simply utilized its psionic strength in preference to its wizardry and thus hadn't needed to whirl its three…fingered hands in arcane passes。 The wall of shadow no impediment； the Prophet had reached out； found Pharaun's intellect； and struck a crippling blow。
The barricade of darkness disappeared。 Syrzan must have employed a bit of countermagic to dispel it and in so doing； afforded Pharaun a view of the space beyond。 Rather to his surprise； Houndaer was still alive； pernothaps because Tsabrak had discarded his bow； drawn a broadsword； and e to fight alongside him。 The two conspirators were trying to catch Ryld between them； generally an effective tactic； but thus far the teacher's piwafwi； dwarven armor； and prowess had preserved him from harm。
The Tuin'Tarl made a halfhearted slash； and Ryld； recognizing the feint for what it was； didn't react。 The pale phosphorescence of the carvings gleaming on his naked limbs； Tsabrak spat venom onto his blade。 The bard brought his shrill singing to a crescendo； crossed his legs； and wrapped his arms tightly around his torso； all but tying himself in knots。
With the aid of his ring； Pharaun saw a glittering pulse of magic fly from the singer to Ryld。 He could even tell what it was intended to do。 His friend was supposed to contort his own body in helpless imitation of the bard's constrictive posture。 But； strong of spirit； Ryld resisted the pulnotsion without even realizing he was doing it。
The weapons master faked a cut at Houndaer's head； then whirled and dived。 He slid between Tsabrak's legs； breaking away from the drider and Houndaer； too； leaped up； and charged Syrzan。 He recognized the alhoon as the most dangerous of his foes； even though the illithilich hadn't atnottacked him yet。
Syrzan reached into a pocket and produced a small ceramic vial。 When it swung the bottle from right to left； a dozen orbs of bright flame matenotrialized in its wake。 They shot at Ryld in one straight line and exploded one after the other； banging rapidly like some hellish drum roll。
The glare was dazzling。 For a moment； Pharaun couldn't see anything； and he made out Ryld through floating blobs of afterimage。 His friend apnotpeared unscathed。 He was still charging and almost in sword's reach of the alhoon。
Syrzan used its mind flayer talents。 Even though the lich hadn't directed the attack at him； Pharaun felt the fringe of it。 It was like a sprinkle of hot ash burning his brain。 Ryld dropped。
Syrzan gazed down at the warrior for a moment； evidently making sure he was truly incapacitated； then walked over to Pharaun。 Despite the long skirt of its robe； there was something noticeably strange about its gait； as if its legs bent in too many places。 Up close； it exuded a faint stink not unlike rotten fish。 Its garments； once of princely quality； were frayed and stained。
It touched a finger to Pharaun's brow； and they were elsewhere。
C h a p t e r
N I N E T E E N
The Underdark was boundless； its mysteries infinite； and despite centuries of following wherever his curiosity led； Pharaun had never seen an illithid city。 Save for a dearth of inhabitants； he thought he'd just stepped into one。
Artisans had carved the walls and columns of the vault into spongiform masses like brain tissue； then covered the convolutions with lines of graven runes。 Pools of warm fluid dotted the floor。 Redolent of salt； the ponds crawled and throbbed with a mental force that even a non…psionic intellinotgence dimly sensed as a whisper of alien； inprehensible thought at the back of the mind。
Pharaun recognized that the cavern was in some sense an illusion； but that didn't make it any less interesting。 He would have liked nothing better than to explore every nook and cranny。 It was an inclination rooted in a profound sense of well…being； a blithe unconcern no more genuine than the landscape； but seductive all the same。 He would have to fight it。
He turned； saw Syrzan standing a few feet away； and cast darts of force； a spell requiring only words of power and a flourish of the hands。 Halfway to their target； the streaking shafts of azure radiance stopped dead in the air； fell to the ground； and turned into limbless things like leeches or tadnotpoles； which； squealing telepathically； slithered toward the nearest pool。
〃Your spells won't work here；〃 said Syrzan in the Prophet's rich； notpelling tones。
〃I suspected as much； but I had to try。 Are we inside your mind？〃
〃More or less。〃
Syrzan strolled closer。 Off to the side； liquid splashed and plopped as the tadpoles wallowed。
〃We're conversing in my special haven；〃 the undead mind flayer said； 〃but we're also still in the heretic's chapel。 In that reality I'm rebuking Houndaer for fetching you after I told him it was dangerous； and you're insensible。〃
〃Fascinating；〃 Pharaun said； 〃and I suppose you spirited me into the dream for a private tete…a…tete。〃
〃Essentially；〃 the alhoon said。 Even in this phantasmal domain； it smelled faintly of decaying fish。 〃This is actually a form of mind…reading。 You won't be able to lie。〃
The Master of Sorcere chuckled。 〃Some people would say that so handnoticapped； I won't be able to speak at all。〃
The mages began stroll along side by side。 The atmosphere felt quite congenial。
〃How is it；〃 Syrzan asked； 〃that you came looking for my associates and me？〃
Pharaun explained。 He didn't see how it could do any harm。
When he was finished； the illithilich said； 〃You couldn't wield my parnotticular sort of power。〃
〃I understand that now。 You enthrall the undercreatures through a deft bination of wizardry and mind flayer arts； and I lack the innate canotpacity to master the latt