〃Mistress 。。。 I 。。。〃
〃If I had my magic； I could pel you to do as you're told； but in its absence； I must take other measures。〃
Quenthel raised the whip； sweeping the vipers off Drisinil's face in the process； and slammed the metal butt of the weapon down in the middle of her forehead。
The mistress then took out the silver vial。 She pinched the dazed； feebly struggling girl's nostrils closed； poured the stimulant into her open mouth； and forced her to swallow。
The effect was immediate。 The younger female bucked and thrashed until her eyes flew open。
The high priestess hopped back down to the floor。 〃How does it feel？ I imagine your heart is hammering。〃
Drisinil trembled like the string of a viol。 Sweat seeped from her pores。
〃What did you do to me？〃
〃That should be obvious to an acplished poisoner like yourself。〃
〃You've poisoned me？〃
〃It's a slow toxin。 Do as I ordered； and I'll give you the antidote。〃
〃I can't cozen the others like this。 They'll see something's wrong with me。〃
〃The external signs should ease in a minute or two； though you'll still feel the poison speeding your heart and gnawing at your nerves。 You'll just have to put up with that。〃
〃All right；〃 Drisinil said。 〃Just bring the antidote with you when you e to Lirdnolu's room。〃
The mistress arched an eyebrow； and Drisinil added； 〃Please。〃
Quenthel smiled。 Catching her mood； the whip vipers sighed with pleasure。
〃How did you know your darkness would madden the beast？〃 asked Pharaun； lathering his narrow chest。
The night before； after he made way back to Pharaun； the two of them had found they had enough healing potions to cure all the wounds that either had sustained。 Still； despite their restoration to full vitality； the next few hours proved exhausting； as they struggled to survive the madness of the hunt and watch out for Greyanna at the same time。 At last they'd esnotcaped the Braeryn。
Claiming that while Greyanna was seeking them in the Stenchstreets； they'd be safe in pleasant； prosperous Narbondellyn； Pharaun had insisted that he and Ryld dispense with disguises and celebrate their sundry discovnoteries and escapes with a visit to one of Menzoberranzan's finest public baths。 The warrior had objected to what he saw as reckless bravado； but not too vehemently。 Ryld supposed that he and Pharaun would climb beyond their foes' reach soon enough。 The prospect made him feel rather wistful。
Over the course of the past few minutes； he'd been enjoying the luxury of scrubbing off the sweat and grime that had accumulated on his person； sitting down； and thinking about nothing in particular。 He should have known the peace and quiet couldn't last for long。 Pharaun couldn't go long without craving conversation。
〃How did you know that； shrouded in darkness or no； the foulwing wouldn't just keep descending； guided by its other senses？〃 the wizard persisted。
The warrior shrugged and said； 〃I didn't know； but it seemed like a good guess。 The thing's an animal； isn't it？〃
Pharaun grinned。 〃Not really。 It's a creature from another plane。 Still； your instincts were sound。〃
Ryld shrugged and replied； 〃I was lucky to get away from there with my life。 Very lucky。〃
〃Fire and glare； you're a master of Tier Breche。 You're not supposed to be modest。 Are you ready to move？〃
They rose from an octagonal pool set in the black marble floor； and； having pleted the quotidian business of cleaning themselves； headed for a larger basin where they would luxuriate in steaming； scented mineral water。 Later in the day； it would be packed； but it wasn't fashionable to visit the baths so early in the morning。 They had it to themselves； which was convenient。 They could converse without fear of eavesdroppers。
Ryld walked straight down the steps and sat on the underwater ledge。 The warmth felt good on his leg； mended but still a little sore； and he sighed with contentment。 Pharaun made a production of immersing himnotself in stages； an inch at a time； as if the heat were almost more than he could bear。
〃I've been thinking about your malaise；〃 the wizard said； once everynotthing but his head was finally submerged。 〃I have a solution。〃
〃What do you mean？〃
〃Resign from Melee…Magthere and bee the weapons master of a noble House。 It will have to be one of the lesser ones； of course； you being a moner； but that's all right。 You may see more excitement that way。〃
〃Why would I do that？ It's not a move up。 It might not be a loss of rank； depending on the House； but still； what would be the point？〃
〃You're bored； and it would be a change。〃
〃One that would put me under the thumb of any number of high priestesses。 I'd have less autonomy than I do as an instructor。〃
〃I managed to pursue my own objectives while under my mother's sunotpervision。 Still； you make a legitimate point。 You might find yourself abnothorring the tug of the reins。 What's the answer； then？〃
〃Who says there is one？ Except； perhaps； further lunatic holidays with you。 I admit； this one broke the tedium。〃
A diminutive female gnome carried a pile of freshly laundered and folded towels out of a doorway on the far wall。 Ryld wondered if she was one of the Prophet's followers； and if she had any of the rabble…rouser's duergar firepots stashed somewhere in the bathhouse。 It felt strange to think of a humble undercreature that way…wielding stone…burning bombs against its betters。
〃You speak of our errand in the past tense；〃 the wizard said。
〃Well； once you tell the Archmage the runaways are in the Braeryn fonotmenting a pitiful little goblin uprising； it'll be over； won't it？ Gromph will pardon your transgressions。 The Council； having failed to stop our innotquiries；