〃They may kill me for this；〃 Bruherd said； subtly indicating the goblins。
〃They only tolerate me because they believe me cut off from my own race。〃
〃I'll pray for your welfare；〃 Pharaun said。 〃Meanwhile； what I need to know is this： Of all the libations laid up in our host's no doubt vast and well…stocked cellar； which is the least vile？〃
〃Vile？〃 Bruherd's lip twitched。 〃You get used to them。〃
〃One hopes not。〃
Pharaun handed the other drow a gold； hammer…shaped coin minted in some dwarf enclave。
〃Tell the barkeep you want the stuff that bubbles；〃 Bruherd advised。
'The stuff that bubbles。' Charming。 Clearly； I've fallen among connotnoisseurs。〃
〃It'll do；〃 said Ryld； still unobtrusively studying the crowd。 〃The imnotportant thing is that we toast our victory。〃
Pharaun waited a beat； then chuckled。 〃You're supposed to ask him what he's talking about；〃 he said to Bruherd； 〃thus affording us a graceful way to mence boasting of our triumph。〃
The lip twitched again。 〃I don't think much about victories or triumphs anymore。〃
Pharaun shook his head。 〃So much bitterness in the world！ It weighs on the heart。 Would it cheer you to learn I've avenged us in some small measure？〃
〃Us？〃 Bruherd grunted。
Across the room； a scuffle erupted between a shaggy hobgoblin and a wolf…faced gnoll。 As the batants rolled about the floor； somebody tossed them a knife； apparently just out of curiosity as to which would manage to grab it first。
〃Hark to the glad tidings；〃 said the Master of Sorcere。 〃I'm Pharaun Mizzrym； expelled first from the Seventh House and now Tier Breche； neinotther time for any rational cause。 Incensed； I chose to take vengeance on the Academy。 With the aid of my similarly disgruntled friend Master Argith； I destroyed a patrol in the Bazaar earlier today。 You may have heard somenotthing about it。〃
Bruherd stared。 The kobold and goblins within earshot did the same。
〃It's true；〃 said Ryld。
〃That was you？〃 Bruherd said。 〃And you're bragging about it？ Are you insane？ They'll hunt you down！〃
Pharaun said； 〃They were trying anyway。〃 The entire cellar was falling quiet。 〃I've heard rumors of an agency that will spirit a drow boy away if he's well and truly discontent with his lot in life； as I trust Ryld and I have shown we are。〃
Bruherd said； 〃I don't know what you're talking about。〃
〃Well；〃 Pharaun said； 〃they probably have to think you can be of some use to them； and if you'll forgive my saying so 。 。 。〃
He caught a flash of movement from the corner of his eye； and turned just in time to see the taverner fall back in two pieces。 Evidently he'd been in the process of climbing silently over the bar with a short sword in hand； and Ryld； sensing him； had pivoted and cut him。 The drow warrior spun smoothly back around； Splitter at the ready。
Pharaun turned back as well； just in time to see a mass of undercreatures rushing him。 He snatched three smooth gray stones from a pocket and started to recite a spell。 Ryld's greatsword flicked across the wizard's field of vision； killing two gnolls that sought to engage him； allowing him to finish the incantation unmolested。
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't permit you to kill us and sell the corpses to the aunotthorities；〃 Pharaun told the crowd； 〃and I'm shocked…shocked！…you would even try。 Aren't you pleased we massacred a patrol？〃
〃They don't want the priestesses to find you here；〃 said Bruherd。 He hadn't made a move during the skirmish。 Perhaps he'd frozen； or maybe he'd figured his 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 had found a cozy enclave of kindred spirits。 But of course we won't force our pany on those who lack the rarified sensibility to appreciate it。 Neither； however； will we quit this place before we slake our thirst。 You goblins and whatnot will have to withdraw。 Good evening。〃
The undercreatures glowered。 The mage could tell what they were thinking。 They were many； and the intruders only two。 Yet they'd seen what those two could do； and after a few seconds； they started trudging out； leaving their unconscious rades sprawled on the floor。
〃You're crazy；〃 Bruherd told the masters。 〃You need to keep your heads down very low for a few years。 Give the matrons and the Academy time to forget。〃
〃Alas；〃 Pharaun said； 〃I suspect I'm unforgettable。 You too may depart if you can bear to tear yourself away。〃
〃Craz