F O U R (59 page)

A cloud of vapor boiled into existence  in front of him. Those ores and goblins caught in the fumes collapsed. Others recoiled to avoid their touch.

The fog blinked out of existence a heartbeat later."I'm  afraid I can'tthorities," Pharaun told the crowd, "and I' permit you to kill us and sell the corpses to the au-m shocked—shocked!—you wouldeven try.  Aren't  you pleased we massacred a patrol?""They don't want the priestesses to find you here," said Bruherd. He hadn'tmade a move during the skirmish. Perhaps he'd  frozen, or maybe he'd  figuredhis best hope of survival lay in passivity. "I don't, either. They're liable to kill us, too.""How disappointing," Pharaun said. "And here I thought Ryld and I hadfound a cozy enclave of kindred spirits. But of course we won't force ourhowevercompany on those who lack the rarified, will we quit this place before  we slake our thirst. Y sensibility to appreciate it. Neither, whatnot will have to withdraw. Good evening."        ou goblins and

They were manyThe undercreatures glowered. The mage could tell what they were thinking. , and the intruders only two. Yet they'd  seen what  those  two could do, and after a few seconds, they started trudgingunconscious comrades sprawled on the floor         out, leaving their ."You're crazy," Bruherd told the masters. "Yvery low for a few years. Give the matrons and the Academy time to fou need to keep your heads down orget ".

"Alas," Pharaun said, "I suspect I'm unforgettable. You too can bear to tear yourself away."              may depart if  you

"CrazyHe limped for the stairs and in a moment was gone like the rest.," the outcast repeated.

Pharaun walked behind the bar  "Now.               s eter
nal search for
 
the stuf
             
," he said, "to  begin drow'

R
   
f that bubbles?
yld surveyed the slumbering goblins  as if pondering whether to stick his sword in them.

"I still think this is a bad idea," the weapons master said.the barkeep and inspected a rack of jugs and bottles.Careful not to soil his boots, Pharaun stepped around the  two bloody pieces of "Yword of our whereabouts far and wiou always say that, and you're alwaysde. The rogues are bound to h mistaken. The goblinoids will carry ear ".

"As will your sister and everyone  else we've managed to annoy."Pharaun uncorked a jug. The  pungent liquid inside didn't  seem to be fizzing,  sohe moved on.

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War Of The Spider Queen

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"Care to make a wager on who'll arrive first?"

friend Bruherd," the wizard said as he "Had I wished to hear the dreary voice

"Either way," Ryld snorted, "we wind up dead."of pessimism, I would  have detained our

"Here's a jar of pickled sausages if  you care to break your inspected a jar full of cloudy liquid. fast, but I won't vouch

for the ingredients. I think I see  a kobold'He opened a glass bottle with a long, s horn floating in the brine."double-curved neck, and the cont

ents

hissed.

"Aha! I've found the draught  the Duskryn recommended."

"Someone's  here," said Ryld.

ores, with coarse, tangled manes and lThe mage turned. Two figures were descending the stairs. They looked like upine ears, but Pharaun's silver ringrevealed that the appearance  was an illusion, disguising  dark elf males. Th

e wizard

saw the masks as translucent veils lying atop the reality.

crooking of his fingers.He conveyed the truth of the situation to Ryld with a rapid flexing and "Gentlem

en," said the mage, "well met! My comrade and I have been lookin

everywhere for you."                          g"We know," said the taller of the newc

om

M                   ers, evidently not surprised that a aster  of Sorcere  had instantly penetrated  his  disguise.  He  was  Houndaer

Tuin'Tarl, one of the highest ranked of  the missing males, likewise  one  of  the

first to elope, and thus almost certainly  one of the ringleaders. Certainllooked like a princely com                     y he

mander of lesser folk. His rich silk and velvet

garments, the magical auras of many of his possessions, and strutting demeanorall proclaimed it. He wore crystals in  his  thick,  flowing hair—a nice effect—had

close-set  eyes and a prominent  jaw,  and  looked as if he knew how to manage the

scimitar hanging at  his  side.  He  also looked rather tense

"We've known for a while," said the other stranger,  whom  Pharaun didn't

recognize.At first glance, he appeared to be a nondescript com

moner,  with the squint and

small hands of a craftsman proficient at  fine work. However

in his sash fairly blazed with potent enchantments, as did  ,  the dagger tucked within his jerkin. Evidently he'd  la            an object concealed

yered one  disguise on another."Well," said R

yld, "you took your time contacting us. I guess that's  un-derstandable."

