ture well in hand？〃
Deprived of her voice； Aunrae nodded enthusiastically。 Her chin bumped against the butt of the staff。
〃What a sensible girl you are。 You must also bear in mind that we aren't hunting Pharaun simply for my own personal gratification。 It's for the benefit of all； including yourself。 Therefore； this isn't an ideal time to seek to discredit and supplant one of your betters。 It's a time for us to swallow our mutual distaste and work together until the threat is gone。 Do you think you can remember that？〃
Aunrae kept nodding。 She was shaking； too； and her eyes were wide with terror。 Small wonder； she must have been running short of breath。 Still； she had the sense not to try to grab the staff and jerk it away from her neck。 She knew what would happen if she tried。
Greyanna was tempted to make it happen anyway。 Aunrae's submission was a small pleasure beside the fierce satisfaction that would e from ramming the staff into the helpless female's windpipe。 The urge was a hot tightness in her hands and a throbbing in the scar across her face。
But she needed minions to catch the relative she truly hated； and； annotnoying as she was； Aunrae was game； and wielded magic with a certain fanotcility。 It would be more practical to murder her another day。 Greyanna was sure she could manage it whenever she chose。 Despite her ambitions； Aunrae was no threat。 She lacked the intelligence。
Feeling a strange pang of nostalgia for Sabal； who had at least been a rival worth destroying； Greyanna lifted the staff away from her cousin's throat。
〃You will whisper no poison words in Mother's ears；〃 the First Daughnotter of House Mizzrym said。 〃For the time being； you will leave off plotting against me or anyone else。 You will devote your every thought to finding our truant brother。 Otherwise； I'll put an end to you。〃
Ryld had never experienced instantaneous travel before。 To his surprise； he was conscious of the split second of teleportation； and he found it rather unpleasant。 It didn't feel as if he were speeding through the world but as if the world were hurtling at and through him； albeit painlessly。
Then it was over。 He'd unconsciously braced himself to pensate for the jolt of a sudden stop； and the absence of any such sensation rocked him on his feet。
By the time he recovered his balance； he knew more or less where he was。 A whiff of dung told him。 He looked around and confirmed the suspicion。
Pharaun had dropped the two of them in a disused sentry post on a natnotural balcony。 The ledge overlooked Donigarten with its moss fields； grove of giant mushrooms； and fungus farms fertilized with night soil from the city。 Hordes of ore and goblin slaves either tended the malodorous cropnotlands or speared fish from rafts on the lake； while rothe lowed from the island in the center of the water。 Overseers and an armed patrol wandered the fields to keep the thralls in line。 Additional guards looked down from other high perches about the cavern wall。
Ryld knew Pharaun had transported them about as far as was possible。 In the Realms that See the Sun； teleportation could carry folk around the world； but in the Underdark； the disruptive radiance of certain elements present in the rock limited the range to about half a mile…far enough to throw Greyanna and her pack off the scent。
Pharaun held the pilfered golden ornament up； inspecting it。
〃It only holds one teleportation at a time；〃 he said after a moment。 Even after all his exertions； he wasn't panting as hard as he might have been； not bad for such a sybarite； thought Ryld as he set down his bloody great…sword。 〃It's useless now； and I lost my dancing rapier； curse it； but I'm not too disconsol…〃
Ryld grabbed Pharaun by the arm and flipped him； laying him down hard。
The wizard blinked； sat up； and brushed a strand of his sculpted hair back into place。
〃If you'd told me you craved more fighting；〃 Pharaun said； 〃I could have left you behind with my kin。〃
〃The hunters； you mean；〃 Ryld growled； 〃who found us quickly。〃
〃Well； we asked a fair number of questions in a fair number of places。 We even wanted someone to find us； just not that lot。〃 Pharaun stood back up and brushed at his garments； adding； 〃Now； I have something extraornotdinary to tell you。〃
〃Save it；〃 Ryld replied。 〃Back there in the net； when you and Greyanna were chatting； I got the strong impression that the priestesses weren't just hunting some faceless agent。 They knew from the start their target was you； and you knew they knew。〃
Pharaun sighed。 〃I didn t know the matrons would choose Greyanna to discourage our efforts。 That was a somewhat disconcerting surprise。 But the rest of it？ Yes。〃
〃How？〃
〃Gromph has invisible glyphs scribed on the walls of his office。 Invisible to most people； anyway。 They protect him in various ways。 One； a black sigil shaped a little like a bat； is supposed to keep servers and spell casters from eavesdropping on his private conversations； but when he and I spoke； it was drawn imperfectly。 It still would have balked many a spy； but not someone with the resources and expertise of oh。 say； his sisters 。。。 or the Council。〃
Ryld frowned。 〃Gromph botched it？〃
〃Of course not；〃 Pharaun snorted。 〃Do you think the Archmage of Menzoberranzan inpetent？ He drew it precisely as he wanted it。 He knew the high priestesses were trying to spy on him…they surely always have and doubtless always will…and he intended them to overhear。〃
〃He was setting you up。〃
〃Now you're getting it。 While the clerics stay busy seeking me； the decoy； my illustrious chief will undertake another； more discreet inquiry undisturbed； by performing divinations and