¡¡¡¡¡¡Halisstra¡¡closed¡¡her¡¡eyes¡¡and¡¡thought£»¡¡occasionally¡¡stopping¡¡to¡¡wonder¡¡at¡¡the¡¡fact¡¡that¡¡she¡¡was¡¡thinking¡¡about¡¡it¡¡at¡¡all¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨My¡¡heart£»¡¨¡¡Halisstra¡¡confided¡¡in¡¡Danifae£»¡¡¡¨wants¡¡me¡¡to¡¡go¡¡to¡¡Ryld£»¡¡but¡¡my¡¡head¡¡tells¡¡me¡¡that¡¡my¡¡new¡¡sisters¡¡will¡¡want¡¡to¡¡know¡¡what¡¡you've¡¡told¡¡me¡¡and¡¡that¡¡they'll¡¡want¡¡to¡¡go¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Demonweb¡¡Pits¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨The¡¡time¡¡you¡¡have¡¡to¡¡gather¡¡them£»¡¨¡¡warned¡¡Danifae£»¡¡¡¨is¡¡drawing¡¡increasingly¡¡short¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡Halisstra¡¡clamped¡¡her¡¡mouth¡¡shut¡¡while¡¡her¡¡throat¡¡tightened¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Choose£»¡¨¡¡Danifae¡¡pressed¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨The¡¡Velarswood£»¡¨¡¡Halisstra¡¡blurted¡¡out¡£¡¡A¡¡tear¡¡glimmered¡¡in¡¡the¡¡faerie¡¡light¡¡and¡¡traced¡¡a¡¡path¡¡down¡¡her¡¡deep¡¡black¡¡cheek¡£¡¡¡¨Take¡¡me¡¡to¡¡the¡¡priestesses¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡Danifae¡¡smiled£»¡¡nodded£»¡¡and¡¡pointed¡¡toward¡¡a¡¡purple¡glowing¡¡gate¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡two¡¡of¡¡them¡¡stared¡¡at¡¡each¡¡other¡¡while¡¡a¡¡few¡¡heartbeats¡¡went¡¡by¡£¡¡Danifae's¡¡eyes¡¡darted¡¡back¡¡and¡¡forth¡¡between¡¡Halisstra's¡¡as¡¡if¡¡they¡¡were¡¡reading¡¡something¡¡written¡¡across¡¡her¡¡pupils¡£¡¡Halisstra¡¡saw¡¡the¡¡hope¡¡in¡¡Danifae's¡¡eyes¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨How¡¡bad¡¡is¡¡it£¿¡¨¡¡Halisstra¡¡asked£»¡¡her¡¡voice¡¡almost¡¡a¡¡whisper¡£¡¡¡¨What¡¡has¡¡she¡¡sunk¡¡to£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨She£¿¡¨¡¡Danifae¡¡asked¡£¡¡¡¨Quenthel£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡Halisstra¡¡nodded¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨She¡¡can¡¡go¡¡lower£»¡¨¡¡the¡¡former¡¡battle¡captive¡¡said¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨e¡¡with¡¡me£»¡¨¡¡Halisstra¡¡said¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Danifae¡¡stood¡¡silently¡¡for¡¡a¡¡long¡¡time¡¡before¡¡she¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨You¡¡know¡¡I¡¡can't¡£¡¡They¡¡won't¡¡leave¡¡without¡¡Jeggred£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡have¡¡to¡¡bring¡¡him¡¡back¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡Halisstra¡¡nodded¡¡and¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨After¡¡he's¡¡murdered¡¡Ryld¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡Danifae¡¡nodded¡¡and¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡the¡¡floor¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨We'll¡¡see¡¡each¡¡other¡¡again£»¡¡Danifae£»¡¨¡¡Halisstra¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨Of¡¡that¡¡I'm¡¡certain¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨As¡¡am¡¡I£»¡¡Mistress£»¡¨¡¡Danifae¡¡replied¡£¡¡¡¨We¡¡will¡¡meet¡¡again¡¡in¡¡the¡¡shadow¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Spider¡¡Queen¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Eilistraee¡¡will¡¡be¡¡watching¡¡us¡¡both¡¡all¡¡the¡¡way£»¡¨¡¡Halisstra¡¡said¡¡as¡¡she¡¡crossed¡¡to¡¡the¡¡waking¡¡portal¡£¡¡¡¨She¡¡will¡¡be¡¡watching¡¡us¡¡both¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡Danifae¡¡nodded£»¡¡and¡¡Halisstra¡¡stepped¡¡into¡¡the¡¡gate£»¡¡abandoning¡¡Ryld¡¡to¡¡the¡¡draegloth£»¡¡Danifae¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Mistress¡¡of¡¡Arach¡Tinilith£»¡¡and¡¡herself¡¡to¡¡the¡¡priestesses¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Velarswood¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨You¡¡seem¡¡as¡¡surprised¡¡as¡¡I¡¡am£»¡¨¡¡Gromph¡¡said¡¡to¡¡the¡¡lichdrow£»¡¡¡¨that¡¡your¡¡friend¡¡Nimor¡¡has¡¡sprouted¡¡wings¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡Dyrr¡¡didn't¡¡answer£»¡¡but¡¡his¡¡ember¡red¡¡eyes¡¡drifted¡¡slowly¡¡to¡¡the¡¡winged¡¡assassin¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Duergar£»¡¨¡¡Gromph¡¡went¡¡on£»¡¡¡¨a¡¡cambion¡¡and¡¡his¡¡tanarukks£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡drow¡¡assassin¡£¡¡Oh£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡drow¡¡assassin¡¡isn't¡¡even¡¡a¡¡drow¡£¡¡You've¡¡allied¡¡yourself¡¡with¡¡everything¡¡but¡¡another¡¡dark¡¡elf¡£¡¡Well£»¡¡you¡¡haven't¡¡been¡¡a¡¡dark¡¡elf¡¡yourself¡¡for¡¡a¡¡very¡¡long¡¡time¡¡either£»¡¡have¡¡you£»¡¡Dyrr£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡If¡¡the¡¡lich¡¡was¡¡offended¡¡or¡¡affected¡¡in¡¡any¡¡way£»¡¡he¡¡didn't¡¡show¡¡it¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨He¡¡could¡¡be¡¡allied¡¡with¡¡a¡¡drow£»¡¡though£»¡¨¡¡Nimor¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨We¡¡both¡¡could¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨You¡¡actually¡¡think¡¡I'm¡¡going¡¡to¡¡join¡¡you£¿¡¨¡¡Gromph¡¡asked¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨No£»¡¨¡¡Nimor¡¡answered£»¡¡¡¨of¡¡course¡¡not£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡have¡¡to¡¡ask¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨If¡¡I¡¡do£»¡¨¡¡Gromph¡¡persisted£»¡¡¡¨will¡¡you¡¡kill¡¡the¡¡lich£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡Dyrr¡¡raised¡¡an¡¡eyebrow£»¡¡obviously¡¡interested¡¡to¡¡hear¡¡Nimor's¡¡answer¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨To¡¡have¡¡the¡¡Archmage¡¡of¡