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shelter behind his friend； then the swordsman cried out； staggered； and dropped his guard。 The skeletons surged forward； and the twins； who'd been hovering at the periphery of the fight； darted in as well。
Caught by surprise； Pharaun only just had time to conjure a dazzling； crackling fork of lightning。 The power held the enemy back for a moment； and Ryld recovered his balance。
〃All right？〃 asked the Master of Sorcere。
〃Yes。〃 Ryld chopped a spear…wielding skeleton's legs out from under it。 〃Something was trying to tamper with my mind； but it's gone now。〃
〃It won't stay gone unless I confront the spell casters。〃
Pharaun floated up into the air； beyond the skeletons' reach； making sure he would have a clear shot at Greyanna and the others。 In his absence； the creatures would likely be able to surround Ryld； but that couldn't be helped。
Surveying the scene； he saw that Relonor was still lying motionless on his back。 Positioned beyond the melee； Greyanna and her sister priestess were reading from scrolls。
For a moment； Pharaun's thoughts exploded into a terrifying madness； but reason quickly reasserted itself。 He sucked in a deep breath； trying to quell the residual fear； and a second assault wracked his body。 He cried out； and the agony passed。 Somehow he'd weathered both spells。
He threw a seething ball of lighting at Greyanna； but it winked out of existence halfway to the target； unmade by the priestess's defenses。 She and the other cleric employed their scrolls again。
A dazzling； searing beam of light erupted from Greyanna's hand。 It slashed across Pharaun's face； and he closed his eyes just in time to keep it from blinding him。 It was painful nonetheless； but his own defenses kept it from burning his face off。
The other priestess flailed at him with a sizzling bolt of lightning。 As it was one of his own favorite forces to mand； it hardly seemed fair。 He stiffened with the shock for a moment or two； and the magic lost its grip on him。
He feared the spasm had cost him precious time。 By the time it passed； he thought the priestesses were surely in the process of casting new spells； but when he looked at the lesser of the two she wasn't creating any magic。 She'd dropped her suddenly blank scroll on the ground and was rooting in her leather pouch； presumably for another means of magical attack。
Clasping a bit of coal and a tiny dried eyeball held in a little vial； Pharaun created an effect。 Power sighed and rippled through the air； and a mass of darkness appeared around the female's head； blinding her。
The wizard's thoughts flew apart once more； then reassembled themnotselves。 He rounded on Greyanna。 She was still clutching her scroll； evinotdently still casting from it。 He began to conjure； and she； evidently uncertain of the parchment's power to protect her； tore open the bag。
It had occurred to Pharaun that the sack might have more spores in it； but he'd assumed they would produce more skeletons。 This time； though； the glittering motes burst in midair； swelling into ugly little beasts resemnotbling a cross between a bat and a mosquito。
The stirges swirled around him； jabbing at him with their proboscises； striving to drink his blood。 They interfered with the motion of his hands and so spoiled his conjuration。 He restored his weight and fell back to the ground； where Ryld； beset by clinking skeletons on all sides； beheaded one with a sudden cut。 One of the twins edged toward him but balked when the big male pivoted in his direction。
Pharaun slammed down on the street。 Trailing chattering stirges； he sprinted toward the fallen Relonor。 A couple skeletons