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ty to enhance the ambassador's disfort through a suggestive smile； a lick of his lips； or a studied examination of his razor…sharp claws。 It was clear to Pharaun that Faeryl was close to fully losing her posure。 If that happened； he supposed they might have to actually let the draegloth have her and be done with it。
Then； of course； there was the matter of the supplies。 Faeryl； like the rest of the members of the small excursion； had been forced to carry her own belongings for the better part of a tenday； something no high…born dark elf was accustomed to。 Sedan chairs borne by slaves and porters was more her style； as it was Quenthel's。 Leaving those thralls behind to stave off pursuit had been regrettable but necessary； and even with Jeggred's ability to carry a substantial portion of the load； the rest of them still had sizable burdens。 He could hardly blame Faeryl if she was wondering whether this journey was nothing more than a huge mistake。
From Quenthels demeanor it seemed she already knew that； or perhaps didn't care if Lolth's silence extended as far as Ched Nasad at least and that their journey of exploration had bee more akin to a raid。 That was fine with Pharaun； but still he suspected there would be more to take from Ched Nasad than a store of magical trinkets。
Glancing at his pack once more and feeling the tension in his own shoulders； Pharaun wished for maybe the tenth time that day that he could summon a magical disk to bear their supplies。 So many of the drow noble Houses made steady use of such a handy spell that the matron mothers generally insisted their House wizards learn it while attending Sorcere； the arcane branch of the Academy。 Pharaun had never bothered to familiarize himself with it； though； since he had his haversack with its magically roomy interior。 Even loaded up with all of his grimoires； scrolls； and more mundane supplies； it weighed a fraction of what a normal pack would。 Besides； back at the Academy； if he had ever had cause to transport something with the magical disk； there was always a ready supply of students on hand who could have performed the task for him。 Still 。 。 。
Pharaun dismissed the notion； reminding himself for the tenth time that his magic was an all…too…precious modity。 With the goddess Lolth still strangely silent； none of her priestesses could gain the favor of her divine magic； leaving both Quenthel and Faeryl severely hampered and limited in power。 The wilds of the Underdark were no place to be while vulnerable。 Besides； there was no small amount of satisfaction in watching Quenthel； the High Priestess of Arach…Tinilith； the clerical branch of the Academy； labor with her burden。
Quenthel sniffed； startling Pharaun out of his reverie。 The high priestess gestured toward where the scout was still climbing。 Only his legs were still visible。 The rest of him disappeared into the crevice formed between the wall of the cavern and the fungus。
She turned to Ryld and said； 〃Your friend is looking for a way through。 Stop daydreaming and help him。〃 Turning then to Pharaun； she added； 〃You； too。〃
Deciding that he had tormented her enough for the moment； especially with Jeggred so near； Pharaun smiled and bowed low； flourishing his piwafwi； then continued to examine the Araumycos。
As Ryld joined him； the wizard muttered； 〃Its times like these when I find her most charming； eh？〃
〃You shouldn't taunt her；〃 Ryld murmured back； sliding along in front of the fungus and reaching for his short sword。 〃All you're going to do is cause us anguish later。〃
He took an experimental swipe and sliced a section of the growth away from the main body。 It fell to the floor at his feet； and he bent to pick it up； but it was already beginning to blacken and decay。
〃Oh； I think you mean 'me；' my stout friend；〃 the wizard replied； removing a small vial of acid from a hidden pocket in his piwafwi and pouring the contents on the surface of the fungus。 〃I'll be inundated with enough anguish for the lot of us before we ever reach Ched Nasad； I fear。〃
Where the liquid coated the growth； the fungus began to sizzle and blacken。
Ryld paused and cast a glance over at his friend。 The warrior looked taken aback。 Despite their many years of friendship； Pharaun knew that even Ryld still occasionally found the wizard's behavior uncouth。
It's the price I pay for my winning personality and clever wit； Pharaun told himself wryly。
He watched as a reasonably sized hole was eaten through the fungus。 There was only more fungus beyond it。
〃We could try to hack or burn our way through this stuff forever；〃 Ryld grumbled； moving farther along the face of the blockage to a point directly beneath where Valas had ascended。 〃There's no telling how deep or how thick it is。〃
〃True； but it's fascinating； nonetheless。 Thus far； I have discovered that it can be damaged by acid； fire； and physical cuts。 Regardless； the pieces I remove simply dissolve into a dark； decayed mass。 Remarkable！ I wonder if…〃
〃I certainly hope you don't mean to tell me that you're exhausting all of your potent wizardly forces on this thing；〃 Ryld asked； glancing back at the still…darkened curtain of magic behind them。 〃We may need your tricks far more desperately in a moment。〃
〃Don't be dull…witted； my blade…wielding panion；〃 Pharaun answered； tucking a piece of rosy stone back into a pocket。
〃With my talents； I have more than enough to go around for everyone； even our charming pursuers。〃
Ryld grunted； and at that point a large hunk of fungus hit the floor of the cavern at Ryld's feet； already in the process of blackening。 Ryld took a single step back； out of the line of fire； as several more pieces plopped down where he had been standing。
〃It would appear that Valas is cutting his way through to somewhere；〃 Pharaun observed； peering up to where the scout had； until recently； been visible。 〃I wonder if he's just experimenting or if he has actually discovered a means of egress。〃
The wizard craned his neck； trying to get a clearer view。
〃There's a way through up here；〃 Valas said； reappearing in full。 〃e on。〃
〃Well； that answers that question。 Time to go；〃 Pharaun said； turning to the rest of the group。 He directed Quenthel and Faeryl upward； pointing to where the scout was visible。 〃We only have a few more moments before my wall of force wears off。〃
The other drow and the draegloth began floating upward； able to ascend through the magic of their House insignias。 One by one； they disappeared through some unseen hole until only Pharaun was left。 He began to magically rise up himself； realizing for the first time just how glad he was that they were not turning back to fight more of the tanarukks。
***
Aliisza smiled as she watched the last of her tanarukk charges tremble and lie still。 The black tentacles that had destroyed them still curled and flailed； looking for anything new to latch onto。 The alu…fiend was careful to stay out of reach of the grasping black appendages； though she knew that she could have removed them magically； if necessary。 In fact； she could hav