¡Menzoberranzan¡¡himself¡¡turn¡¡on¡¡his¡¡own¡¡city£»¡¨¡¡Nimor¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨betray¡¡his¡¡own¡¡House£»¡¡and¡¡overthrow¡¡the¡¡matriarchy¡¡with¡¡a¡¡wave¡¡of¡¡his¡¡hand£¿¡¡Would¡¡I¡¡kill¡¡the¡¡lichdrow£¿¡¡Certainly¡£¡¡I¡¡would¡¡kill¡¡him¡¡without¡¡the¡¡slightest¡¡moment's¡¡hesitation¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡That¡¡brought¡¡a¡¡smile¡¡to¡¡Dyrr's¡¡face£»¡¡and¡¡Gromph¡¡couldn't¡¡help¡¡but¡¡share¡¡it¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Nimor¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡the¡¡lichdrow£»¡¡bowed£»¡¡and¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨I¡¡would¡¡try£»¡¡at¡¡least¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡lich¡¡returned¡¡the¡¡bow¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨You're¡¡not¡¡going¡¡to¡¡do¡¡any¡¡of¡¡those¡¡things£»¡¡are¡¡you£¿¡¨¡¡Nimor¡¡asked¡¡Gromph¡£¡¡¡¨You¡¡won't¡¡turn¡¡your¡¡back¡¡on¡¡Menzoberranzan£»¡¡House¡¡Baenre£»¡¡the¡¡matriarchy£»¡¡or¡¡even¡¡Lolth£»¡¡who¡¡has¡¡turned¡¡her¡¡back¡¡on¡¡you¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨That's¡¡all£¿¡¨¡¡Gromph¡¡asked¡£¡¡¡¨That's¡¡all¡¡you¡¡plan¡¡to¡¡say¡¡to¡¡try¡¡to¡¡turn¡¡me£¿¡¡Ask¡¡a¡¡question¡¡then¡¡answer¡¡it¡¡yourself£¿¡¡Why¡¡are¡¡you¡¡here£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Don't¡¡answer¡¡that£»¡¡Nimor£»¡¨¡¡the¡¡lichdrow¡¡manded£»¡¡his¡¡tone¡¡as¡¡imperious¡¡as¡¡ever¡£¡¡¡¨He's¡¡drawing¡¡tales¡¡out¡¡of¡¡you¡£¡¡He¡¡wants¡¡time¡¡to¡¡try¡¡to¡¡get¡¡away¡¡or¡¡to¡¡plan¡¡his¡¡attack¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Or£»¡¨¡¡Gromph¡¡cut¡¡in£»¡¡¡¨he¡¡may¡¡simply¡¡be¡¡curious¡£¡¡I¡¡know¡¡why¡¡my¡¡old¡¡friend¡¡Dyrr¡¡wants¡¡to¡¡kill¡¡me£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡can¡¡guess¡¡at¡¡the¡¡motivations¡¡of¡¡the¡¡duergar£»¡¡the¡¡tanarukks£»¡¡the¡¡illithids£»¡¡and¡¡whatever¡¡else¡¡crawls¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡crevices¡¡and¡¡slime¡¡pools¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Dark¡¡Dominion£»¡¡drawn¡¡to¡¡the¡¡stench¡¡of¡¡weakness¡£¡¡You£»¡¡though£»¡¡Nimor£»¡¡are¡¡half¡¡drow¡¡and¡¡half¡¡dragon£»¡¡aren't¡¡you£¿¡¡Why¡¡you£¿¡¡Why¡¡here£¿¡¡Why¡¡me£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Why¡¡you£¿¡¨¡¡Dyrr¡¡said£»¡¡his¡¡voice¡¡dripping¡¡with¡¡scorn¡£¡¡¡¨You¡¡have¡¡power£»¡¡you¡¡simpleton¡£¡¡You¡¡have¡¡position¡£¡¡That¡¡makes¡¡you¡¡a¡¡target¡¡on¡¡a¡¡good¡¡day¡and¡¡this¡¡isn't¡¡a¡¡good¡¡day¡¡for¡¡Menzoberranzan¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡Gromph¡¡ignored¡¡the¡¡lich¡¡and¡¡said¡¡to¡¡Nimor£»¡¡¡¨My¡¡sister¡¡said¡¡the¡¡assassin¡¡she¡¡captured¡¡named¡¡you¡¡as¡¡an¡¡agent¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