"I think so," said Houndaer as he  and his comrade advanced. A goblin

moaned, and the noble kicked the creature silent. "Why were you seeking us?"

"It's our understanding," said Pharaun,  stepping from  behind the bar

offer a haven for m                      ,  "that you ales who find existence under the thumbs of their female

relatives uncongenial and who, for whatAcadem                ever reason, aspire neither to the

y,  a merchant clan, nor Bregan D'aerthe. If so, then we wish to join  your

company ".

"But you two already did aspire to the Academy," the aristocrat said. "You roseto high rank there. Som

e  might say that gives my  associates and I cause for

concern."

The ore mask's  tusked mouth perfectly  copied the mo

Pharaun couldn't have created a better illusion him    tions of his actual lips. self.

"You speak of the dead past," Pharaun said. "You've no doubt heard I'm  in

powers knewdisgrace, and Master Argith finds Melee-Magthere stale and tedious." The dark ,  his discontented friend shouldn't have much trouble convincing

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War Of The Spider Queen

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Dissolution

them  of that. "W

give that you aren'Houndaer nodded and replied, "I'

e require an alternative way of life."

m  glad to

t  an agent the matrons sent to find us?"

hear it, but what  assurances can you

Pharaun grinned. "My solemn  oath?"Everyone chuckled, even R

yld and the boy with the dagger,  who were both quietly, thoughtfully watching their m

ore loquacious companions palaver.

convince you of our bona fides, I have "Seriously," the wizard continued, "if our escapade in the Bazaar failed to offer                no idea what other persuasion we can

.  But it didn'

perceive som  t fail, did it? Otherwise, you wouldn't be here. So unless you ething in our manner that screamThe faux com             s spy . . ."

moner smiled. "You'

"They smell all right to m    re right."  He turned to Houndaer and added, e, and if they'rstinking goblin hole will prove otherwise.e not, I doubt a little quizzing in this Let's get them  home before som

e

servant of the clergy comes sniffing for them  and finds us.  Either  way,  it'll all get

sorted out in the end."

For a moment, as the power of Pharaun's silver ring wavered, the drow's  mild,

civilized tone became an ore's growl. He  even smelled like  a dirty undercreature.

The Tuin'Tarl's mouth tightened. Pharaun suspected he didn't much like taki

advice from  anyone, his com                      ng panion included.

"I'm  just being careful—as should you—but  you may have a point." He turned

back to the masters and said, "If  we take you to our stronghold, there's no goin

back. You'll aid our cause or die."                     g

Pharaun grinned.  "Well spoken,  and quite  in the  spirit of  a  thousand thousand

conspiracies before you. Whisk us away.""Gladly

, " the noble said with a mean little  smile of his own, "as soon as the twoof you surrender your weapons and that cloak of pockets."

The wizard crooked an eyebrow and said,        d decided to trust  us.""It's tim               "I thought you'

Pharaun surrendered his e for you to show a little trust," Houndaer replied.
piwafwi,
 
hand crossbow, and dagger.  He was a little

worried about Ryld's  willingness to do the same. He could easily imagine the

warrior deciding that, in preference to                   dsubdue Houndaer and his companion there and then and wring what entering the dragon's cave unarmed, he'

information out of them he could.

The problem with that strategy was  that the Tuin'Tarl and his nameless companion might not be privy to all the  mystic secrets held by the cabal a

s a

whole, and those who were might flee when  the two emissaries failed to return.Thus,

while the masters would likely succeed in forestalling a goblin revolt,

they'Besides, it would be much more fun to join, and undo the rogues from wd miss acquiring the extraordinary power they sought.        ithi

n.

Apparently Ryld shared Pharaun's perspective, or else he was simply content to follow  the wizard's lead, fo                th

er

weapons to Houndaer without demur  r he handed over Splitter and his o.The T

uin'T

exploded in a strange, lopsided wayarl reached into his pouch,  extracted a stone, and tossed it. It ,  tearand shape of a sarcophagus standing on end and the color of the ling a wound in the air,  a gash the size i

ght thatswims inside closed eyelids.

Pharaun smiled.He gestured to the portal and said, "After you."

As easy as that? Pharaun thought. He wa"Thank you."              s experiencing a certain sense of

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