〃If I decide that your plan has merit； you mean；〃 drawled Mez'Barris Armgo of House Barrison Del'Armgo。 〃Triel Baenre may trust in your judgment； but I intend to think for myself； boy。〃
A tall； powerful female； the matron mother of the Second House was the ranking priestess present and nominally in mand of the entire expedition。 Each of the Houses had contributed some number of its priestesses to mand their contingents in battle； ranging from unblooded acolytes to first daughters and matron mothers。 Weapons masters such as Andzrel and males…including Nimor in his role as Zhayemd Dyrr…manded warbands； panies； and cavalry squadrons； attending to the endless details of organizing the army of Menzoberranzan。
〃My cousin presents House Baenre's views； Matron Mez'Barris；〃 Zal'therra Baenre rasped。 〃Matron Triel endorses the weapons master's battle plan。〃
Foremost of Triel Baenre's cousins； Zal'therra looked nothing like the petite Matron Mother of House Baenre。 She was tall and broadly built in the shoulders； a strapping female with a remarkable amount of physical fortitude and a coarse； intimidating manner。 She and Mez'Barris were two of a kind in physique； yet the Matron Mother of House Del'Armgo possessed a brilliant； vicious cunning that was nothing more than a sullen streak in the Baenre priestess。 Mez'Barris fixed her red eyes on the younger woman； but did not respond。
Andzrel knew better than to speak while the two females sparred。 He waited through a moment of silence before he continued the briefing。
〃Here is Rhazzt's Dilemma；〃 he said； 〃where Captain Zhayemd of Agrach Dyrr reported the duergar vanguard yesterday morning。 It lies about twenty…five miles south of the Pillars of Woe； at the lower end of the canyon。 Assuming the worst； we can expect the duergar to storm the outpost and force the entrance by sometime late today； perhaps tomorrow if we're lucky。 Duergar are hearty soldiers and can march all day long； but they're slow； and their army will be burdened with a long supply train and heavy siege engines。 Ascending the gorge will be difficult going。 It seems that； in the worst case again； they should reach the Pillars in five days…more likely seven or eight。〃
〃How do you know the gray dwarves haven't overrun the outpost already？〃 a priestess of Tuin'Tarl asked。
〃We do not； Mistress Tuin'Tarl。 The duergar wizards and clerics are preventing our efforts to scry the surroundings； a mon tactic in warfare of this sort。〃 Andzrel nodded to Nimor and added； 〃That is why it is essential to deploy a screen of capable scouts； to find out through mundane means what our wizards cannot see。 Zhayemd of Agrach Dyrr is charged with the mand of our reconnaissance。〃
Andzrel waited a moment to see if the priestess had any more questions； then went on； 〃In any event； our armies travel faster than the gray dwarves； and we have a much easier route。 I would expect our vanguard to reach the Pillars of Woe three to four days from now。 If we hold the upper exit from the gorge； the duergar will never break our defenses。 As you can see； it is something of a race； and therefore we should make all possible speed。〃
〃What plan do you have for battle； Zal'therra？〃 asked another priestess； the mistress of the House Xorlarrin contingent。
Nimor smiled at the remark。 Zal'therra had certainly been instructed by Triel to rely on her House weapons master's advice in planning the battle； but the high priestesses naturally talked past Andzrel as if he wasn't even there。
〃Andzrel will present it；〃 the Baenre priestess replied； as if she'd just finished explaining it all to him and choose to allow him to show off her genius。
If the weapons master took note of the slight； he did not show it。
〃We will build a strong； well…anchored line across the mouth of the gorge。 A few hundred troops should suffice for this； but we will mit a thousand。 The remainder of our soldiers will be held in reserve and secure various small passageways and flanking caverns in the vicinity。〃 Andzrel set down his baton and faced the assembled priestesses； his face expressionless except for the keen glitter of determination in his eyes。 〃I mean to allow the duergar to e to us； and break them between the Pillars of Woe。 When they have hurled their strength on us in vain； we will pursue them back down the gorge and slaughter them and their minions in heaps。〃
〃And what if the duergar choose not to force the Pillars？〃 Mez'Barris asked； addressing Andzrel directly。
〃The duergar are invading our lands； Matron Mother； so the burden of action is on them。 If they decide not to try the Pillars； we will wait them out…our supply lines are much shorter than theirs。 In a matter of days they will have to choose between going forward and going back。〃
Mez'Barris gazed at the map； considering Andzrel's answer。
〃Very well；〃 she said。 〃I want to see just how quickly we can reach the spot you have in mind。 Extend the march by two hours a day。 If we reach the Pillars of Woe in three days； we should have time to rest before battle is joined。 I want our fastest forces to make a dash for the Pillars； just in case。 There is no reason we couldn't have a couple of hundred scouts at the top of that gorge in a day and a half。 Now； if you will excuse us； I wish to discuss with my sister priestesses the best use of our talents in the uping conflict。〃
