were not there。 The room was not empty； however。 One of the House torturemasters was methodically straightening tools that had been upset with the booming thumps from outside。
〃Where are they？〃 Faeryl demanded； gesturing to the rack where Quenthel had been restrained。
The torturemaster turned and looked at her vacantly； not understanding。
Growling in exasperation； the ambassador repeated herself。
The other drow looked at her； then prehension lit his features。
〃Oh； they're not here；〃 he said。
Faeryl rolled her eyes and said； 〃I can see that； you foolish boy。 Where are they？〃
〃That ugly drow； Zammzt； ordered them taken to a cell；〃 the torturemaster replied。 〃I saw to it personally。〃
Another severe blast rocked the room； and tools were scattered everywhere。 Faeryl managed to grab hold of the column where Jeggred had been chained for support； but the other drow was not so lucky。 He went down in a pile…and even more unfortunately； one of the many braziers of hot coals tipped over onto him； showering him with burning cinders。 Screaming； the drow scrambled away from the embers； but he was already a conflagration； his clothes ignited and smoking as he flailed helplessly about。
Faeryl bit her lip in irritation。
Now； why do you suppose he would have moved them； and to where？ she thought； turning to leave。
She decided she'd have to ask someone to show her； and she departed。
***
Pharaun faltered for only a moment at the sight of the two drow priestesses before him。 One； quite simply； was beautiful。 The other； while lacking the graceful curves and fluid motion of the first； was obviously nobly born and not unpleasant to look at； either。 Then； getting a closer look； the wizard recognized her。 She was the drow who had been in chains in the audience chamber only moments before。 In fact； he realized； she still wore the manacles she'd been shackled with； though the connecting chain between them had been severed。 Neither of the females looked happy to see him； Ryld； or Valas。
〃Damn；〃 Pharaun muttered； returning to his senses。
He reached inside his piwafwi； fumbling quickly for the wand he'd used to dispatch the drow soldiers not too long before。 In front of him； Ryld went on guard； raising Splitter into an aggressive position as he advanced warily。 Valas slipped to the opposite side of the hallway； automatically fanning out with Ryld to e at the adversaries from either flank。
The lovely creature who'd first caught the mage's eye hissed in vexation and brought a morning star out in front of her。 She had a buckler on her other arm held to the side where Valas was closing。
〃It's them！〃 she snarled； taking up a position in front of the other drow as though to defend her。
Both dark elves seemed quite capable of taking care of themselves； and Pharaun noted the finely tooled chain mail each of them wore。 The one to the rear actually sported the House Melarn insignia on hers； and the wizard guessed she must be one of the dead matron mother's daughters。
Pharaun had his wand out； but before he could invoke the trigger words to use the thing； Ryld stepped in and launched a short series of strikes at the dark elfin front of him； who managed with some difficulty to parry the attacks with both her weapon and her buckler。 The Master of Sorcere knew that Ryld was not really pressing his attack yet。 The weapons master was attempting to size up the skill of his petition with a few well…placed feints before closing in to finish the job efficiently。 Valas continued to creep in from her other side； and she back…stepped more than once to prevent the scout from getting behind her。 Pharaun aimed the wand and prepared to recite the activation phrase； when the other drow； the daughter of House Melarn； spoke up； causing him to falter。
〃Hold； Danifae。〃
The drow in front retreated another couple steps； but she did not drop her guard。
〃We have no quarrel with you；〃 the still…unnamed Melarn said。 〃I know you don't have reason to trust us； but we're not the enemy。 。 。 。 They are。〃
She gestured upward； to the floors above。
Ryld took a threatening step forward then he too stopped and held his guard。 Valas was watching both sides with glittering eyes； kukris at the ready。
〃How convenient；〃 Pharaun said； smiling coldly。 〃The imperiled daughter； implicated in her mother's treason and with no friends； making a peace offering。 At least until we let down our guard； right？ Then you turn us over to Matron Mother Zauvirr； claim you captured us； and hope she lets you off the hook。〃
〃I could easily say the same about you； but I won't；〃 the Melarn daughter replied。 Without taking her eyes off Pharaun； she added； 〃Danifae； I said stand down！〃
Pharaun raised an eyebrow at her tone of mand。 Danifae nodded in acquiescence； stepping farther back until she was side by side with her mistress。
〃Well； you're right about that；〃 Pharaun said。 〃We don't have any reason to believe you。 If you're on the outs with Mistress Zauvirr； what are you doing down here； all decked out in your finest armor？〃
〃We're trying to save our own skins；〃 the daughter said； a bit more testily than Pharaun thought necessary； considering she was trying to broker some sort of truce； albeit temporary。 〃I think we both might have been played by Ssipriina Zauvirr。 If you e with us； help us； we might be able to get you information that will help prove it。〃
〃Lower your weapons to the ground；〃 Ryld said； 〃and we'll consider listening to you。〃