Jaezred¡¡Chaulssin¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡Nimor¡¡nodded¡¡and¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨I¡¡am¡¡the¡¡Anointed¡¡Blade¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡Gromph¡¡didn't¡¡know¡¡what¡¡that¡¡meant¡¡but¡¡gave¡¡no¡¡indication¡¡of¡¡that¡¡to¡¡Nimor¡¡or¡¡Dyrr¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Ghost¡¡stories¡¡e¡¡true£»¡¨¡¡Gromph¡¡said¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Our¡¡reputation¡¡precedes¡¡us£»¡¨¡¡replied¡¡Nimor¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Chaulssin¡¡has¡¡been¡¡in¡¡ruin¡¡for¡¡a¡¡long¡¡time£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Gromph¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Her¡¡assassins¡¡survive£»¡¨¡¡Dyrr¡¡said¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡His¡¡dragon¡¡half£»¡¡Nauzhror¡¡said¡¡into¡¡Gromph's¡¡mind£»¡¡has¡¡been¡¡identified£»¡¡Archmage¡£¡¡He¡¡is¡¡half¡drow£»¡¡half¡shadow¡¡dragon¡£¡¡More¡¡than¡¡one¡¡generation£»¡¡perhaps¡£¡¡An¡¡incipient¡¡species¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨We¡¡have¡¡placed¡¡ourselves¡¡in¡¡city¡¡after¡¡city£»¡¨¡¡Nimor¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨all¡¡across¡¡the¡¡Underdark¡£¡¡We've¡¡been¡¡waiting¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨And¡¡breeding£»¡¨¡¡Gromph¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨with¡¡shadow¡¡dragons£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡Nimor's¡¡smile¡¡told¡¡Gromph¡¡how¡¡right¡¡Nauzhror¡¡had¡¡been¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨It's¡¡over£»¡¨¡¡Dyrr¡¡said£»¡¡and¡¡Gromph¡¡found¡¡it¡¡difficult¡¡to¡¡deny¡¡the¡¡finality¡¡in¡¡his¡¡voice¡£¡¡¡¨All¡¡of¡¡it¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Not¡¡yet£»¡¨¡¡Gromph¡¡replied£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡started¡¡to¡¡cast¡¡a¡¡spell¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Nimor¡¡beat¡¡his¡¡batlike¡¡wings¡¡and¡¡shot¡¡up¡¡into¡¡the¡¡darkness¡£¡¡Dyrr¡¡followed£»¡¡more¡¡slowly£»¡¡wrapping¡¡himself¡¡in¡¡additional¡¡protective¡¡spells¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Gromph¡¡finished¡¡his¡¡spell¡¡and¡¡held¡¡his¡¡hands¡¡together¡£¡¡A¡¡line¡¡of¡¡blackness¡¡appeared¡¡between¡¡his¡¡palms¡¡and¡¡stretched¡¡to¡¡the¡¡length¡¡of¡¡a¡¡long¡¡sword¡¡blade¡£¡¡The¡¡line¡¡was¡¡perfectly¡¡two¡dimensional£»¡¡a¡¡rift¡¡in¡¡the¡¡structure¡¡of¡¡the¡¡planes¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Lifting¡¡into¡¡the¡¡air£»¡¡the¡¡Archmage¡¡of¡¡Menzoberranzan¡¡threw¡¡his¡¡hands¡¡apart£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡blade¡¡followed¡¡him¡¡up¡£¡¡Using