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The Baenre frowned。 Pharaun's manner was too presumptuous by half； yet something in it manded attention。
〃Very well；〃 she said； 〃but if this is some sort of demented jest； you'll suffer for it。〃
〃Mistress；〃 Minolin said； 〃he may want to lead you into—〃
Quenthel silenced the fool with a cold stare； then turned back to Pharaun。
〃Lead on； Master of Sorcere。〃
In point of fact； the high priestess didn't have to walk all the way to the dropoff to tell that something was badly wrong in the city below。 The wavering yellow glare of firelight and a foul smoky tang in the air alerted her as soon as she stepped outside the spidershaped temple。 Heedless of her dignity； she sprinted for the edge； and Pharaun scrambled to keep up with her。
Below her； portions of Menzoberranzan—portions of the stone； how could that be？—were in flames。 Impossibly； even the Great Mound of the Baenre sprouted a tuft of flame at its highest point； like a tassel on a hat。 Once Quenthel's eyes adjusted to the dazzling brightness； she could vaguely make out the mobs rampaging through the streets and plazas。
〃You see；〃 said Pharaun； 〃that's why I ran halfway across the city； dodging marauders at every turn； to reach you； my lady。 If I may say so； the situation's even worse than it may look。 By and large； the nobles haven't even begun reclaiming the streets。 They're bogged down on their estates fighting their own household goblins。 Therefore； I suggest you—〃
The mage was smart enough to stop talking at the sight of Quenthel's glare。
〃We will mobilize Tier Breche；〃 she said。 〃MeleeMagthere and ArachTinilith can fight。 Sorcere will divide its efforts between supporting us and extinguishing the fires。 You will either find my brother Gromph or act in his stead。〃
Pharaun bowed low。
Quenthel turned and saw that her priestesses and novices had followed her out onto the plateau。 Something in their manner brought her up short。
〃Mistress；〃 said longeared Viconia Agrach Dyrr； one of the senior instructors； rather diffidently； 〃it makes perfect sense for MeleeMagthere and Sorcere to descend the stairs； but 。。。〃
〃But you ladies have lost your magic；〃 Pharaun said。
The sisters of the temple gaped at him。
〃You know？〃 Quenthel asked。
〃A good many males know；〃 the mage replied； just a hint of impatience peeking through； 〃so there's no point in killing me for it。 I'll explain it all later。〃 He turned back toward the rest of the clerics。 〃Holy Mothers and Sisters； while you may have lost your spells； you have scrolls； talismans； and the rest of the divine implements your order hoards。 You can swing maces； if it es to that。 You can fight。〃
〃But we've lost too many sisters；〃 Viconia said to Quenthel。 〃The demons killed a couple； and you； Mistress； by summoning the spiders； slew more。 We don't dare risk the rest。 Someone must endure to preserve the lore and perform the rituals。〃
〃That's far too optimistic；〃 Pharaun said。
Viconia scowled。 〃What is； boy？〃
〃The assumption that； should you remain up here； annihilation will pass you by；〃 the wizard replied。 〃It's more plausible to assume that if the ores triumph below； they'll climb the stairs to continue their depredations up here。 You profess devotion to ArachTinilith。 Surely it would be more reverent to engage the undercreatures in the vault below and thus deny them the slightest opportunity to profane your shrines and altars。 Similarly； it would be better strategy to fight alongside allies than to wait till they perish and you're left to struggle alone。〃
〃You're glib； wizard；〃 the Agrach Dyrr priestess sneered； 〃but you don't know our efforts are needed。 Flame and glare； they're only goblins I think you're just a scareling。〃
〃Perhaps he is；〃 Quenthel said； 〃but how dare we seek the Dark Mother's favor if we decline to defend her chosen city in its hour of need？ Surely； then； we never would hear her voice again。〃
〃Mistress；〃 said Viconia； spreading her hands； 〃I know we can find a better way to please her than brawling with vermin in the street。〃
Quenthel lifted her hand crossbow and shot her lieutenant in the face。 Viconia made a choking sound and stumbled backward。 The poison was already blackening her face as she collapsed。
〃I thought I'd already demonstrated that / rule here；〃 the Baenre said。 〃Does anyone else wish to contest my orders？〃
〃If so；〃 Pharaun said； 〃she should be aware that I stand with the mistress； and I have the power to scour the lot of you from the face of the plateau。〃
Ignoring the boastful wizard； Quenthel surveyed her minions。 It appeared that no one else had anything much to say。
〃Good；〃 the Baenre said。 〃Let us rouse the tower and the pyramid。〃
C h a p t e r
T W E N T Y
TH｜R EE
With Quenthel in the lead； the Academy descended from Tier Breche like a great waterfall。 Some scholars tramped after her on the staircase； while others floated down the cliff face。 A few； possessed of magic that enabled them to fly； flitted about like bats。
〃Perhaps Mistress would care to bide a moment；〃 said Pharaun。 At some point he had slipped off to his personal quarters long enough to wash his face； b his hair； and throw on a new set of handsome clothes。 He returned alone； still claiming ignorance of Gromph's whereabouts。 〃This is as good a spot as any to spy out the lay of the land。 We're below some of the smoke but still high enough for an aerial inspection。〃
Since Gromph was still either unavailable or uninterested； the Mizzrym was—with obvious relish—acting in the Archmage’s stead。 It was arguably an affront to House Baenre as much as the archmage； but Quenthel had given the order anyway。 Until her brother returned or the crisis abated； she needed someone to speak for Sorcere； and she was sure it would upset Gromph in an amusing way to have this dandy taking his place for so important a task。
She halted； and her minions came to a ragged； jostling stop behind her。 The whip vipers reared to survey the cityscape along with her。 From the corner of her eye； she saw Pharaun smile briefly as if he found the serpents' behavior ical。
〃There；〃 said Quenthel； pointing； 〃in Manyfolk。 It looks as if House Auvryndar may have finished exterminating their own slaves； but a mob keeps them penned within their walls。〃
〃I see it； Blessed Mother；〃 said Malaggar Faen Tlabbar from the step behind her。 The First Sword of MeleeMagthere was a merrylooking； roundfaced boy with a fondness for green attire and emeralds。 〃With your permission； that might be a good place to start。 We'll lift the siege and add the Auvryndar to our own army。〃
〃So be it；〃 Quenthel said
The residents of the Academy reached the floor of the lower cavern； whereupon the instructors； particularly the warriors of the pyramid； set about the business of forming the scholars into squads； with swordsmen and spearman protecting the spellcasters。 Then they had to arrange the units into some semblance of a marching order。
Like every princess of a great House； Quenthel had a working knowledge of military matters； and she watched the attempt to create order with a jaundiced eye。
〃I could wish for a proper army；〃 she muttered。
She hadn't meant for anyone to hear； but Pharaun nodded。
〃I understand your sentiments； Mistress； but they're all we