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t just one of the creatures flying toward her at the speed of an arrow； but dozens： an entire flock。
〃Lolth help me；〃 Halisstra whispered。 〃Stirges。〃
They were too close for a crossbow shot。 Whipping out Seyll's long sword； Halisstra braced herself to meet the threat。 Grimly； she realized her chain mail wouldn't be any help； the stirges' needle…thin noses would slip between its links。
As the first surge dived in to attack； Halisstra swung the long sword。 It was still awkward in her grip； heavier than the blade she'd been used to。 Even so； her blow connected； slicing the stirge cleanly
Then half a dozen of the creatures were on her。
For several frantic moments； Halisstra fended them off； killing two more with the sword and crumpling the proboscis of a third with a blow from the small steel shield she wore on her left arm。
She felt a piercing pain in her right shoulder as a stirge struck。 A moment later； another plunged its proboscis into the back of her left leg； just behind the knee。 The force of it caused her to stagger。 Only by ducking frantically was she able to avoid the stirge lancing in at her neck。 Whirling； she struck it with the sword as it flew past。
As still more of the creatures dived at her…nearly two dozen of them…Halisstra reached down with her shield hand and grabbed the stirge that had plunged into the back of her knee。 She squeezed…and heard a satisfying pop as the creature's bloated midriff burst。 Yanking it from her； she threw its body away； dimly noticing the spray of blood that had soaked her gloved hand。 Meanwhile； the stirge in her shoulder continued draining her of blood。
The flock dived en masse； and four more stirges plunged into her flesh。 One bit deeply into her left arm； two into her right leg； and the fourth into her shoulder； beside the one that was already greedily sucking away。 Halisstra killed two more with the sword…which； with the air rushing through the holes in its hilt； was making constant； discordant noises like a badly played flute。 Halisstra； rapidly losing strength as the stirges drained her of blood； suddenly shivered as she realized she might very well die there。 Lolth was no longer watching over her； blessing her with the magic she needed to drive the foul creatures away。 The only darksong spell that would affect so many creatures at once required a musical instrument as its arcane focus…and she could hardly pluck out a tune on her lyre and fight at the same time。
Then she realized something。 Perhaps there was another instrument she could use； closer to hand。 。 。 。
Abandoning her attempts to strike the stirges…there were too many of them…Halisstra reversed Seyll's sword and brought its hilt to her lips。 Closing her eyes； she blew into the hilt； fingering the holes so the rush of air escaped through a single hole。 Even though she sagged to her knees as blood loss weakened her； she felt magic flow from her lips into the hilt of the sword and out through the hole in a piercing blast。 Her own ears rang； then went numb as a single note…sweet； high； and impossibly strong…shattered the air。 All around her； stirges tumbled from the air as a magic blast hit them。 Those on her body wilted； hung for a moment； then slowly slipped free of her flesh； hitting the ground around her with soft thuds。
In the silence that followed； Halisstra could hear only the sound of her own breathing。 Opening her eyes； she saw dozens of stirges lying on the ground； some of them still twitching。 She picked up the closest one and squeezed it。 Its blood…her blood…soaked her gloves as its body burst。 Dropping it； she continued from one stirge to the next； killing them one by one。 Then she pulled off her blood…soaked gloves and cast them aside。
Perhaps the surface was not a place of beauty； after all。
Then she realized that something had disturbed the stirges…something that was moving through the forest toward the bluff where she stood。 Hunkering down； she crept back toward the stairs； looking for a place to hide。
Valas signaled for the party to stop when the tunnel； which had been twisting its way ever deeper toward the Underdark； opened into a jumble of broken stone that led down to a medium…sized cavern whose floor was hidden by a deep pool of water。 Pharaun gave a low chuckle； breaking the silence。
〃Perfect；〃 he breathed。
Keep quiet； Valas chastised； but Pharaun only laughed。
〃It's going to be loud enough in here in just a moment；〃 the mage said with a wink。 Then he called back to the others； who were higher in the tunnel； up beyond where Valas could see。 〃Mistress； I've found a spot that will do nicely。 Get Jeggred ready。〃
Valas heard Quenthel ordering the draegloth to kneel and the sound of a drawn dagger。 Pharaun； meanwhile； laid a hand on Valas's shoulder。
〃Excuse me；〃 he said。 〃I need to get by。〃
Valas still wasn't certain what the mage was doing； but he flattened obediently against the cold stone； allowing Pharaun to squeeze past him into the cavern。 Pharaun reached into a pocket of his piwafwi and pulled out a tiny cone of glass。 Rolling up his sleeve； he pointed the cone at the water at his feet。
〃Chalthinsil！〃 he cried； his shout filling the cavern。
In that same instant； a cone of bitterly cold air erupted from the glass cone； filling the air with swirling frost。 The magical cold struck the pool； instantly turning it to solid ice。 Frost continued to roil in the air for a few moments more； coating the walls and ceiling of the cavern with sparkling white ice crystals。 Then it vanished； leaving a chill in the air that made Valas shiver。
Pharaun tucked the cone of glass back into his piwafwi。
〃Perfect；〃 he said again； staring down at the expanse of ice。 〃Nice and smooth。 Just the thing to draw on。〃 Then he shouted back over his shoulder； 〃Quenthel。 I'm ready。〃
Behind him； in the tunnel； Valas heard a hiss of anticipation from one of the vipers in Quenthel's whip。 A moment later he smelled the tang of freshly spilled blood。 Quenthel appeared at the entrance to the cavern； and passed a cup to Pharaun。 The mage clambered down the slope； holding the cup so its contents wouldn't spill。
Quenthel and Danifae crowded in behind Valas to peer past him at the cavern。 Quenthel snapped her fingers； and Jeggred stalked down the tunnel as well； panting clouds of foul…smelling breath into the ice…cold air。 One of his massive fighting hands was clamped around a spot on the wrist of his smaller arm。 Blood welled out between the clamped fingers and dripped onto the stone at his feet。 A moment later； Ryld joined them； having at last given up his cautious watch over the tunnel behind them。
Pharaun was already out on the ice； moving across it in a skating slide。 As the others watched； he pulled out a dagger and traced an enormous hexagonal star onto the surface； carving its lines deep； like troughs。 When he was done； he stood a minute； looking for imperfections。
Quenthel frowned down at the mage。 〃Six sides？〃 she asked。 〃Why not a standard pentagram？〃
Pharaun shrugged and said； 〃Anyone can summon a demon with a pentagram。 I lik