fighting with each other。
A clattering； followed a split second later by grunts and cries of pain； snapped her head around to the right。 At the far end of the landing； a second contingent of sentries also looked at least temporarily incapacinottated； these because Pharaun had pelted them with a conjured barrage of ice。 He disappeared down the exit they'd been guarding； the winding crysnottal staircase； gorgeous with magical luminescence； which connected House Mizzrym with the cave floor below。 Greyanna felt a twinge of annoyance； but only that。 Apparently she wasn't going to get a chance to torture Pharaun； but he was unquestionnotably going to die。 He really had nowhere to run； and if the wretch weren't mired in a blind panic； he'd know it。
At least she could deliver the stroke that would seal his doom。 She hurnotried to the edge of the landing； saw that the blistered； bloody…headed fool was better than halfway down the radiant diamond steps； and pronotnounced； as quickly as possible； the long； awkward arcane word that would make the staircase vanish。 That alone wouldn't kill him unless he lost his head。 The ability to levitate granted by the same brooch that alnotlowed him to pass through the Houses doors would keep him from falling。 Limited to strictly vertical movement； however； he ought to make an easy mark for spells and arrows。
She spoke the final syllable。 Just as the steps seemed to pop like a bubble； Pharaun leaped； his long legs making him look like a pair of scisnotsors spread to the maximum possible width。 He barely made it onto the flattened apex of the gigantic stalagmite that served as the stair's lower ternotminus。
Greyanna was impressed。 That jump was an impressive display of athleticism for a battered scholar of hedonistic habits。 Not that it would do him any good。 He really had run to the end of his race。 She leaned out and shouted for the foulwings to kill him。 Winded； still stumbling off…balance from hurdling across the empty space； Pharaun surely couldn't fend off both of them at once。
Grotesque winged predators that monly reeked of their caustic amnotmonia breath； the foulwings bespoke the Mizzrym's power and magical prowess and lent the first step on the path to their citadel a certain style that mere soldiers could not match They also made terrifying watch beasts。 With a snap of their clawed； bat like wings； in no wise hindered by their lack of legs； they spun their long…necked bodies around to loom over Phanotraun。 Forked snouts with fanged jaws at the end of either branch came questing hungrily down。 From her perch； Greyanna looked on with a ranotpacity no less keen than theirs； albeit a rapacity of the soul。
Pharaun shouted something。 Greyanna couldn't quite make it out； but it didn't seem to be a magical word； just a cry of fear or a desperate plea for mercy…a plea the giant beasts would not heed。
Except that they did。 They hesitated； and he lifted his hands。 Their deadly jaws played delicately about his fingers； taking in his scent。
She cried again for the brutes to kill him。 They twisted their heads around to look at her； but he spoke to them once more； and they ignored her mand。
Greyanna stared in amazement。 Pharaun had no doubt had some limnotited contact with the foulwings； for after all； he lived in the same castle with them； but she knew he'd never ridden one。 Only the females of House Mizzrym enjoyed that privilege； and it was only by riding that you established genuine mastery over the creatures。 How； then； could he posnotsibly enjoy a rapport with them deeper than her own？
Pharaun scrambled onto a foulwing's back； and both it and its fellow sprang into the air。 Obviously her brother had managed to dissolve the ennotchantment that made the beasts want to sit contentedly at their post。
The wizard managed his mount more deftly than Greyanna herself could have done without benefit of saddle； bridle； and goad。 He shot her a mocking grin as he turned to flee。 The other； rider less foulwing soared and swooped aimlessly； enjoying its liberty。
Greyanna shook off her stunned disbelief。 She still desperately wanted to know how Pharaun had learned to ride the creatures…probably Sabal had taught him； but how had they managed it without anyone else findnoting out？…but she wasn't going to stand there pondering the question。 The answer was less important than the kill。
She turned and looked around。 Those guards whom Pharaun had addled were disoriented still； but some of the soldiers he'd battered with hailstones appeared to have regained their posure。
〃Shoot him！〃 she shouted； pointing at the rapidly receding target。 〃Shoot！〃
With m