ainst the passage of travelers on nearby planes。〃
〃Are we certain that the gray dwarves would object to our presence？〃 Ryld asked。 〃Merchants from Menzoberranzan journey to Gracklstugh often enough； and gray dwarf merchants bring their wares to Menzoberranzan's bazaar。 It's possible that Gracklstugh had nothing to do with the duergar mercenaries who attacked Ched Nasad。〃
〃I have heard nothing that suggests to me that we should risk entering Gracklstugh；〃 Quenthel said。 She made a curt gesture with her hand； silencing the debate。 〃I prefer not to gamble on the hospitality of the gray dwarves； not after the fall of Ched Nasad。 We will go around the city to the north； and trust that Master Hune can find us a way through。〃
Halisstra glanced at Ryld and Valas。 The scout chewed on his lip； worrying at the problem； while the weapons master simply lowered his eyes in resignation。
〃We are only a mile or two from this cavern known as Mantol…Derith？〃 Halisstra asked； pointing at the sketch。
〃Yes； my lady；〃 Valas replied。
〃And regardless of which course we choose； we must pass through the place？〃
The Bregan D'aerthe scout simply nodded again。
〃Then perhaps we should see what we can learn in the trade cavern before we make our decision；〃 Halisstra offered。 She could feel Quenthel's eyes on her； but she did not look at the Baenre。 〃There might be duergar merchants there who could shed some light on the question for us。 If not； well； we'll have to provision ourselves there anyway before striking out into the wilds of the Underdark。〃
〃A reasonable suggestion；〃 Pharaun remarked。 〃There are a dozen mercenary panies based in the City of Blades。 Is it not likely that the duergar we fought in Ched Nasad were hired by a drow House； and had no special allegiance to Gracklstugh？〃
〃They did Gracklstugh's work when they destroyed the city；〃 Quenthel said darkly。 She stood and set her hands on her hips； still staring at the sketch on the floor。 She thought for a moment； then angrily swept it out with her foot。 〃We will see what we learn in Mantol…Derith； then。 I suspect that time is of the essence； and if we can avoid a detour of twenty or thirty days to skirt the city； we should do so； but if we hear anything to indicate that Gracklstugh may be closed to our kind； we strike out into the barrens。〃
Valas Hune nodded and said； 〃Very well； Mistress。 I suspect we will be able to arrange passage unless the duergar are openly at war with Menzoberranzan。 I've dealt with the gray dwarves before； and there is nothing they would not sell for the right price。 I will seek out a duergar guide in Mantol…Derith and see what I can learn。〃
〃Good enough；〃 said Quenthel。 〃Take us to the duergar； and we will…〃
〃No； Mistress； not 'we'；〃 the scout said。 He stood and brushed off his hands。 〃Most duergar have little liking for drow under any circumstances； less so for noble…born drow； and even less for priestesses of the Spider Queen。 Your presence would only plicate things。 It might be best if I handled any negotiations myself。〃
Quenthel frowned。
Jeggred； standing close behind her； rumbled； 〃I could go along to keep an eye on him； Mistress。〃
Pharaun barked sharp laughter at the thought and said； 〃If a priestess of Lolth makes a gray dwarf nervous； what do you think he'd make of you？〃
The draegloth bridled； but Quenthel shook her head。
〃No；〃 she said； 〃he's right。 We will find a place to wait； and perhaps see what news there is to be had； while Valas takes care of the details。〃
They resumed their march； and soon came to Mantol…Derith。 The place was much smaller than Halisstra expected； a cavern not more than sixty or seventy feet in height and perhaps twice that in width； though it twisted and snaked for many hundreds of yards。 She was used to the immensity of Ched Nasad's great canyon； and the stories she'd heard of other places of civilization underground usually involved tremendous caverns miles across。 Mantol…Derith would have been nothing more than a side cavern in a drow city。
It was also much less crowded than she would have expected。 The marketplaces in her home city had always been busy places； thronged by mon drow or the slaves of nobles engaged in their various errands。 The market of a drow city usually hummed with industry； energy； and activity； even if those qualities were peculiarly distorted to match the aesthetic tastes of drow society。 Mantol…Derith was paratively silent and forbidding。 Here and there throughout the caverns winding length； small groups of merchants sat or squatted； their wares secured in coffers and casks behind them instead of rolled out on display。 No one shouted； or haggled； or laughed。 What business transpired there seemed best conducted in whispers and shadows。
Creatures from many different races gathered at Mantol…Derith。 More than a few drow merchants held various corners of the cavern； most from Menzoberranzan if Halisstra read the blazons on their goods correctly。 Mind flayers glided smoothly from place to place； mauve skin glistening damply； tentacles writhing beneath their cephalopod faces。 A handful of sullen svirfneblin huddled together in one spot； eyeing the drow with unalloyed resentment。 Of course the duergar were present in numbers； too。 Short and broad…shouldered； the gaunt gray dwarves gathered together in secretive cabals； conversing with each softly in their guttural tongue。
Halisstra trailed close behind Pharaun； studying each group as they passed。 She noticed that the wizard was trading discreet signs with Valas as they wound deeper into the marketplace。
