he would have slain you； too。〃
Pharaun smiled crookedly。 〃I don't think I'll encourage the bards to put it quite that way when they pose the epic story of my life。〃
〃But after you established yourself up on Tier Breche； after you were free to e and go as you pleased； you could have returned here。〃
〃I have； on occasion； just not to call on you。 I thought it might be a little awkward。〃
〃I could have helped you the same as before。〃
〃Alas； no。 After my withdrawal from House Mizzrym； I no longer had a stake in the power struggles within my family or among the noble Houses； either。 I no longer needed intelligence about such matters。 The only rivalry that concerned me was the one among wizards； and even if you number the foremost practitioners of my art among your guests； I doubt they whisper the esoterica of their newly invented spells in your ears。 When it es to our discoveries； we wizards are a closemouthed breed。〃
〃You don't know what it was like for me 。 。 。 is like for me； abused and degraded by my inferiors； constrained in body； mind； and soul； unable to mune with Lolth。 。。。〃
Pharaun raised his hand。 〃Please； you're embarrassing yourself。 You sound like a whining human； or one of our foul cousins in the World Above。 Cease this tirade； take a breath； and think； then you will realize； enemy of Menzoberranzan； that my concern for your well…being has always been； at best； limited。 How could it be otherwise？ Sentiment cernottainly wasn't strong enough to make me spend a fortune buying you free of Nym； or； if he and I couldn't strike a deal； break you out of here。 Not when you hadn't fulfilled the terms of our covenant。 As you no doubt recall； you were supposed to provide me useful information over the full course of twenty years。 I admit it wasn't your fault that you couldn't； but still； that's just the way things fell out。〃
〃Fine；〃 she gritted。 〃You're right； I'm being ridiculous。 In forsaking me； you simply behaved as any sensible drow would。 Now what in the name of the Demonweb do you want？〃
He nodded at the other end of the room and said； 〃May we 。。。 ？〃
She gave a curt nod； and they seated themselves； she on the mattress of her wide octagonal bed and he on a cushioned granite chair。
〃This is much nicer；〃 he said。 〃Would you like me to send for some wine？〃
〃Just get on with it。〃
〃Very well。 I imagine my plight will amuse you。 After the goddess knows how many years breathing the rarefied and dispassionate air of scholarship； imparting knowledge to eager young minds； advancing the frontiers of the mystic arts…〃
〃Murdering other wizards for their talismans and grimoires。〃
He grinned。 〃Well； that was implied； of course。 Anyway； after all that； I find myself again embroiled in the more mundane aspects of life in our noble metropolis。 There's a puzzle I must solve on pain of the Archmage's severe displeasure； and I will be grateful unto death and beyond if you help me unravel it。〃
〃How would I do that？〃
〃Don't be disingenuous。 It doesn't suit you。 The same way as always。 I assume foolish boys still sometimes gossip and boast to their hired females； even though if they stopped to think about it； they'd remember you loathe them and wish them only ill。 I likewise imagine that you still sometimes find yourself obliged to entertain at gatherings where such idiots； unnotmindful of your presence； discuss their most secret affairs with one annotother。〃
〃In other words； you wish to resume our old arrangement。 Which still had four years to run。 If I assist you with your current problem； will you continue to concern yourself with 'mundane' affairs； or will you lock yournotself away in your tower once more？〃
He considered lying； but his instincts told him she'd see through it。
〃I'm not entirely sure what will bee of me；〃 he said。 〃As far as I know； if I'm successful； I ought to wind up reestablished in Sorcere with all my transgressions forgiven； but for some murky reason； I wonder。 I'm caught up in something I don't yet understand； and only the dark powers know where it will lead。〃
〃Then if you want my help； you'll have to set me free 。 。 。 today。〃
〃Impossible； I don't have the requisite funds on my person； nor the leisure to dicker with Nym； for that matter。 You know he'd stretch any nenotgotiation out for days； just to be annoying。 Nor do I have time to arrange an escape。〃
She only stared at him； and he understood。
〃Ah；〃 he said。
〃Is it a bargain？〃
〃It is if you actually give me some help。 My problem is this： An unusual number of males have run away from home of late。〃
〃That's your errand？ To find some rogues？ What makes it important enough to send a Master of S