ome answers。 〃Now；〃 he said； 〃please； tell us。〃
〃Right。〃 She took a deep breath to pose herself and said； 〃I do benotlieve something emboldened the Undercreatures in this house。 What's more； I think it's affected goblinoids throughout the Braeryn。〃
〃What is it？〃 asked Ryld。
〃I don't know。〃
The warrior grimaced。
〃What led you to infer this agency？〃 Pharaun asked。 〃I assume you were housebound even before you barricaded yourself in your room。〃
〃I saw a change in the brutes who live here。 They were surly； insolent； and foul…tempered； ready to maim and kill one another at the slightest provocation。〃
Ryld hitched his shoulders； working stiffness out or shifting Splitter to lie more fortably across his back。
〃How is that different than normal？〃 asked the weapons master。
Smylla scowled at him and said； 〃All things are relative。 The creatures exhibited those qualities to a greater extent than before； and whenever I heard tidings from beyond these walls； they suggested the entire precinct shared the same truculent humor。〃
Pharaun nodded。 〃Did you hear about tribal emblems appearing in the streets？〃
〃Yes；〃 she said。 〃That bespeaks a kind of madness； don't you think？〃
〃Maybe in one or two thralls；〃 said Ryld。 〃What of it？ You promised my friend information。 Tell us something we don't already know； and I mean facts； not your impressions。〃
The clairvoyant smiled。 〃All right。 I was building up to it。 Every few nights a drum beats somewhere in the Braeryn； calling the lower orders to some sort of gathering。 Many of the occupants of this house clear out。 With what little remains of my clairvoyance； I've sensed many others skulking through the streets； all converging on a mon destination。〃
〃Nonsense；〃 said Ryld。 〃Why has no drow patrol heard the signal and e to investigate？〃
〃Because；〃 said Pharaun； 〃the city possesses enchantments to mute sound。〃
〃Well； maybe。〃 Ryld turned back to Smylla。 〃Where do the creatures go； and why？〃
〃I don't know；〃 she said； 〃but perhaps； with my health and occult talnotents restored； I could find out。〃 She beamed at Pharaun。 〃I'd be happy to try。 I fulfilled the letter of our bargain； but I do realize I haven't provided you with all that much in exchange for the priceless gift you gave me。〃
〃That remark touches on the question of your future；〃 the wizard said。 〃You'd have no difficulty reestablishing your dominion here in the Stench…streets； but why live so meanly？ I could use an aide of your caliber。 Or； if you prefer； I can arrange your safe repatriation to the World Above。〃
As he spoke； he surreptitiously contorted the fingers of his left hand； exnotpressing himself in the silent language of the dark elves； a system of gesnottures as efficient and prehensive as the spoken word。
〃I think…〃 Smylla began； then her eyes opened wide。
She whimpered。 Ryld pulled his short sword out of her back； and she collapsed。 Pharaun skipped back to keep her from toppling against him。
〃Despite her previous experiences；〃 the lanky wizard said； 〃she couldn't quite leave off trusting drow。 I suppose it shows you can take the human out of the sunshine； but not the sunshine out of the human。〃 He shook his head。 〃This is the second female I've slain or murdered by proxy in the brief time since our adventure began； and I didn't particularly want to kill either one of them。 Do you suspect an underlying metaphysical significance？〃
〃How would I know？ I take it you bade me kill the snitch because she was feeding us lies。〃
〃Oh； no。 I'm convinced she was telling the truth。 The problem was that I deceived her。 Her metamorphosis didn't really purge her disease。 It was a bit tricky just suppressing it for a few minutes。〃
Pharaun stepped back again to keep the spreading pool of blood from staining his boots； and Ryld cleaned the short sword on the dead human's bedding。
〃You didn't want to leave her alive and angry to carry tales to Grey…anna；〃 the weapons master said。
〃It's unlikely they would have found one another； but why take the chance？〃
〃And you asked Smylla about the marks on the walls。 You're just too cursed curious to let the subject go。〃
Pharaun grinned。 〃Don't be silly。 I'm the very model of single…minded determination； and I was asking to further our mission。〃
Ryld glanced at the door and the iron bar。 They were still holding。
〃What does the strange behavior of goblins have to do with the rogue males？〃 he asked。
〃I don't know yet；〃 Pharaun answered； 〃but we have two oddities ocnotcurring at the same time and in the same precinct。 Doesn't it make sense to infer a relationship？〃
〃Not necessarily。 Menzoberranzan has scores of plots and conspiracies going on at any given time。 They aren't all connected。〃
〃Granted。 However； if these two situations are linked； then by inquirnoting into one； we likewise probe the other。 You and I have experienced a denotpressing lack of success picking up the trail of our runaways。 Therefore； we'll investigate the lower orders and see where that path takes us。〃
〃How will we do that？〃
〃Follow the drum； of course。〃
The door banged。
〃First；〃 said Ryld； 〃we have to get out of here。〃
〃Easily managed。 I'll remove the locking talisman from the door； then use illusion to make us blend with the walls。 In a minute or two； the resinotdents will break the door down。 When they're busy abusing Smylla's corpse and ransacking her possessions； we'll put on goblin faces and slip out in the confusion。〃
C h a p t e r
E L E V E N
Quenthel's patrol had stalked the shadowy； candlelit passages of Arach…Tinilith for hours； until spaces she knew intimately began to seem strange and subtly unreal； and her subordinates'