Not many merchants here today； the wizard observed。 Where are they all？
Valas glanced over his shoulder to make sure Quenthel wasn't looking； and answered； Chaos in Menzoberranzan means few buyers。 Few buyers means few sellers。 Anarchy seems to be bad for business。
The scout turned to eye a band of duergar nearby； and said over his shoulder to the rest of the pany； 〃Go on ahead。 You'll find an inn of sorts a little farther on。 I will meet you there soon。〃
He quietly approached the gray dwarves； making a strange gesture of greeting with his hands folded before him； and engaged the duergar merchants in whispered conversation。 The rest of the party moved on。
They found the 〃inn〃 to which the scout referred in a dank warren of caves near the southern end of Mantol…Derith。 There； a surly duergar woman terrorized a handful of goblin slaves； driving them mercilessly from one task to another。 Several small cookfires smoldered haphazardly in the area； warming iron pots of thick stew tended by the harried cooks。 Other slaves scrambled to tap casks of mushroom ale or stolen surface lagers； serving silent customers who simply gathered around the fires； sitting on flat boulders arranged like chairs。 Sturdy doors of petrified mushroom fiber or rusted iron plate sealed off crevices in the walls nearby。 Halisstra presumed that these led to the guest rooms of the gray dwarf's inn。 The chambers were most likely secure behind the strong doors； but she couldn't imagine that they were at all fortable。
〃How 。 。 。 rustic；〃 Halisstra said。
She wondered for one terrible moment if it would be her fate to live out the rest of her expatriate existence crouched in some similar hovel。
〃It's even more charming than the last time I was here；〃 Pharaun said with a forced smile。 〃The dwarf there is Dinnka。 You'll find that this nameless wayside inn of hers constitutes the finest lodgings available in Mantol…Derith。 You'll get food； fire； and shelter…three things that are hard to e by in the wilds of the Underdark…and pay a small fortune for it。〃
〃It will be better than resting in a monster…haunted surface ruin； I suppose；〃 Quenthel said。
She led the way as the party approached one of the cookfires。 A trio of bugbears occupied the seats there； apparently mercenaries of some skill； judging by the quality of the armor they wore。 The hairy creatures brooded over big leather jacks of mushroom ale； and gnawed at haunches of rothe meat。 One by one the hulking warriors looked up as the five drow and Jeggred approached。 Quenthel folded her arms and looked at the creatures with contempt。
〃Well？〃 she said。
The bugbears growled； setting down ale and meat as their great fists dropped down to rest on axe…hafts thrust through their belts。 The motion caught Halisstra's eye。 Bugbears with any lick of sense would have vacated their places immediately； almost anywhere in the Underdark。 They might not have been drow slaves…clearly they weren't； if they were in Mantol…Derith…but she'd ventured out into similar places near Ched Nasad enough times to understand that creatures like bugbears learned quickly to give way to the truly dangerous denizens of the Lands Below； such as noble dark elves。
〃Well； what？〃 snarled the largest of the three。 〃It'll take more'n a drow sneer t'make us give up our seats。〃
〃Think y'can just push us aroun'？〃 the second bugbear added。 〃You elfies ain't as scary as y'was； y'know。 Maybe yous'll have t'start showin' off why we's oughtta do what y'says。〃
Quenthel waited for a moment； then said one word： 〃Jeggred。〃
The draegloth bounded forward and seized the first bugbear。 With his two smaller arms he clamped down over the bugbear's hands； preventing him from drawing any of the weapons at his side。 He locked one fighting talon around the creature's head； holding him tightly； and with his other fighting hand he plunged his powerful talons into the bugbear's face。 The mercenary screamed something in his uncouth language and struggled against the draegloth。 Jeggred grinned； knotted his claws deep in the shrieking monster's head； and yanked back hard； ripping off the front of the bugbear's skull。 Blood and brain matter splattered the bugbears panions； who scrambled to their feet； drawing swords and axes。
Jeggred lowered the twitching body a bit and looked over it at the other two。
〃Next？〃 he purred。
The two remaining bugbears stumbled back； and fled in abject terror。 Jeggred shook his white…furred head and tossed the corpse aside； taking a seat at the fire。 He helped himself to a hunk of roast dropped by a bugbear； and raised one of their jacks in another hand。
〃Bugbears。 。 。 。〃 he muttered。
〃Hey； you！〃
The surly duergar innkeeper…Dinnka…scuttled forward； anger plain on her face。
〃Those three hadn't settled their tab yet；〃 she plained。 〃Now how in all the screaming hells am I going to get my gold from them？〃
Ryld stooped and removed the bugbear's belt pouch。 He tossed it to Dinnka。
〃Settle up with this；〃 the weapons master said； 〃and start our tab with what's left。 We'll want good wine； and more food。〃
The duergar woman caught the purse； but she did not move。
〃I don't appreciate your scaring off paying customers； drow。 Nor killing them； neither。 Next time do your murdering at home； where it belongs。〃
She marched off； already barking orders at the goblin slaves underfoot。
Halisstra watched her go； then she looked back to the others and flashed； That was odd。 Did you hear what th