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some formidable magic to protect her valuables。 It was too bad she wasn't similarly careful with her life。
Gromph's agent flowed forward； and something reared hissing atop a round little table。 It was the five vipers prising an enchanted whip。 Distracted by the magical power blazing at the back of the chamber； the netherspirit had missed feeling the lesser emanations of the vipers。
Fortunately； it didn't matter。 The animate darkness had skulked too close to its prey for anything to balk it。 It solidified a twisting strand of itself and slapped the table over； sending the whip flying。 At the same time it darted； stretching； to pounce on Quenthel。
Her slanted eyes opened but of course saw only blackness。 She opened her mouth to speak or shout； and the demon shoved a tendril inside。
C h a p t e r
S E V E N
For an instant； the world blazed bright and hot； searing Pharaun's skin。 However； when the flame was gone it left little more than a tactile memory of pain。 Gasping； the wizard took stock of himself。 Except for a blister or two； he was all right。 Some bination of the protective enchantments woven into both his vest and piwafwi； his innate drow resistance to hostile magic； and the silver ring he wore bearing the insignia of Sorcere； had saved him from fatal burns。
Ryld had drawn Splitter。 An arrow whizzed down from a rooftop across the street； and the burly swordsman batted it out of the air。 A huge flying mount wheeled overhead； vanishing from view before Pharaun could get a good look at it。
〃Are you all right？〃 Ryld asked。
〃Just singed a little；〃 Pharaun replied。
〃Here are your rogues； not so canny after all。 We'll either have to rise into the air after them or pull them down to the street。〃
〃We'll do neither。 Follow me。〃
〃Run？〃 the weapons master asked； swatting away another arrow。 〃I thought we wanted to catch one of them。〃
〃Just follow。〃
Pharaun began moving down the street； meanwhile peering upward； looking for his attackers。 Ryld scowled but trailed along behind him。
The Master of Sorcere glimpsed a swirling motion from the corner of his eye。 He pivoted。 Crouched on the edge of a roof； a spell caster spun his hands in fluid mystic passes。
Gesturing； speaking rapidly； Pharaun rattled off his own incantation。 He was racing the other mage； and he finished his magic first。 Five darts of azure light leaped from his fingertips； shot at the spell caster； and plunged into his chest。 From that distance； he couldn't tell how badly he'd hurt his colleague； but at the least his foe flailed his arms in pain。 The Acanotdemician's attack had disrupted his spell。
Ryld knocked another arrow away； and only then did Pharaun realize that this time； the shaft had been hurtling at him。 An instant later； a studnotded mace seemingly made of shadow flew out of nowhere and swung itself at his head。 Splitter flicked over and tapped that manifestation。 As connotjured objects often did； the war club vanished at the great sword's touch。
〃In here；〃 Pharaun said。
The two masters ran to the arched sandstone door of one of the modest houses on the street。 Pharaun suspected that the tenants had locked it at the first sign of trouble； and evidently Ryld agreed； because he didn't bother trying the handle。 He simply booted the door and broke the latch。 The weapons master scrambled inside。
The front room of the home was crowded。 Pharaun might have exnotpected that。 The population of the city had grown considerably since its founding but the number of stalagmite buildings was of necessity fixed。 The poor had to squeeze in wherever they could。
Thus；