Andzrel offered a shallow bow； and withdrew from the room。 Nimor fell in beside the Baenre weapons master as they left the black pavilion； flanked by a handful of other officers。 The tent stood in a large； round tunnel crowded with soldiers and pack lizards； banner after banner of various Houses stretching out of sight up and down the passage。
〃Zhayemd；〃 said Andzrel； 〃I want you to assume mand of our vanguard； as Matron Mother Del'Armgo suggests。 Take your Agrach Dyrr cavalry and make speed tomorrow and the next day。 Our lack of information about the duergar army makes me nervous。 I'll have some of the other riders join you； so that you'll have a strong pany to hold the pass if worse es to worst。〃
〃I must consult with our high priestess；〃 Nimor said； though he had no intention of doing any such thing。 The weapons master； still under Nimor's powerful and lasting enchantment； would trust him anyway。 〃I believe she will support the suggestion； though。〃
〃Good；〃 Andzrel said as they reached the Baenre camp。 He clapped Nimor on the shoulder。 〃If you find the duergar somewhere they're not supposed to be； report back at once。 I want no foolishness out of you。 You are the eyes of our army。〃
Nimor smiled and said； 〃Do not worry； Master Andzrel。 I intend to leave nothing to chance。〃
Jezz the Lame crouched awkwardly in the shadow of a ruined wall； gazing across a small square at a large； round tower a stone's throw away。
〃There；〃 he said。 〃The beholder's tower。 There's a flight of stairs leading up to the door； which we have previously found to be unlocked but guarded by deadly magical traps。 You'll see several small windows in the upper levels； perhaps large enough for a small drow to slip through。 We haven't tried those； though。〃
Ryld； who crouched just behind the Jaelre； leaned out to take a look for himself。 The tower was much as Jezz had described it； surrounded by the sprawling ruins of Myth Drannor。 After using Pharaun's magic to speed their travel to the old elven capital and resting a few hours to prepare； the pany had spent most of the night fighting their way through the ruins。
Myth Drannor was little more than a great wreckage of white stone overgrown with trees and vines； but once it had been something more。 The old surface elf city might not have been as large as Menzoberranzan or as infernally grand as Ched Nasad； but it possessed an elegance and beauty that equaled； if not exceeded； the best examples of drow architecture。
Ryld cast a careful glance to the rooftops。
〃No sign of devils；〃 he said。 〃Perhaps we've slain enough that they've decided not to trouble us anymore。〃
〃Unlikely；〃 Jezz said with a snort。 〃They've drawn back to organize another attack； and await the arrival of more powerful fiends before trying us again。〃
〃In that event； we should take advantage of the respite to do what we came to do；〃 Quenthel said。 She too moved up to study the tower。 I see nothing that encourages me to change our plan。 Pharaun； cast your spell。〃
〃As you wish； dear Quenthel；〃 the wizard began； 〃though I must say that I do not entirely agree with the stratagem of…〃
Angry glares from every other member of the pany silenced Pharaun before he finished his protest。 He sighed and fluttered his hand。
〃Oh； very well。〃
The wizard straightened and carefully spoke the words of his spell； the potent syllables ringing with magical power。 An intangible wave seemed to roll over Ryld and the others。 In its wake； Ryld felt strength and quickness drain from his limbs； and Splitter seemed to grow heavier in his hand； its gleaming blade suddenly dulled。 Ryld was no wizard； but like any acplished drow he had over the years armed himself with various magical devices and enchantments to increase his speed； his strength； the toughness of his armor； the deadliness of his weapons。 Pharaun's spell temporarily abolished all magic in the vicinity； leaving Ryld without the benefit of a single enchantment； and the other drow were similarly affected。 The strangest effect of all was the sudden inertness of Quenthel's fearsome whip。 One moment the snakes hissed and writhed of their own accord； alert and vicious； and in the next they dangled like dead things from the weapons haft。
〃Stay close to me； if you wish to stay within the spell's effect；〃 Pharaun said。
He licked his lips nervously。 Within the zone of antimagic he'd just created； he could cast no spells； and his own formidable array of enchanted devices and protections were inert； too。 The wizard readied his hand crossbow； and loosened his dagger in its sheath。
〃I feel like I'm going up against a dragon with a dinner knife；〃 he muttered。
Ryld clapped him on the shoulder and stood。 He sheathed Splitter and drew his own crossbow。
〃Yes； but your spell pulls the dragon's fangs；〃 he said。
〃Get moving；〃 Quenthel said。
She looked more than a little unfortable herself。 Evidently she didn't care for the unmoving silence of her weapon。 Without waiting； she loped across the courtyard and bounded up the steps leading to the tower's door。 The others followed； blinking in the light of the approaching dawn。 Ryld made a point of keeping watch on the ruined streets and walls behind the party； watching for the return of any of Myth Drannor's monstrous denizens。 The last thing they needed was a band of blood…maddened devils to descend on them while they'd suppressed their own magic。
At the door of the tower； Quenthel stepped aside for Jeggred。 The hulking draegloth moved up and wrenched the door open； bounding inside。 Masonry cracked and clattered to the stone steps。 Quenthel followed hard on his heels； then Danifae and Valas。 Ryld looked around one last time； and noticed Jezz hanging back。
〃You