but some kind of furred surface animal。 Ryld had seen similar animals： cats。 The one that was trying to kill him was huge； ten feet from nose to tail。 Mottled gray fur rippled over rolling muscles。 Its tall； pointed ears twitched and moved independently of each other to track Ryld as it circled him； and the weapons master turned to keep the animal in sight at all times。 Steam puffed from its nostrils into the cold air。
Ryld felt a chill run through the undersides of his arms。 He had a strange feeling of relief that he was only being hunted…again…by a native surface animal。 Danifae hadn't taken her revenge after all； certainly not with Jeggred as her second。 The weapons master briefly entertained the idea that Halisstra was right about her former servant； but the reality of his situation intruded once again。
The animal leaped at him； and Ryld was ready for it。 He had Splitter up and to the side and had just tensed his arms in preparation for a downward slice across his chest to dig at the animal's head when the thing stopped。 The animal halted in midair for a heartbeat then fell。 It made a sound that was halfway between a growl and a whimper when it hit the ground； already scrambling to regain its feet。
The weapons master hopped back； bringing Splitter quickly in front of him to guard against…
〃Jeggred；〃 Ryld said。
The draegloth held the huge cat by its tail； his eyes glowing red in the darkness。 Even as the animal turned on him； Jeggred's lips pulled back over his teeth in a feral； hate…filled smile。
Halisstra stepped off the stairs onto what she assumed was the highest floor of the slowly crumbling structure and there she saw Danifae。 A gasp passed across her parted lips at the sight of her former servant。 Danifae had always been beautiful…that was part of what made her such a desirable possession…but though it hardly seemed possible； the girl had grown even more attractive。 The ample curves of her strong body made an alluring silhouette in the dark space； and her bright white hair framed her round； beautiful face in a way Halisstra had never seen on her normally pragmatic and simple battle…captive。
〃What's wrong？〃 Danifae asked； her voice quiet。 〃Do I look different？〃
Halisstra nodded and stepped away from the top of the stairs； careful to keep her back to the wall。
〃Yes； you do。 Freedom agrees with you； Danifae。〃
〃Yes； Halisstra；〃 Danifae replied。 Halisstra did not fail to miss the fact that Danifae had called her by name。 〃Freedom does agree with me；〃 she continued； 〃but there is much to discuss and precious little time。〃
Halisstra arced an eyebrow and let a hand slip to the hilt of the Crescent Blade。
〃You are in danger here；〃 Danifae warned； her eyes darting to Halisstra's weapon。 〃I was careless and was found out。〃
Halisstra's blood went cold； and she said； 〃Found out？〃
〃I was gone too long；〃 said Danifae。 〃I was questioned by the high priestess and the mage； and they 。 。 。 did things to me to make me tell them about you； about Ryld； and all of it。 All of it that I know。〃
Halisstra tried to take a deep breath but found her chest tight with anxiety。
〃Where are they？〃 Halisstra asked。
〃Far away；〃 replied Danifae； 〃and well prepared for their journey to the Abyss； but they sent Jeggred back with me。〃
Halisstra's blood ran even colder； and she said； 〃The draegloth？ Why？〃
〃To kill you both。〃
Halisstra looked madly around the ruin and found the crack in the wall she'd earlier seen Danifae standing in。 Though it meant turning her back on Danifae； Halisstra ran to the crack and began wildly scanning the dark swamp below for any sign of Ryld。 There was a pain in her chest she'd never felt before。 She couldn't see either the weapons master or the draegloth。
〃He's out there； I assure you；〃 said Danifae。
〃So you drew me here？〃 Halisstra asked； not turning from her fruitless search of the swamp below。 〃You drew us both into a trap？〃
〃Yes； I did；〃 said the former battle…captive； 〃but I can save you。 I can save you； but I can't save you both。〃
〃How can you stop a draegloth that has been sent to kill？〃 Halisstra asked。 She scowled； still scanning the swamp。 There were spaces where the trees were tall and thick enough to hide the surface all together。
Ryld must have gone in there； Halisstra thought； perhaps lured in by Jeggred。
〃I can't stop a draegloth；〃 Danifae admitted。 〃If Jeggred means to kill you both； he will； or Ryld will kill him； or I will kill him。 Either way； there will be deaths tonight。〃
Halisstra sighed； not sure what to do and afraid that Ryld was already dead。
〃I don't have to stop Jeggred；〃 Danifae continued； 〃or kill him。 Just go； and leave the rest to Ryld and me。 If the weapons master can best the draegloth； fine。 If not； I can convince Jeggred that I killed you。〃
〃Why would he trust you？〃 asked Halisstra。 〃He'll want to see my body 。。。 or part of it at least。 And what of Ryld？〃
〃Let me get you out of here；〃 the former battle…captive said。 〃Get enough distance between yourself and the draegloth while he's still engaged with the weapons master and we can e to some arrangement。 We'll have time to sort something out。〃
Halisstra shook her head and stepped away from the crack in the wall。
〃I won't leave Ryld。〃
Halisstra smiled at the finality of her statement and the feeling that went with it。
〃I can get you out of here fast；〃 Danifae said； 〃and I can move Ryld almost as easily； but it has to be one at a time。 e with me now； and I'll go back for the weapons master。〃
