〃I was too busy wagering on you。〃 The wizard held out his purse； and grumbling losers dropped coins into it。 〃I knew you wouldn't need help against a couple drunks。〃
Ryld grunted； wiped his weapons on a handy bar rag； and asked； 〃Do you want that red sword？ It's a good weapon。 Maybe a Godeep family heirnotloom。〃
Pharaun grinned。 〃Which would mean they acquired it when； last tenday？ No； thank you anyway； but what would a spell caster do with it？ Besides； I wouldn't want the weight to stretch and chafe my clothes。〃
〃Suit yourself。〃
The Master of Sorcere sauntered up to Ryld； then spoke far more softly。 〃Are you about ready to go？ I'd just as soon take my leave before Nym wanders downstairs。〃
Ryld wondered what mischief his friend had mitted。 〃Almost；〃 he said。 〃Give Nym something to pay for the cleanup。〃
The warrior walked to the sava tables； retrieved Splitter's scabbard and his own winnings； then looked around for the trader。 The boy had made a hasty withdrawal from the table the instant the fight began； but he hadn't gone far。 Most every drow had a taste for blood sport。
Ryld tossed him a gold coin with the Baenre emblem stamped on it。 〃Here are your winnings。〃
The young merchant looked puzzled。 Perhaps the drink was to blame。
〃If a player disturbs the arrangement of the board； he loses；〃 Ryld exnotplained。 〃It's in the rules。〃
*
〃It was gratifying to e upstairs and observe you handling our confinotdential inquiries with your usual light touch；〃 Pharaun said。
He paused to let a float chest； attended by a dark elf merchant and six hulking bugbear slaves； drift across the lane。 The stone box looked like a sarcophagus。 Maybe it was。 In the Bazaar； a shopper could purchase nearly anything； including cadavers and mummies once embalmed with strange spices and laid to rest with mystic rites。 Indeed； such wares were available either whole or by the desiccated piece。
〃It wasn't my fault；〃 Ryld replied。 〃I did nothing to provoke that fight。〃 He hesitated。 〃Well； perhaps I was a bit brusque when the Godeeps first stalked up to the table。〃
〃You？ Never！〃
〃Spare me your japes。 Why do we have to question people anyway？〃 The Master of Melee…Magthere ducked beneath the corner of a low…hangnoting rothe…hide awning and added； 〃You ought to be able to look in a scrynoting pool and find the runaways。〃
Pharaun smiled。 〃Where would be the fun in that？ Now seriously； why did the Godeeps take exception to your no doubt impeccably subtle quesnottions in the first place？ Were they in league with the rogues？〃
〃I don't think they knew anything。 I think they were merely sympanotthetic to the idea of eloping and generally in a foul mood。 It looked as if one of the females in House Godeep had disciplined them with her fists or a cudgel； and they only needed an excuse to try and take their resentnotment out on someone。〃
〃This hypothetical priestess beat the House weapons master as if he were a thrall； or at best； the least useful of her male kin？ Doesn't that strike you as odd？〃
〃Now that you mention it； somewhat。〃
〃The Jewel Box was unusually crowded today as well。〃
Pharaun noticed a blindfolded orc juggling daggers for the amusement of the crowd and paused for a moment to watch the show。 Ryld heaved a sigh； signaling his impatience at the interruption in their deliberations。
The wizard counted five sharp knives； which the slave's scarred hands caught and tossed with flawless accuracy。 A laudable performance； even if it lacked a certain elan。 Pharaun tossed a coin to the orc's owner； then strolled on。 Ryld tramped along beside him。
〃So；〃 said the weapons master； 〃Tathlyn gets a thrashing； the brothel enjoys a glut of patrons； and you see a connection。 What？〃
〃What if all those boys endured a beating； or at least some sort of unnotpleasantness； at the hands of their female relations？ What if that's the reason they flocked to their sad little sanctuary； to lie low； lick their wounds； and kick around one of Nym's captives in their turn？〃
Ryld frowned； pondering the notion。 〃You're guessing that priestesses in a diversity of Houses have grown more harsh and unreasonable。 Obvinotously； that could provoke a spate of runaway males； but what could make the dispositions of all those priestesses curdle in unison？〃
〃I have a hunch that when we figure that out； we'll be getting somenotwhere。〃
The two masters circled around a colossal snail pulling a dozen…wheeled cart。 The creature's mouth opened into an O and Pharaun…who had once only narrowly survived an encounter with such a giant mollusk in the wild…nearly sacrificed his dignity by flinching； even though he knew this particular specimen had undoubtedly been divested of its ability to spew a caustic sludge。 Sure enough； nothing flew from the draft creature's maw except a few clear； harmless droplets。 The Wagoner lashed the hostile snail with his long…handled whip。
〃What did you learn downstairs？〃 asked Ryld。
〃Nothing； really；〃 said Pharaun； 〃nothing we hadn't already inferred。 Still； I was able to oblige an old rade。 That was pleasant in its own way。〃
〃If neither of us discovered anything substantial； our visit to the Jewel Box was a waste of time。〃
〃Not a bit of it。 The bloodshed perked you up； didn't it？ You've pretty much been smiling ever since。〃
〃Don't be ridiculous。 I admit it was an interesting little scuffle 。 。 。〃
Ryld began to recount the battle one action at a time； with prehennotsive analysis of the alternative options and underlying strategy。 Pharaun nodded and did his best to look interested。
Triel； Matron Mother of House Baenre and a diminutive ebony doll of a dark elf； marched briskly down the corri