my family； who strapped me to a bed and debated whether it wouldn't be more convenient all around to smother me with a pillow。 Sabal was my advocate and guard。 She couldn't afford to lose her staunchest ally。
〃Let's skip over all the raving and hallucinations； shall we？ Eventually my wits returned； and as I reflected on my experiences in the Abyss； I renotalized that while Lolth was infinitely dreadful and malign； she was transcendently beautiful as well。 I'd simply been too distraught to recognize it at the time。〃
The magic of both the ring and the brooch had acpanied the dreamers into the dream。 Otherwise； Pharaun wouldn't be able to see the triangle glowing。 So perhaps if he disposed of the talisman in this place； its counterpart in mundane reality would lose its enchantments。
Possibly not； also； but the Master of Sorcere felt he had to take a chance。 He doubted he'd get another。
〃Certainly she exemplified that supreme power to which all dark elves； particularly we wizards； aspire；〃 the drow rambled on。 〃I felt inspired that she was our patron。 She's worthy of us； as we are worthy of her。〃
〃She impressed you；〃 Syrzan said； its mouth tentacles wriggling； 〃as even the pettiest deity can overawe a mortal。 Still； you're a scholar of the mysteries。 You should know there are powers greater than Lolth； entities who； if they saw fit…〃
Pharaun snatched the triangular ivory brooch off the undead mind flayer's soiled and shabby robe and slammed it down on the convoluted parapet at the edge of the bridge。 The ornament didn't break。 In desperanottion； he pulled back his arm to throw it。 Perhaps the illithid…lich would have difficulty retrieving it from the murky pool below。
A cold； rough hand grabbed him by the collar and wrenched him down。 He was powerless to resist。 In the reality Syrzan had created for itself； it was as strong as a titan。
The lich ripped the brooch from Pharaun's grasp and thrust it into a pocket。 It clutched the dark elf with both hands； leaned its head close； and wrapped its dry； flaking mouth tentacles over the mage's skull。 Pharaun knew this was how mind flayers fed。 They wormed their members into whatever orifices were most convenient and yanked out their victim's brain。
He wondered what would happen when Syrzan subjected his dream self to such treatment。 Would his physical body perish； or would it survive as a living but mindless shell？
〃Didn't you like my story？〃 Pharaun gasped。 The lich's grip was squeeznoting the breath out of him。 〃You seemed quite engrossed。 That was why I dared to hope I could catch you by surprise。〃
〃You put your hands on me！ I do not permit that！〃
The mellifluous voice of the Prophet was roughening into an ugly notbination of hisses and buzzes。 The tentacles squeezed tighter
〃Technically； these aren't my hands；〃 Pharaun said。 Goddess； it felt as if his skull was going to shatter！ 〃Since this is all imaginary。〃
〃You will tell me how you knew which charm to grab。〃
〃My ring。 It allows me to see and interpret patterns of magical force。 No wizard should be without one。〃
〃You were a fool to try to thwart me here in my private world。 Don't you understand that inside this construct； I'm a。 god。〃
〃I'm dead regardless；〃 replied Pharaun； 〃and when a drow knows his life is forfeit； he bends his thoughts to revenge。〃
〃But you're mistaken。〃 Syrzan loosened the grip of the tentacles and said； 〃I'm not going to kill you。 That would be wasteful。 As you observed； my objective is to enslave all Menzoberranzan。 Certainly you； with all your talents； will make a useful thrall。 Had you not manhandled me； your bondage might have been relatively light； for I enjoy the society of other mages。 Now I'm afraid you aren't going to enjoy it in the slightest。〃
Pain ripped through Pharaun's head。 He screamed。
C h a p t e r
T W E N T Y
〃Let me do it；〃 Houndaer growled。
His scimitar at the ready； he stalked toward Ryld。
The Master of Melee…Magthere tried and failed to rise。 As a student at the Academy and in all the years since； he'd studied techniques for trannotscending pain； but he'd never felt anything parable to the invisible blow the undead illithid had struck him。 It had been like a spear driving through his mind。
Syrzan emerged from its momentary trance and said； 〃No。〃 Houndaer turned。 〃No？〃 he asked。 〃You were right about them。 Obviously。〃 〃And I trust；〃 said the lich； its mouth tentacles wriggling； 〃that you'll renotmember whose judgment is superior。 Now that they're here； however； they might as well serve our cause as you hoped they would。 It's just a matter of reshaping their minds。〃
The bard lifted an eyebrow and asked； 〃Can you do that？〃 〃Yes；〃 said Syrzan； 〃but not instantaneously； and not now。 I need my strength to give the Call。〃
It pulled Pharaun's silver ring off the unconscious drow's finger。
〃Lock them up for the time being；〃 the alhoon ordered。
〃All right；〃 saidTsabrak。 〃I hope you're going to fix it so we can all connottrol them。〃
He too advanced on Ryld。
The weapons master struggled once again to rise。 Someone lashed him over the head with the flat of a blade； and all the strength spilled out of him like wine from an overturned cup。
The next few minutes were a blur。 Houndaer； Tsabrak； the bard； and annotother renegade carried their captives to a cell。 It had the same grime and air of desolation as much of the rest of the castle； but someone； exhibiting a proper dark elf's sense of priorities； had gone to the trouble to refurbish the locks and restraints。
The rogues divested Ryld of his cloak and armor； then chained him to the wall。 As he'd expected； th