He thought he had to keep the renegade occupied for just a few more seconds； long enough for Pharaun to cast his spell。
The guard just laughed and said； 〃Don't be absurd。〃
〃Why not？〃
〃You know why not。〃
〃But you might just listen to the secrets and leave me imprisoned；〃 said Ryld； watching Pharaun from the corner of his eye。
To his dismay； the wizard wasn't conjuring。 He wasn't moving at all。 Had he passed out again？
〃You're caged；〃 said the renegade； 〃and I'm not。 Therefore； you will have to trust me； not the other way around。〃
Ryld scowled； meanwhile racking his brains for inspiration。 With Phanotraun inert； he was going to have to improvise a story to detain the rogue and pray the wizard would make a move before much longer。
〃All right； I suppose I have no choice。 Not far beyond Bauthwaf lies the entrance to a tunnel leading to the deepest reaches of the Underdark； where even our people do not…〃
〃What's this got to do with weapons masters killing slaves？〃 the guard demanded。
〃Listen； and you'll find out。 At the lower end of the passage is a mineral I've never seen anywhere else 。 。 。〃 At last Pharaun moved his feet。 Now； if only the renegade didn't notice。 〃When you crush the rock to powder 。。。〃
〃T T 1〃
Hey！
Evidently the guard's peripheral vision was almost as good as Ryld's； for he pivoted toward Pharaun； but not in time。 A disembodied hand made of pale yellow light appeared beside his shoulder and gave him a push。
The impetus sent him staggering closer to Ryld。 The weapons master grabbed him and smashed his head against the wall until it left a sticky mess on the stone； then he searched the corpse and found a ring of keys clipped to its belt。
He discovered the one that opened his own restraints； and Pharaun's。 The wizard flexed his fingers； restoring circulation； produced a silken handkerchief from his sleeve； and dabbed at the blood on the sides of his mouth。
〃I think I'll establish a new school of magic；〃 the wizard said。 〃Pedomancy…the sorcery of the feet。〃
〃Why did you wait so long to throw the spell？〃 Ryld asked。
〃I was looking for our friend's keys。 It wouldn't have done any good to attack him had he not been carrying the means to release us from our fetnotters。 His cape was hanging over them； and it took me a minute to spot them。〃
〃I was certain something had gone wrong。 Are you ready to get us out of here？〃
〃Momentarily；〃 Pharaun said as he pulled on his socks and boots。 〃I think everything's going splendidly； don't you？ We've acquired the knowlnotedge we came for； and now we'll escape； just as planned。〃
〃We didn't plan on having to do it without our gear。〃
〃Please； don't harp on the obvious。 It makes for a dreary conversation。 Where exactly are we； by the way？ Where's the nearest exit？〃
〃I don't know。 They gave me a knock on the head before they carried us here。 I think we're up inside the cavern ceiling。〃
〃So we won't encounter a window or balcony unless we descend a ways； but we might find a door opening on a tunnel。〃
Ryld scavenged the dead rogue's weapons and piwafwi。 The cloak was much too small for him； but would provide some protection nonetheless。 The mail shirt； alas； he simply couldn't wear。
〃No gear for me？〃 Pharaun asked。
〃I'm the fighter； and I'll be standing in front。〃
〃Well； when you put it that way 。。。〃
〃Let's go。〃
The masters stood up。 Ryld felt dizzy； swayed； but then recovered his balance。 They started for the door； and something happened。 It was like the blare of a trumpet and a white light； too； but it was neither。 The weapons master didn't know what it was； only that it froze him in place until it faded away。
〃What just happened？〃 he asked。
〃The Call；〃 Pharaun replied。 〃This close to the source； one can vaguely sense it even if one isn't a goblin。 The slaves are rising。〃
C h a p t e r
T W E N T Y
O N E
When the instructors rounded the corner； Pharaun saw a rogue about five yards away。 Well armed； the conspirator was striding purposefully along； perhaps to join one of the assassination squads that would descend on the city once the goblin rebellion plunged it into chaos。
He had good reflexes。 As soon as he spotted the fugitives； he reached for the wall； no doubt to conceal himself behind a curtain of darkness。
Pharaun lifted his hands to cast darts of force…he had two such spells remaining； neither requiring a focal object…but Ryld was quicker。 He shot his hand crossbow。 The quarrel plunged into the renegade's eye； and he fell。
The masters skulked up to the corpse and crouched down to examine it。 Pharaun was hardly surprised yet dis