sperate twin tried to use the platinum amulet against its maker； but Greyanna dispelled its powers with a thought。 Then Sabal endeavored to cast a spell； but she couldn't recite the lines with the proper cadence or exnotecute the gestures with the necessary precision。
Laughing； Greyanna and the other waylayers closed in on their victim； and they didn't even have to strike a blow。 Their mere proximity made Sabal wail； clutch at her heart； and fall over dead as a stone。 Weak to the last。
For a second； Greyanna felt a bit cheated； but she shook the feeling off。 Sabal was dead； that was the main thing； and with a bit of luck； she would still have Pharaun to torture。
Chanting words that sent a cold； charnel breeze moaning through the garden； she reanimated Sabal's corpse。 She had use for it； first as a lure then as an instrument of humiliation。 She hoped that before his extermination； her brother might be induced to spend one more tender interlude with it。
When Pharaun returned to House Mizzrym an hour later； his hair and garments were as immaculate as ever； but he reeked of wine and walked with a slightly weaving and excessively careful tread。 Evidently he'd been drinking his troubles away。 Perfect。
As it had been instructed； the zombie stepped out of a doorway at the other end of the hall。 Its arms were extended in a beseeching gesture。
Pharaun took a few steps toward it and faltered。 Drunk or not； he had finally noticed that； despite Greyanna's efforts to keep it warm； it was moving stiffly； awkwardly； as Sabal； even in the throes of her illness； never had。 But he'd spotted the anomaly too late。 He'd already advanced to the very center of the trap。
Greyanna whispered a spell of paralysis。 Pharaun staggered as his muscles all clenched at once。 The fighters swarmed out of their hiding places； surrounded him； clubbed him repeatedly； and threw him down benotneath them。
She laughed with delight。 Then her henchmen； more or less clumped in a pile on the floor； cried out in surprise and consternation。 They started to stand up； and she saw that Pharaun did not lie crushed； bloody； and helpnotless on the floor beneath them。 Impossible as it seemed； somehow he'd renotsisted the paralysis； then used his wizardry to extricate himself from the midst of his attackers。
Knowing that Sabal was dead； Pharaun must likewise assume that withnotout the aegis of a high priestess he could no longer survive in House Miznotzrym。 Certainly he couldn't count on his vicious mother； who hadn't bestirred herself to save one daughter from another； to do more for a paltry son。 He was surely running back toward the exit。
〃That way！ Fast！〃 Greyanna shouted； pointing； goading her agents into motion。 When they rounded a corner； they saw Pharaun sprinting along ahead of them； his piwafwi billowing out behind him。 He wasn't weaving or stumbling…evidently desperation had cured his intoxication…but he was clutching his head； and leaving a trail of bloody drops on the polished floor。 Evidently all the bludgeoning had done at least a little good。
Greyanna's minions shot their hand crossbows； but the darts bounced off the wizard's cloak； which had obviously been enchanted to serve as armor。 She stopped running long enough to conjure a blaze of fire under Pharaun's feet。 Her assassins cried out and shielded their eyes against the glare。 Though surely burned； her brother stayed on his feet and kept going。 The flames winked out behind him as suddenly as they'd appeared。
The chase rounded another corner。 Ahead of Pharaun was an adamannottine double door； which swung open seemingly of its own accord。 In realnotity； Greyanna knew； the wizard had used his silver…and…jet Mizzrym House token to open it。 She tried to use her own insignia to slam it shut again； but she was just out of range。
Pharaun plunged through the exit。 He was on the landing； a sort of balnotcony from which the occupants of the stalactite castle that was House Miznotzrym could look down on the city。 As was the custom； a pany of guards stood watch there； and Greyanna screamed for them to stop the mage。
They no doubt intended to be obey。 She was a high priestess and he； a mere male； and manifestly trying to run away to boot。 But alas； since their primary function was to look for miscreants trying to enter the castle； Phanotraun had taken them by surprise。 He had time to conjure some sort of hindering spell and dash on。
When Greyanna made it to the door； she saw what manner of hindrance the fugitive had chosen。 The guards were all bewildered； some standing stupefied or milling aimlessly； a couple fighting with each other。
A clattering； followed