¡¡the¡¡force¡¡of¡¡his¡¡will£»¡¡Gromph¡¡set¡¡the¡¡planar¡¡blade¡¡flying¡¡in¡¡front¡¡of¡¡him¡£¡¡Choosing¡¡a¡¡target¡¡was¡¡simple¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Nimor¡¡has¡¡to¡¡die¡¡first£»¡¡Prath¡¡suggested£»¡¡though¡¡it¡¡was¡¡unnecessary¡£¡¡The¡¡extent¡¡of¡¡his¡¡true¡¡abilities¡¡is¡¡the¡¡only¡¡unknown¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Gromph¡¡set¡¡the¡¡blade¡¡hurtling¡¡at¡¡the¡¡half¡dragon¡¡assassin¡£¡¡Nimor¡¡flew¡¡as¡¡fast¡¡as¡¡anything¡¡Gromph¡¡had¡¡ever¡¡seen¡¡fly£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡blade¡¡moved¡¡faster¡£¡¡It¡¡cut¡¡into¡¡the¡¡assassin£»¡¡and¡¡Nimor¡¡convulsed¡¡in¡¡pain¡£¡¡What¡¡makes¡¡a¡¡blade¡¡sharp¡¡is¡¡the¡¡thinness¡¡of¡¡its¡¡edge¡£¡¡The¡¡blade¡¡that¡¡Gromph¡¡conjured¡¡didn't¡¡actually¡¡have¡¡any¡¡thickness¡¡at¡¡all¡£¡¡Being¡¡perfectly¡¡thin£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡perfectly¡¡sharp¡£¡¡Anything¡¡that¡¡Nimor¡¡might¡¡have¡¡had¡¡on¡¡him¡¡to¡¡protect¡¡him¡¡from¡¡weapons¡¡would¡¡be¡¡of¡¡no¡¡consequence¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Blood¡¡pattered¡¡down¡¡over¡¡the¡¡floor¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Bazaar£»¡¡and¡¡Nimor¡¡roared¡£¡¡The¡¡sound¡¡rattled¡¡Gromph's¡¡eardrums£»¡¡though¡¡he¡¡didn't¡¡hesitate¡¡to¡¡send¡¡the¡¡black¡¡blade¡¡at¡¡the¡¡assassin¡¡again¡but¡¡it¡¡disappeared¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Gromph¡¡whirled¡¡in¡¡midair¡¡to¡¡face¡¡the¡¡lichdrow¡£¡¡Dyrr¡¡held¡¡his¡¡staff¡¡in¡¡both¡¡hands¡£¡¡Gromph¡¡assumed¡¡he'd¡¡used¡¡some¡¡aspect¡¡of¡¡the¡¡weapon's¡¡magic¡¡to¡¡dispel¡¡the¡¡blade
¡¡¡¡¡¡Disappointing£»¡¡Nauzhror¡¡mented¡£¡¡That¡¡was¡¡an¡¡impressive¡¡spell¡£¡¡And¡¡effective¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Nimor¡¡wasn't¡¡flying¡¡quite¡¡as¡¡fast£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡was¡¡still¡¡bleeding¡£¡¡Gromph¡¡had¡¡to¡¡keep¡¡his¡¡attention¡¡shifting¡¡back¡¡and¡¡forth¡¡between¡¡the¡¡assassin£»¡¡the¡¡lich£»¡¡and¡¡his¡¡own¡¡next¡¡spell£»¡¡so¡¡he¡¡didn't¡¡actually¡¡see¡¡Nimor¡¡heal¡¡himself£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡did¡enough¡¡to¡¡keep¡¡himself¡¡alive¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Gromph¡¡was¡¡nearly¡¡finished¡¡with¡¡his¡¡next¡¡incantation¡¡when¡¡Nimor¡¡blew¡¡darkness¡¡at¡¡him¡it¡¡was¡¡the¡¡only¡¡way¡¡the¡¡wizard¡¡could¡¡think¡¡to¡¡describe¡¡it¡£¡¡The¡¡assassin¡¡drew¡¡in¡¡a¡¡breath¡¡and¡¡exhaled¡¡a¡¡cone¡shaped¡¡wave¡¡of¡¡roiling¡¡blackness¡£¡¡Gromph¡¡tried¡¡to¡¡drop¡¡away¡¡from¡¡the¡¡darkness£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡couldn't¡£¡¡The¡¡twisting¡¡void¡¡washed¡¡over¡¡the¡¡archmage¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡as¡¡if¡¡all¡¡the¡¡warmth¡¡were¡¡drawn¡¡out¡¡of¡¡him¡£¡¡He¡¡shivered£»¡¡and¡¡his¡¡breath¡¡stopped¡¡in¡¡his¡¡throat¡£¡¡His¡¡spell¡¡was¡¡ruined£»¡¡cut¡¡off¡¡in¡¡mid¡word£»¡¡the¡¡Weave¡¡energy¡¡unraveling¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Part¡¡of¡¡the¡¡layers¡¡of¡¡defensive¡¡magic¡¡that¡¡he¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Masters¡¡of¡¡Sorcere¡¡had¡¡cloaked¡¡him¡¡in¡¡protected¡¡Gromph¡¡from¡¡the¡¡full¡¡extent¡¡of¡¡the¡¡freezing¡¡darkness's¡¡power¡£¡¡If¡¡not£»¡¡Gromph¡¡would¡¡have¡¡shriveled¡¡to¡¡a¡¡dead¡¡husk¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡was¡¡right£»¡¨¡¡Gromph¡¡said¡¡to¡¡Nimor£»¡¡trying¡¡not¡¡to¡¡gasp¡£¡¡¡¨It¡¡was¡¡a¡¡shadow¡¡dragon£»¡¡wasn't¡¡it£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨More¡¡than¡¡one¡¡shadow¡¡dragon£»¡¡Archmage£»¡¨¡¡Nimor¡¡replied¡and¡¡Gromph¡¡thought¡¡the¡¡assassin¡¡was¡¡trying¡¡not¡¡to¡¡gasp¡¡himself£»¡¡¡¨and¡¡more¡¡than¡¡one¡¡drow¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡half¡dragon¡¡assassin¡¡drew¡¡a¡¡needle¡thin¡¡rapier¡¡that¡¡glowed¡¡blue¡white¡¡in¡¡the¡¡gloom¡¡of¡¡the¡¡abandoned¡¡Bazaar¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Caution£»¡¡Archmage£»¡¡Prath¡¡warned¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Gromph¡¡winced¡¡at¡¡the¡¡idiocy¡¡of¡¡his¡¡inexperienced¡¡nephew¡£¡¡The¡¡archmage¡¡was¡¡always¡¡ready¡¡for¡¡anything¡though¡¡he¡¡wasn't¡¡fast¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡dodge¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡way¡¡of¡¡the¡¡rapier¡¡as¡¡it¡¡slashed¡¡across¡¡his¡¡chest¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Nimor¡¡had¡¡disappeared¡¡from¡¡where¡¡he'd¡¡been¡¡hovering£»¡¡several¡¡paces¡¡away¡¡and¡¡appeared¡¡right¡¡next¡¡to¡¡Gromph¡¡and¡¡a¡¡little¡¡above¡perfectly¡¡in¡¡a¡¡blind¡¡spot¡£¡¡All¡¡of¡¡that¡¡had¡¡happened¡¡in¡¡the¡¡precise¡¡same¡¡instant¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡assassin¡¡was¡¡gone¡¡again¡¡just¡¡as¡¡fast¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡slash¡¡in¡¡Gromph's¡¡chest¡¡burned£»¡¡the¡¡wound¡¡crisp¡¡and¡¡jagged¡£¡¡He¡¡looked¡¡down¡¡at¡¡the¡¡cut¡£¡¡Frost¡¡lined¡¡the¡¡wound£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡blood¡¡that¡¡oozed¡¡from¡¡it¡¡was¡¡cold¡¡when¡¡it¡¡touched¡¡his¡¡skin¡£¡¡Gromph¡¡shivered¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Something¡¡hit¡¡Gromph¡¡from¡¡behind£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡grunted¡¡and¡¡doubled¡¡over¡¡when¡¡the¡¡air¡¡was¡¡smashed¡¡out¡¡of¡¡his¡¡lungs¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡a¡¡painful¡¡second¡¡or¡¡two¡¡before¡¡he¡¡was¡¡able¡¡to¡¡draw¡¡in¡¡another¡¡breath¡£¡¡Dyrr