Halisstra studied her former servant's face and saw nothing。 Danifae didn't seem to be lying； but at the same time she didn't seem to be telling the truth。 It was as if all expression had been sanded from her face。 She was blank； impenetrable。 That scared Halisstra。
〃You've trusted me this far； Mistress。〃
Halisstra registered the return of the traditional title。
Danifae held out a hand to her former mistress； and said； 〃Trust me； Halisstra。〃
Confused； the First Daughter of House Melarn shook her head。
The former servant said； 〃The longer we do this； the longer your weapons master fights the draegloth 。 。 。 alone。〃
There was a brief moment of silence。 Halisstra sighed； stepped toward Danifae； and took her hand。 Eilistraee had been pushing her along for some time。 Halisstra knew that； and she felt pushed again。 She tried to remind herself of what she'd told Ryld； that Eilistraee was guiding her but no goddess was guiding Danifae。
As the interior of the ruined temple faded in a wave of vertigo and purple light to be replaced by a strange place somewhere that smelled and felt like the Underdark； Halisstra tried so hard to trust in Eilistraee that her head started to hurt。 She thought about Ryld and her eyes filled with tears。
The animal turned on Jeggred； and it was all claws and fangs。
The swamp creature ripped a deep furrow in Jeggred's abdomen with its foreclaws。 Blood welled up in the wound。 Jeggred didn't flinch or cry out。 Only a subtle narrowing of the half…demon's blazing red eyes indicated he'd felt the cut at all。 The draegloth stepped in； slashing with two of his four sets of claws； but the cat leaped to the side； avoiding the attack； and at the same time stepped in again； forcing Jeggred to defend himself。
The cat was making a good showing of it； and Ryld knew it was the best chance he would have to run。 By the time Jeggred managed to dispatch the beast…if he was able to at all…Ryld could be long gone。 Even if he could leave Halisstra； wherever he went Jeggred would follow。 If the draegloth had been sent to kill him； that's what he would do。
The cat bit at Jeggred； and the draegloth moved his arm in and allowed the creature to fasten its powerful jaws on his upper right wrist。 The fangs dented the draegloth's skin but didn't puncture it。 Smiling； steam pouring from his nostrils into the cold air； Jeggred drew the claws of both of his left hands along the cat's flanks。 The animal opened its mouth to howl in pain； and the half…demon's arm came free。
Jeggred let the animal cut him。 Four parallel lines of deep red blood traced behind the cat's raking claws。 The animal was trying to hurt the draegloth in any way it could； but it was wounded and desperate and was making rash decisions。 On the other hand； Jeggred only appeared feral。 He was in control of himself。 Ryld could see it in every twitch of the draegloth's eyes that anticipated the cat's attacks three or four moves ahead。 Though the animal clawed him； Jeggred got in closer and wrapped one of his bigger； stronger arms around the animal's belly。 The draegloth's claws made a popping sound when they punctured the cat's flesh； then a ripping sound as they opened its underside in three deep； ragged incisions。
Things started spilling out of the madly writhing animal。 Long ropes of intestines； things that must have been its kidneys； and other organs rode a torrent of steaming blood onto the spongy moss。 Jeggred held the animal close to him and squeezed until more came out and kept squeezing until the cat was dead。
Ryld stood a few paces away； watching； ready。 He thought back on his training and the single overriding principal of defending against claws。 Things with claws…any number of demons； trolls； and the like…stabbed then pulled down。 Claw attacks always came high and ripped down。 All he had to do was be ready for that。 There was the fact that anything that attacked with claws would never parry。 If Ryld set his blade against Jeggred's attack； the draegloth would avoid contact with the keen edge or risk dismemberment。 Ryld could use that to his advantage simply by defending against the draegloth's arms as if they were swords。 Jeggred would be put on the defensive by being unable to defend； and he wouldn't parry Ryld's attacks； but he would dodge。
The draegloth looked up from his still…quivering kill and bared his knifelike fangs at Ryld。 The weapons master stood his ground。 He wasn't as strong as Jeggred； and he might not be as fast； but he was smarter and better trained。
That might be enough。
〃Why are you here？〃 Ryld asked the draegloth。 〃Surely you didn't e all this way just to save me from that cat。〃
The half…demon； covered in the animal's still…hot blood； was steaming。
〃I was told things about you； weapons master；〃 Jeggred growled。 〃Disturbing things。〃
Ryld held Splitter in both hands in front of him and said； 〃I can only imagine。〃
〃The priestess I can understand；〃 said the draegloth。 He took a wide； slow step sideways； moving away from the dead animal。 〃They're feeling particularly betrayed by Lolth。 They seek power and munion； so it seems only fitting that if one goddess turns her back on them； they might seek the embrace of another； but you？〃
〃I can't seek the embrace of a goddess？〃 asked Ryld； stalling as he examined the half…demon for wounds and weaknesses。
〃Why would you；〃 asked the draegloth； 〃when you can have the embrace of a flesh and blood female？〃
〃You have me all figured out；〃 the weapo