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The thrall cut at Greyanna's head。 Under other circumstances； she would have retreated out of range； but that would break the line。 Wishing she'd brought a shield to the revel； she lifted her mace in a high parry。 The hobgoblin's broadsword rang against the stone haft of the war club and skipped off。
At once she riposted with a strike to the flank； and the undercreature whipped his targe around to block。 The blow bashed a dent in the round steel shield and knocked the hobgoblin reeling back； his slanted eyes wide with surprise。 He didn't know about the potion that had lent her an ogre's strength。
Greyanna struck to the side； slaying the slave who was menacing her neighbor； then her own bald adversary came edging back。 He hovered a second； then feinted to the flank and finished with a cut to the chest。 Discerning the true threat； she halfstepped inside the arc of the attack and swung at his jaw。 The blow crunched home； and he toppled backward with a shattered； bloody chin and a broken neck。
She killed two more hobgoblins； then something prodded her shin； a thrust that failed to penetrate her boot。 She looked down； and it was a kobold； armed with a fireplace poker； who had apparently been scurrying about the feet of the larger slaves。 Greyanna killed the reptilian imp with a roundhouse kick。
She cast about for her next adversary。 She didn't seem to have one。 The fight was over； and the few surviving hobgoblins were running away。
〃Form up〃
Once the procession was under way； Aunrae； striding along at Greyanna's side； asked； 〃May I know where we're going？ An ally's castle？〃
〃No；〃 Greyanna replied。 〃I suspect we couldn't get in。 We're going to hide our charges in Bauthwaf。〃
The column crept past corpses and burning stone； and as they made their way to the cavern wall； other moners came running out of their homes to join the procession。 Greyanna's first impulse was to turn away those without ties to House Mizzrym； but she thought better of it。 Many of the newers carried swords； and she could press the dolts into martial service if needed。
Occasionally someone collapsed； coughing feebly； poisoned by the stinging smoke。 The rest stepped over her and pressed on。
Someone gave a thin； high cry； as if at an unexpected pain。 Greyanna spun around。 The goblins weren't attacking。 Her client the canoe maker had simply seized his opportunity to knife another male in the back。
〃A petitor；〃 the craftsman explained。
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The labyrinthine fortress known as the Great Mound contained a number of magically sealed areas。 Unbelievably； the rebellious slave troops penetrated everywhere else。 The Baenre fought the goblinoids in the stalagmite towers； across the aerial bridges that connected them； and through the tunnels beneath them； even along the balconies and skywalks of the stalactite bastions； reclaiming their domain a bloody inch at a time。
The thralls made their final stand in the courtyard； a spacious area surrounded by a web like iron fence。 The barrier was a potent magical defense； and； as the Baenre had just discovered； of no use whatsoever if one's foe was already inside the pound。
Triel floated down from the battlements above to take a hand in the last of the fighting。 Jeggred； who'd stood beside her since the battle menced； drifted down as well。 Both mother and demi demon son wore a copious spattering of blood； none of it their own。
In truth； Triel could have left the task of clearing the yard to her warriors； but she was enjoying herself。 Partly； it was simple drow bloodlust； but she'd also found a directness； a simplicity； in slaughtering goblins that was sadly lacking in the plex task of ruling the city。 For the first time since ascending to her mother's throne； she felt she knew what she was doing。
Half a dozen minotaurs； formidable brutes she had often employed as her own personal guards； chanted； 〃Freedom〃 as they swung their axes or crouched to gore an enemy with their horns。 Triel read the last line of runes from a scroll that； when the rebellion menced； had contained seven spells。
Dazzling flame blazed up from the ground beneath the minotaurs' hooves。 Four of the huge beasts fell down screaming and thrashing。 The other two leaped clear of the conflagration。 They didn't escape harm entirely。 The fire burned away patches of their shaggy fur and seared the flesh beneath； but the injuries didn't slow them down。 They bellowed and charged。
A minotaur towered over a drow of normal stature； and made Triel look like a tiny sprite。 Still； she smiled as she stepped forward to meet the foe。 One of the slaves focused on her and the other； on Jeggred。
The matron mother knew a minotaur liked to overwhelm an opponent with the momentum of its initial rush。 She waited until the creature was nearly on top of her； then sidestepped。 He was lumbering too fast to stop or pensate； and she smashed his knee with her mace as he plunged by。
The slave fell on his face； and she robbed him of the use of his limbs with a bonebreaking strike to the spine。 Meanwhile； Jeggred simultaneously chewed on his own opponent's neck and ripped at the brute's torso； hooking the guts out。
After that； Triel and the draegloth killed several gnolls before running out of foes。 Panting； the Baenre strode to the foot of a wall and floated upward again； high enough to peer beyond the eminence of Qu'ellarz'orl to the burning city beyond。 Jeggred followed。
Earlier； when she'd first discerned that slaves throughout Menzoberranzan were rebelling； she'd used a certain magical diamond to call the males of Bregan D'aerthe from their secret lair。 The sell swords were at their work。
One neighborhood in the south of the city was thick with goblins。 Even from the Great Mound； she could make out the boil of motion in the streets。 Then； over the course of just a few seconds； that agitation ceased； as the creatures apparently fell dead all at once。
It was an extraordinary feat of mass assassination； but the mercenaries had only cleared one small part of Menzoberranzan。 They couldn't reclaim the entire city by themselves； if； in fact； the job could be done at all。 Triel shouted down into the yard； to any officer within earshot； 〃Assemble my troops。 We're marching out。〃
Jeggred couldn't speak for joy。 This had already been the best night of his admittedly young life； and he was drunk on slaughter。 He'd killed and killed and killed and killed again； an ecstasy that put his sport with Faeryl Zauvirr to shame。
And his mother said it wasn't over They were going to descend into the city to ge on murder； and Jeggred would know a fiend's transcendent bliss。 The only hard part would be remembering not to kill dark elves； just everyone else。
He squeezed Triel's shoulder with a quivering hand； one of the smaller ones。
Valas Hune skulked around the corner； then blinked。 A keep blocked the street； where no bastion should be—then the huge thing moved。
No； not a keep after all； but the biggest stone giant he'd ever seen。 The scout knew that some Houses kept giant slaves as well as the more mon goblinoids and ogres； and； gray in the firelight； with a long head and black； sunken eyes； this specimen still wore iron bracelets dangling lengths of broken chain。 From somewhere it had procured a gre