¡¡had¡¡hit¡¡him¡¡with¡¡something¡a¡¡spell¡¡or¡¡a¡¡weapon¡from¡¡behind¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡spell¡¡didn't¡¡pass¡¡through¡¡all¡¡of¡¡your¡¡defenses£»¡¡Archmage£»¡¡Nauzhror¡¡told¡¡him¡£¡¡If¡¡it¡¡had£»¡¡you¡¡would¡¡have¡¡been¡¡disintegrated¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Good¡¡for¡¡me£»¡¨¡¡Gromph¡¡muttered¡¡under¡¡his¡¡breath£»¡¡then¡¡he¡¡spoke¡¡the¡¡mand¡¡word¡¡that¡¡brought¡¡the¡¡defensive¡¡globe¡¡from¡¡the¡¡staff¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Circled¡¡again¡¡in¡¡protective¡¡magic£»¡¡Gromph¡¡turned¡¡in¡¡the¡¡air£»¡¡trying¡¡to¡¡catch¡¡sight¡¡of¡¡at¡¡least¡¡one¡¡of¡¡his¡¡foes¡£¡¡He¡¡saw¡¡Nimor¡¡flying¡¡at¡¡him¡¡with¡¡that¡¡freezing¡¡rapier¡¡poised¡¡for¡¡another¡¡slash¡£¡¡Behind¡¡the¡¡assassin¡¡and¡¡off¡¡to¡¡one¡¡side£»¡¡the¡¡lichdrow¡¡was¡¡moving¡¡his¡¡free¡¡hand¡¡through¡¡the¡¡air£»¡¡his¡¡fingers¡¡leaving¡¡streaks¡¡of¡¡crackling¡¡white¡¡light¡¡behind¡¡them¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Pain¡¡blazing¡¡in¡¡his¡¡chest¡¡and¡¡back£»¡¡Gromph¡¡twisted¡¡in¡¡the¡¡air¡¡when¡¡a¡¡cone¡¡of¡¡twinkling¡¡white¡¡light¡¡shot¡¡forth¡¡from¡¡the¡¡lichdrow's¡¡extended¡¡hands£»¡¡threatening¡¡to¡¡engulf¡¡him¡¡in¡¡a¡¡blast¡¡of¡¡freezing¡¡air¡¡and¡¡cutting¡¡ice¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡archmage¡¡managed¡¡to¡¡twist¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡way¡¡of¡¡the¡¡spell£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡lost¡¡sight¡¡of¡¡the¡¡assassin¡¡in¡¡the¡¡process¡£¡¡Gromph¡¡braced¡¡himself¡¡for¡¡another¡¡icy¡¡slash¡¡from¡¡the¡¡rapier£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡didn't¡¡e¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡assassin¡¡had¡¡to¡¡dodge¡¡the¡¡cone¡¡of¡¡cold¡¡as¡¡well£»¡¡Master£»¡¡Prath¡¡said¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Gromph¡¡took¡¡advantage¡¡of¡¡the¡¡respite¡¡and¡¡drew¡¡two¡¡slim£»¡¡platinum¡bladed¡¡throwing¡¡daggers¡¡from¡¡a¡¡sheath¡¡in¡¡his¡¡right¡¡boot¡£¡¡Even¡¡as¡¡he¡¡drew¡¡the¡¡knives¡¡up¡¡along¡¡the¡¡length¡¡of¡¡his¡¡body£»¡¡he¡¡spoke¡¡the¡¡words¡¡of¡¡a¡¡spell¡¡that¡¡would¡¡enchant¡¡the¡¡weapons¡¡to¡¡a¡¡greater¡¡keenness¡£¡¡The¡¡spell¡¡would¡¡make¡¡them¡¡fly¡¡truer¡¡as¡¡well£»¡¡and¡¡farther£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡was¡¡sure¡¡they¡¡would¡¡pierce¡¡at¡¡least¡¡some¡¡of¡¡his¡¡target's¡¡magical¡¡defenses¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Gromph¡¡got¡¡his¡¡arm¡¡up¡¡to¡¡throw¡¡and¡¡finished¡¡the¡¡spell¡£¡¡When¡¡he¡¡turned¡¡to¡¡find¡¡his¡¡target£»¡¡the¡¡pain¡¡was¡¡gone¡£¡¡The¡¡ring¡¡was¡¡working¡¡still£»¡¡healing¡¡him¡¡almost¡¡as¡¡fast¡¡as¡¡the¡¡assassin¡¡and¡¡the¡¡lich¡¡could¡¡wound¡¡him