in adnotvance of her twin。 Then came the hard part。 She and her helpers had to abduct one of the slate…colored little males without the knowledge of his fellows； equip him with a platinum amulet that her subordinate clerics； mages； and her personal jeweler had created in an amazingly brief time； bind the marauder with spells of forgetfulness and persuasion； and slip him back among his friends。
Sabal found the duergar two days later。 After her troops exterminated the brigands； they looted the bodies and found the brooch； which was valuable； beautiful； and； as those wizards who were present soon discovnotered； conferred several useful magical abilities。 It never occurred to Sabal that a treasure plundered from a dead dwarf might constitute a trap laid by a sister dark elf； and she happily laid claim to that portion of the spoils。
From that day forward； Sabal slowly； subtly sickened in body； mind； and spirit； meanwhile struggling pathetically to hide any appearance of weaknotness from all who might discern it and decide to exploit it to kill her； tornotment her； or strip her of her rank。 Which； of course； was pretty much everyone in Menzoberranzan。
Pharaun probably recognized her deterioration； but he was unable to arrest it。 Perhaps he didn't even know she was constantly carrying an unnotusual new magical device about her person。 The curse that was poisoning her； that lay insidiously threaded among all the benign enchantments； made her cling to the amulet with an obsessive fascination and fear that others would steal it if she didn't keep it hidden。
During the several months of Sabal's malaise； Greyanna sometimes wondered if Pharaun would ally himself with her if asked again。 She didn't。 She just watched and waited for her chance to finish Sabal off。 She'd learned her lesson。 No matter how unlikely the possibility seemed； she would not leave her twin alive to recoup her fortunes yet again。
One night； Pharaun left the castle； either on some errand or simply benotcause he was finding the situation inside oppressive。 Later on； the suspinotcious； insomniac Sabal somehow slipped away from her guards and servants and began aimlessly wandering the citadel on her own。
Greyanna and half a dozen of her minions confronted Sabal in the fungus garden； where the topiarist had trimmed the phosphorescent growths into fanciful shapes； fertilized in some cases with the ripe； diced remains of expired slaves。 Sabal's final moments might have seemed pitinotful； had Greyanna been susceptible to that crippling emotion。 Her addled； desperate twin tried to use the platinum amulet against its maker； but Greyanna dispelled its powers with a thought。 Then Sabal endeavored to cast a spell； but she couldn't recite the lines with the proper cadence or exnotecute the gestures with the necessary precision。
Laughing； Greyanna and the other waylayers closed in on their victim； and they didn't even have to strike a blow。 Their mere proximity made Sabal wail； clutch at her heart； and fall over dead as a stone。 Weak to the last。
For a second； Greyanna felt a bit cheated； but she shook the feeling off。 Sabal was dead； that was the main thing； and with a bit of luck； she would still have Pharaun to torture。
Chanting words that sent a cold； charnel breeze moaning through the garden； she reanimated Sabal's corpse。 She had use for it； first as a lure then as an instrument of humiliation。 She hoped that before his extermination； her brother might be induced to spend one more tender interlude with it。
When Pharaun returned to House Mizzrym an hour later； his hair and garments were as immaculate as ever； but he reeked of wine and walked with a slightly weaving and excessively careful tread。 Evidently he'd been drinking his troubles away。 Perfect。
As it had been instructed； the zombie stepped out of a doorway at the other end of the hall。 Its arms were extended in a beseeching gesture。
Pharaun took a few steps toward it and faltered。 Drunk or not； he had finally noticed that； despite Greyanna's efforts to keep it warm； it was moving stiffly； awkwardly； as Sabal； even in the throes of her illness； never had。 But he'd spotted the anomaly too late。 He'd already advanced to the very center of the trap。
Greyanna whispered a spell of paralysis。 Pharaun staggered as his muscles all clenched at once。 The fighters swarmed out of their hiding places； surrounded him； clubbed him repeatedly； and threw him down benotneath them。
She laughed with delight。 Then her henchmen； more or less clumped in a pile on the floor； cried out in surprise and consternation。 They started to stand up； and she saw that Pharaun did not lie crushed； bloody； and helpnotless on the floor beneath them。 Impossible as it seemed； somehow he'd renotsisted the paralysis； then used his wizardry to extricate himself from the midst of his attackers。
Knowing that Sabal was dead； Pharaun must likewise assume that withnotout the aegis of a high priestess he could no longer survive in House Miznotzrym。 Certainly he couldn't count on his vicious mother； who hadn't bestirred herself to save one daughter from another； to do more for a paltry son。 He was surely running back toward the exit。
〃That way！ Fast！〃 Greyanna shouted； pointing； goading her agents into motion。 When they rounded a corner； they saw Pharaun sprinting along ahead of them； his piwafwi billowing out behind him。 He wasn't weaving or stumbling…evidently desperation had cured his intoxication…but he was clutching his head； and leaving a trail of bloody drops on the polished floor。 Evidently all the bludgeoning had done at least a little good。
Greyanna's minions shot their hand crossbows； but the