Ryld replied。 〃I have information you need before you unleash the undercreatures。 Their rebellion will do you no good if the weapons masters strike them all dead before they even get started。〃
〃How could the mastersofarms do that？〃 asked the rogue。
〃A secret；〃 said Ryld； 〃that we brothers of the pyramid teach to a chosen few。〃
〃I don't believe you。〃
〃We've been studying war for millennia。 Do you think we impart all we know to every young dullard who enrolls in the Academy； or is it likely we hold greater； deadlier mysteries in reserve？〃
The rogue hesitated。
〃All right； tell me。 If there's anything to it； I'll set you free。〃
Ryld shrugged； rattling his fetters。 They were already rubbing his wrists raw。
〃Shout it through a closed door？〃 the weapons master asked。 〃Is that what you really want？〃
〃Wait。〃
The contempt in the prisoner's tone had reminded the rogue of a basic principle。 It was best to keep information to yourself； at least until you figured out how to reap a benefit from sharing it。 This rogue didn't want anyone overhearing what Ryld had to say。
The door clacked as a key turned in the lock。 It creaked open； and the renegade stepped through。 He was stocky； with a broken nose squashed across an angular face。 He'd decorated rather nondescript clothing with gaudy ornaments； including a silver fillet set with garnets。 His rapier hung from a baldric； the hilt of a dagger protruded from the top of either boot； and a hand crossbow dangled from his belt。
He stopped just inside the doorway； where he had every right to think himself safe。 The cell was large enough； and the prisoners' shackles short enough； that he was beyond their reach。 He swung the door shut behind him but didn't permit it to latch。
〃All right；〃 he said； 〃now you can tell me。〃
〃First；〃 said Ryld； 〃unchain me。〃
He thought he had to keep the renegade occupied for just a few more seconds； long enough for Pharaun to cast his spell。
The guard just laughed and said； 〃Don't be absurd。〃
〃Why not？〃
〃You know why not。〃
〃But you might just listen to the secrets and leave me imprisoned；〃 said Ryld； watching Pharaun from the corner of his eye。
To his dismay； the wizard wasn't conjuring。 He wasn't moving at all。 Had he passed out again？
〃You're caged；〃 said the renegade； 〃and I'm not。 Therefore； you will have to trust me； not the other way around。〃
Ryld scowled； meanwhile racking his brains for inspiration。 With Pharaun inert； he was going to have to improvise a story to detain the rogue and pray the wizard would make a move before much longer。
〃All right； I suppose I have no choice。 Not far beyond Bauthwaf lies the entrance to a tunnel leading to the deepest reaches of the Underdark； where even our people do not—〃
〃What's this got to do with weapons masters killing slaves？〃 the guard demanded。
〃Listen； and you'll find out。 At the lower end of the passage is a mineral I've never seen anywhere else 。 。 。〃 At last Pharaun moved his feet。 Now； if only the renegade didn't notice。 〃When you crush the rock to powder 。。。〃
〃T T 1〃
Hey
Evidently the guard's peripheral vision was almost as good as Ryld's； for he pivoted toward Pharaun； but not in time。 A disembodied hand made of pale yellow light appeared beside his shoulder and gave him a push。
The impetus sent him staggering closer to Ryld。 The weapons master grabbed him and smashed his head against the wall until it left a sticky mess on the stone； then he searched the corpse and found a ring of keys clipped to its belt。
He discovered the one that opened his own restraints； and Pharaun's。 The wizard flexed his