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out Menzoberranzan were rebelling； she'd used a certain magical diamond to call the males of Bregan D'aerthe from their secret lair。 The sell swords were at their work。
One neighborhood in the south of the city was thick with goblins。 Even from the Great Mound； she could make out the boil of motion in the streets。 Then； over the course of just a few seconds； that agitation ceased； as the creatures apparently fell dead all at once。
It was an extraordinary feat of mass assassination； but the mercenaries had only cleared one small part of Menzoberranzan。 They couldn't reclaim the entire city by themselves； if； in fact； the job could be done at all。 Triel shouted down into the yard； to any officer within earshot； 〃Asnotsemble my troops。 We're marching out。〃
Jeggred couldn't speak for joy。 This had already been the best night of his admittedly young life； and he was drunk on slaughter。 He'd killed and killed and killed and killed again； an ecstasy that put his sport with Faeryl Zauvirr to shame。
And his mother said it wasn't over！ They were going to descend into the city to gorge on murder； and Jeggred would know a fiend's transcendent bliss。 The only hard part would be remembering not to kill dark elves； just everyone else。
He squeezed Triel's shoulder with a quivering hand； one of the smaller ones。
Valas Hune skulked around the corner； then blinked。 A keep blocked the street； where no bastion should be…then the huge thing moved。
No； not a keep after all； but the biggest stone giant he'd ever seen。 The scout knew that some Houses kept giant slaves as well as the more mon goblinoids and ogres； and； gray in the firelight； with a long head and black； sunken eyes； this specimen still wore iron bracelets dangling lengths of broken chain。 From somewhere it had procured a great axe sized for a creature of its immensity； and was using it to pulp any drow it nonotticed scurrying about。
Valas had gotten separated from his rades sometime back。 That was all right。 He was used to traversing wild places by himself； though in truth； he'd never explored any tunnel as perilous and unpredictable as Menzoberranzan had bee this night。
He'd been killing ores and gnolls； first with his short bow； and； after the arrows ran out； close in with his kukris。 He'd thought he was making some genuine progress until he encountered this。
It was a daunting sight； but someone would have to kill the big under…creatures as well as the little ones； if Menzoberranzan was to survive and Bregan D'aerthe was to be paid for its services。
Valas touched a fingertip to a nine…pointed tin star pinned to his shirt； and murmured a word in a language of a race few Menzoberranyr had ever even heard of。 In the blink of an eye he was crouched on the stone giant's shoulder。
The surface was smooth and rounded。 He started to slip off； but； reactnoting like the acplished rock climber he was； negated his weight and caught himself。 He clambered within reach of the giant's neck and started hacking at the arteries within the behemoth's neck with both kukris。
To no avail。 Perched somewhat precariously； Valas couldn't use his strength and weight to full advantage； and his first stroke skipped harmnotlessly off the giant's rocklike hide。
The behemoth did feel the impact； though。 Its head snapped around； the chin nearly brushing Valas away。 The giant glared down at him； and he struck； this time with greater success。 With a crackle of lightning； the enchanted weapon split the slave's lower lip。
Crying out in pain and anger； a deep sound Valas felt in his bones； the stone giant flinched its head away。 A huge gray hand ros