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hile the dark elves are weak。〃
〃The dwarves are not likely to confide in me。〃
〃Of course they won't want to confide in you。 However； if they do intend to attack； they will see the advantage of gaining me as an ally。 If they don't plan on attacking； the fact that I am willing to ally with them may decide the issue for them。 They wish Menzoberranzan no good； so you need not worry that they'll stand up for the drow。〃
〃Envoy。 。。。〃 Aliisza murmured。 〃It sounds better than spy； doesn't it？ I suppose I can carry your message for you； my sweet； fierce Kaanyr； but maybe you should provide me with some special incentive to hurry home； hmm？〃
Kaanyr Vhok circled her with his powerful arms and nuzzled the hollow of her neck。
〃Very well； my pet；〃 he rumbled。 〃Though I sometimes wonder if you are utterly insatiable。〃
A desperate hour of flight from ruin to ruin saw the battered pany to a hard…won refuge from the monsters who ruled Hlaungadath。 Beneath the hulking shell of a square tower they found a sand…choked stair descending into cool； lightless catabs beneath the city。 Buoyed by their find； the dark elves slipped through a maze of buried shrines； subterranean wells； and echoing colonnades of brown stone； finally holing up in a deep； disused gallery that showed no signs of recent use。 It was a cheerless and desolate spot； but it was free of blinding sunlight and mind…controlling monsters； and that was all they needed。
〃Pharaun； prepare your spells quickly；〃 Quenthel manded after sizing up the chamber。 〃Halisstra； you and Ryld will stand watch here。 Jeggred； you and Valas keep watch on the far archway； over there。〃
〃Unfortunately； you must keep your watch for some time；〃 the wizard said。 He made a rueful gesture。 〃I was ready to study my spellbook earlier； when I'd had some time to rest in the courtyard of the palace above； but the poor hospitality of our lamia hosts has left me somewhat fatigued。 I must rest for some time before I will be able to ready my spells。〃
〃We're all tired；〃 Quenthel snarled。 〃We have no time for you to rest。 Prepare your spells at once！〃
The snakes of her whip coiled and hissed in agitation。
〃The exercise would be pointless； dear Quenthel。 You must keep our enemies away from me until I have recovered from my exertions。〃
〃If he is so powerless；〃 Jeggred rumbled； 〃now would be as good a time as any to punish him for his disrespectful attitude and many transgressions。〃
〃Stupid creature；〃 Pharaun snorted。 〃Slay me； and all of you will die in these light…blasted wastelands within a day。 Or perhaps you have suddenly acquired a knack for the arcane arts？〃
Jeggred bristled； but Quenthel silenced him with nothing more than a look。 The draegloth stalked off to take up his watch at the far end of the long； dusty chamber； crouching in a jumble of fallen stones near the opposite entrance。 Valas sighed and trotted off to join him。
〃Ready your spells as fast as you can； wizard；〃 the priestess said； deadly anger tightly contained in her voice。 〃I have little patience left for your wit。 Give Halisstra your lightning wand in case we need spells of that sort to repel another attack。〃
It was a measure of his true exhaustion that Pharaun didn't even bother to seek the last word。 He turned to Halisstra and dropped the black iron wand into her hand with a sour smile。
〃I suppose you know how to use this already。 I'll want it back； of course； so please try not to exhaust it pletely。 They're hard to make。〃
〃I won't use it unless I have to；〃 Halisstra said。
She watched as the wizard found a shadowed spot beside a large column and sat down cross…legged； leaning against the cold stone； and she tucked the wand into her belt。 Quenthel posed herself against the opposite wall； watching Pharaun as if to make sure he was not feigning his need for rest。 Ryld Argith pushed himself erect and set out for the passage leading back toward the monster…haunted surface； leaning on his massive greatsword as he did so。
Halisstra started to follow； but Danifae said； 〃Shall I keep watch here； Mistress Melarn？〃
The girl knelt on the dusty floor between the wizard and the priestess； the dagger thrust through her belt。 She looked up at Halisstra； her expression blank and perfect； the picture of an innocent question。
The Melarn priestess repressed a grimace。 Arming a battle captive was tantamount to admitting one no longer had the strength to force her submission； and she suspected that Danifae would later exact a difficult price for continued pliance。 Danifae watched serenely as her mistress considered the offer。 Halisstra could feel Quenthel's eyes on her too； and she steeled herself against glancing at the Baenre priestess to measure her approval。
〃You may keep the dagger to defend yourself…for now；〃 Halisstra allowed。 〃Your vigilance is not required。 Do not presume to suggest such a thing again。〃
〃Of course； Mistress Melarn；〃 Danifae replied。
The girl's face was devoid of emotion； but Halisstra didn't like the thoughtful look in Danifae's eye as she posed herself to wait。
Will her binding hold？ Halisstra mused。
In the heart of House Melarn； surrounded by the full strength of her enemies； Danifae would not have dared to throw off the magical pulsion that enslaved her； even if she could do such a thing。 Things had changed； though。 Danifae's care in how she addressed her mistress in front of Quenthel did not escape Halisstra's notice。 Without her House； her city； to invest Halisstra with absolute dominion over what she called her own…her life； her loyalties； and possessions such as Danifae…any or all of those things might be wrested away from her。 The thought left her feeling as hollow and as brittle as a rotten piece of bone。
What happens when Danifae decides to test the bounds of her captivity in earnest？ she wondered。 Would Quenthel permit Halisstra to retain her mastery over the girl； or would the Baenre intercede simply to spite Halisstra and strip her of one more shred of her status？ For that matter； was Quenthel capable of freeing Danifae and claiming Halisstra herself as a battle captive？
The girl studied Halisstra from her lowered eyes； demure and beautiful。 Patient。
〃Are you ing？〃 Ryld asked。 He stood in the mouth of the passage； waiting。
〃Yes； of course；〃 Halisstra said； barely repressing a scowl。
Deliberately turning her back on the servant； Halisstra followed Ryld back out to the tunnels leading to their refuge。 For the moment； she was safe enough。 Danifae could not remove the silver locket from her neck with all of her will； strength； and effort。 The moment she touched it； the enchantment would lock her muscles into rigidity until she abandoned the attempt。 Nor could she ask someone else to remove it for her； since the moment she tried to speak of the locket； her tongue would freeze in her mouth。 As long as the locket encircled her neck； Danifae was pelled to serve Halisstra； even to the point of giving her own life to save her mistress。 Danifae had borne her bondage well； but Halisstra had no intention of removing the locket