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as sure it would upset Gromph in an amusing way to have this dandy taking his place for so important a task。
She halted； and her minions came to a ragged； jostling stop behind her。 The whip vipers reared to survey the cityscape along with her。 From the corner of her eye； she saw Pharaun smile briefly as if he found the serpents' behavior ical。
〃There；〃 said Quenthel； pointing； 〃in Manyfolk。 It looks as if House Auvryndar may have finished exterminating their own slaves； but a mob keeps them penned within their walls。〃
〃I see it； Blessed Mother；〃 said Malaggar Faen Tlabbar from the step behind her。 The First Sword of Melee…Magthere was a merry…looking； round…faced boy with a fondness for green attire and emeralds。 〃With your permission； that might be a good place to start。 We'll lift the siege and add the Auvryndar to our own army。〃
〃So be it；〃 Quenthel said
The residents of the Academy reached the floor of the lower cavern； whereupon the instructors； particularly the warriors of the pyramid； set about the business of forming the scholars into squads； with swordsmen and spearman protecting the spellcasters。 Then they had to arrange the units into some semblance of a marching order。
Like every princess of a great House； Quenthel had a working knowlnotedge of military matters； and she watched the attempt to create order with a jaundiced eye。
〃I could wish for a proper army；〃 she muttered。
She hadn't meant for anyone to hear； but Pharaun nodded。
〃I understand your sentiments； Mistress； but they're all we have； and I'm sure that if we've trained them properly； we have a chance。〃 He coughed。 〃Against the thralls； anyway。〃
〃Your meaning？〃
〃The greatest danger of all is this pall of smoke。 I think Syrzan； for all its cunning； miscalculated。 If the mages we left upstairs don't extinguish the flames； we'll all suffocate； female and male； elf and ore alike； leaving the alhoon a necropolis to rule。 Still； I suppose we must concentrate on our task and not fret about the rest。〃
〃What alhoon？〃 she demanded。
He hesitated。 〃It really is a long story； Mistress； and not crucial at this moment。〃
〃I will decide what is crucial； mage；〃 she said。 〃Speak。〃
Before Pharaun could begin she saw the First Sword approaching； prenotsumably to inform her that the pany was ready to set forth。
As they started to march； she listened to the mage's tale of the undead mind flayer and its designs for Menzoberranzan。 There was more； she was sure； that he was holding back； but she could always torture it out of him later。
Along the way； the teachers and students found their way littered with mangled dark elf corpses； some headless； some partially devoured； firelight gilding their sightless eyes。 The rich smell of blood peted with the acrid foulness of the smoke。
Or course； no drow objected to the spectacle of violent death； but the ubiquity of the ravaged shapes； bined with the glare of the flames and the uncanny sight of burning stone； made it seem as if Menzoberranzan itself had bee a sort of hell； and that was； for Quenthel at least； unnotsettling。
The Mistress of Arach…Tinilith thought that were she a weaker person； she might have felt as if she were moving through a nightmare； or internotpreted the carnage as proof positive that Lolth had turned her back on Menzoberranzan for good and all。 She consoled herself with the thought that at least this time she was marching against an enemy she could see and smite。
Periodically the scholars saw small groups of undercreatures looting； slaughtering hapless moners； or even flinging stones and arrows at the column。 The younger students sought