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The rogues divested Ryld of his cloak and armor； then chained him to the wall。 As he'd expected； the conspirators took more elaborate precaunottions with the wizard； even though Pharaun had suffered a violent seizure shortly after Syrzan stunned him； had apparently passed from that into plete unconsciousness； and showed no sign of rousing any time soon。 In addition to shackling him； the rogues locked a steel bridle around his head； forcing the bit into his mouth to keep him from enunciating words of power or anything else。 They inserted his forearms into the two ends of a hinged metal tube； a sort of muff or double glove that would make it imnotpossible for him to gesture or crook his fingers into a cabalistic sign。
By the time they finished； Ryld's strength had begun to return； enough； at least； to permit him to speak。
〃It'll get you； too；〃 he croaked。
Houndaer turned； scowling。 〃What？〃
〃The lich。 It doesn't want to share power。 It's planning to turn every Menzoberranyr； including you； into its mind…slave。 That's what illithids do。〃
〃Do you think we trust the beast？〃 the Tuin'Tarl sneered。 〃We're not idiots。 It'll serve its purpose； and we'll dispose of it。〃
〃So you intend； but what if Syrzan's already working on subjugating you； so subtly you don't even know it？ What if； when the time es…〃
Houndaer punched his former teacher in the mouth； dashing his head against the calcite wall。
〃Shut up；〃 the noble said。 〃You fooled me once and made me look like an imbecile。 It's not going to happen again。〃
The rogues made their departure。 With his spidery lower body； Tsabrak had to squeeze through the door。 The last one out； the bard gave Ryld a wry smile and a shrug。 The door slammed shut。
Ryld licked the salty taste of blood from his gashed lower lip。
〃Pharaun；〃 he said in a low tone。 〃Are you truly unconscious； or is it a trick？〃
Slumped with the steel harness clamped around his head； the Master of Sorcere didn't respond。 If not for the rise and fall of his chest； Ryld would have feared him dead。
The swordsman tried to go to Pharaun； but his chains were too short。 He undertook an examination of the shackles。 The cuffs fit tightly； and the locks were strong。 The links were heavy； well forged； and anchored senotcurely in the wall。 Ryld had broken free of bonds a time or two in his turnotbulent early years； but without tools or a miracle； he wouldn't be sundering these。
Nor； denied the use of his voice and hands； was Pharaun likely to fare any better。 Still； Ryld suspected the mage was his only hope。 Pharaun was clever。 Perhaps he could think of a workable ploy； if only he was conscious。
〃 Wake upr Ryld roared。 〃Wake up； curse it。 You've got to get us out of here！〃
To add to the din； he beat a length of chain against the wall。
To no avail。 He shouted until his throat was raw； but Pharaun didn't stir。
〃Bleed it！〃 the weapons master swore。
He hunkered down on the floor and tried to work up some saliva to wash away the dryness in his mouth。 As the renegades hadn't bothered to provide a water jug； spit was the best he could do。
〃You have to wake up；〃 he said in a softer voice。 〃Otherwise； they've beaten us； and we've never let anyone do that。 Do you remember when we hunted that cloaker lord？ We found out too late that it had sixty…seven other chasm rays in its raiding party； many more than our little band of third…year students was prepared to confront。 But you said； 'It's all right； it just takes the proper spells to even the odds。' First you conjured a wall of fire 。 。 。〃
Ryld rambled on for hours； talking his throat raw； recounting their shared experiences as