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ting hungrily down。 From her perch； Greyanna looked on with a ranotpacity no less keen than theirs； albeit a rapacity of the soul。
Pharaun shouted something。 Greyanna couldn't quite make it out； but it didn't seem to be a magical word； just a cry of fear or a desperate plea for mercy…a plea the giant beasts would not heed。
Except that they did。 They hesitated； and he lifted his hands。 Their deadly jaws played delicately about his fingers； taking in his scent。
She cried again for the brutes to kill him。 They twisted their heads around to look at her； but he spoke to them once more； and they ignored her mand。
Greyanna stared in amazement。 Pharaun had no doubt had some limnotited contact with the foulwings； for after all； he lived in the same castle with them； but she knew he'd never ridden one。 Only the females of House Mizzrym enjoyed that privilege； and it was only by riding that you established genuine mastery over the creatures。 How； then； could he posnotsibly enjoy a rapport with them deeper than her own？
Pharaun scrambled onto a foulwing's back； and both it and its fellow sprang into the air。 Obviously her brother had managed to dissolve the ennotchantment that made the beasts want to sit contentedly at their post。
The wizard managed his mount more deftly than Greyanna herself could have done without benefit of saddle； bridle； and goad。 He shot her a mocking grin as he turned to flee。 The other； rider less foulwing soared and swooped aimlessly； enjoying its liberty。
Greyanna shook off her stunned disbelief。 She still desperately wanted to know how Pharaun had learned to ride the creatures…probably Sabal had taught him； but how had they managed it without anyone else findnoting out？…but she wasn't going to stand there pondering the question。 The answer was less important than the kill。
She turned and looked around。 Those guards whom Pharaun had addled were disoriented still； but some of the soldiers he'd battered with hailstones appeared to have regained their posure。
〃Shoot him！〃 she shouted； pointing at the rapidly receding target。 〃Shoot！〃
With mendable haste； they obeyed。 They took up their crossbows； aimed； and the bolts leaped forth in a ragged clatter。
Pharaun's foulwing lurched； then plummeted down and down and down； crashing to earth somewhere amid the hollowed stalagmite edifices of the city。
〃Got him；〃 said the captain of the guard。
Bigger and stronger than he； Greyanna had no difficulty knocking the male to the floor。
〃You got the foulwing；〃 she said。 〃We don't know that you hit Pharaun at all。 We don't know that he didn't use his wizardry or his levitation to cushion his fall。 We don't know that he isn't down there alive and well laughing at us。 I need to see his corpse； and one way or the other； you will fetch it for me。 Turn out every available priestess； wizard； and warrior… drow or slave。 Jump
Jump he did。 It was the last bit of satisfaction that was to e her way。
Her mortal agents flooded the streets； while she remained in her pernotsonal sanctum in House Mizzrym； summoning spirits and casting divinanottions to aid the search。 Astonishingly； maddeningly； it was all to no avail。 When light flowered in the base of Narbondel； signaling the advent of the new day； she was forced to admit that at least for the time being； Pharaun had eluded her。
A month later； she learned that her brother had somehow made his way all the way up to Tier Breche and begged the Archmage of Menzoberranzan himself for a place in Sorcere； and； remembering the wizardly talent the younger male had demonstrated throughout his training； Gromph had seen fit to take