〃I think not；〃 the daughter countered。 〃At least； not until we have some assurances that you won't attack us the moment we do。 I don't know for sure that you weren't in league with my mother。〃
Ryld snarled； raising Splitter and advancing again。 Valas was doing likewise； still looking to maneuver around to the priestesses' left side。
〃Ryld； Valas； wait；〃 Pharaun called out quietly。
He had no doubt that the two warriors could dispatch the drow females with relatively little difficulty； as long as the wizard was backing them up with a careful selection of spells； but he was intrigued。 Ryld cast a quick glance back over his shoulder at the wizard then shrugged and held his ground。
〃I can assure you that we have never met your mother and had no dealings with her； ever。 That wild tale in the audience chamber above was merely a contrivance to stall for time…ruffle everyone's feathers； so to speak。 You seem to know who we are；〃 Pharaun said； addressing the daughter of House Melarn； 〃but we are at a disadvantage。 Who are you； and what is this information you are planning to use to buy our trust？〃
In a flash of bluish light； Valas was stepping through a dimensional doorway； and as the one named Danifae turned to face the point where the scout had been standing only a split…second earlier； the Bregan D'aerthe scout was behind her； one hand gripping her wrist tightly where she held her morning star； the other hand holding a kukri at the line where her jawbone faded into her graceful neck。 Though she was several inches taller than the scout； Valas was easily able to keep her overbalanced by shifting his hip under hers and levering her up off her feet。
Danifae's eyes bulged wide as she realized she'd been outmaneuvered； and she flailed about helplessly for a second or two until she grasped that the blade was at her neck； at which point she froze。
〃Lay them down；〃 Ryld said to both drow females； gesturing to their weapons with his greatsword。 〃To the floor； nice and quietly。〃
The Melarn daughter gasped in surprise at Valas's maneuver； narrowed her eyes； and took half a step toward her panion。 When she realized she was outmatched； she sighed and settled her mace to the floor at her feet。 Danifae sagged a bit in Valas's grasp and relinquished her weapon to the other female； who set that down as well。
〃Excellent！〃 Pharaun said as Ryld kicked the two weapons safely away。 〃That wasn't so bad； now was it？〃
〃You could have trusted us；〃 the daughter spat。 〃We gave you no reason not to。〃
Pharaun laughed out loud。 Ryld stifled a chuckle of his own； and Valas； who released Danifae but kept his kukri carefully placed in the small of her back； was grinning behind her。
〃You are a dark elf；〃 the wizard said finally； regaining his posure。 〃That alone is enough for me not to trust you； but beyond that； if you think we're going to trust anyone in this cursed city； you're the biggest fool I've met in a while。 Yet； I am not pletely uninterested in negotiating； so you may still get a chance to redeem yourself。 You can start by answering my questions。 Who are you； and what is the nature of this information？〃
The Melarn daughter grimaced but finally answered； 〃I am Halisstra Melarn； as you have surmised by now； I'm sure。 This is Danifae； my personal servant。 What I meant was； your friend the high priestess and her demon panion aren't dead。〃
Pharaun felt his eyes bulge at this revelation。 He heard both Ryld and Valas breathe in sharply。
〃Really；〃 the mage said； trying to sound offhand as he regained his posure； 〃and how would you know that？〃
〃Because I've seen them；〃 Danifae； still locked in Valas's grip； answered。
〃Apparently；〃 Halisstra said； 〃Ssipriina Zauvirr simply told everyone that the priestess was dead so that there would be no demands for her side of the story。 They probably should have killed them； but I guess Faeryl had other plans for her。〃
At the mention of the ambassador； Pharaun tilted his head。
〃You know Faeryl Zauvirr？〃 he asked。
〃Yes；〃 Halisstra replied； 〃I know her。 We grew up together。 Since our Houses have…or rather； had…a business relationship； her mother and mine spent quite a bit of time together。 She might very well be with the Baenre priestess right now。 I suspect she's torturing them both。〃
〃Is that so？〃 Pharaun asked。
Ryld； who still had his greatsword trained on the two females； snorted； 〃Why does that not surprise me？〃
〃I wonder how the esteemed high priestess managed to get herself caught in the first place？〃 Pharaun pondered aloud。
〃It was an ambush；〃 Halisstra said。 〃When they were at a Black Claw Mercantile storehouse。 Faeryl was in on it； I guess。 Her mother met them there with a host of guards who subdued the high priestess and the demon that was with them。 They claim they had to kill my mother； who was trying to escape； though now I wonder if she truly is dead。〃
〃Well now；〃 Pharaun said； even more intrigued than before； 〃some things are beginning to make more sense。 Now I know why Faeryl was being so agreeable during the trip here。 She wanted Quenthel to go to the storehouse。 It was their plan to take Quenthel all along。〃
〃Not just Quenthel； but all of you；〃 said Halisstra。 〃I'm guessing she intended to capture all of you at once； but when you didn't appear at the storehouse with the others she had to amend her plan。 She'd be quite pleased； I'm sure； if you were all dead。〃
〃Yes；〃 the mage said wryly； 〃we were informed of that very fact not an hour ago。 Needless to say； we weren't too keen on the idea； ourselve