ns； depending on his whim and the particular magical tasks he expected to perform that day。 His sister had had no reason to suspect that this particular trinket was of any particular significance； certainly not to herself。
If she had noticed it at all； she probably assumed the stone was onyx； ebony； or jet。 In actuality； it was polished ivory cut from a unicorn's horn after Gromph slew the magical equine…sacred to the despicable elves of the World Above…in a necromantic rite。 The orb was only black because of the entity he had placed inside it only two hours before。
〃That was her；〃 he murmured； too softly for any of the spell casters bustling about him to overhear。 〃Did you take her scent？〃
Yes； the demon answered； its silent voice like a nail scratching the inside of Gromph's head。 Though it was unnecessary。 I may not possess the power of sight； but that has never hindered me as I sought my prey。
〃I was just making sure。 Now； can you succeed where Beradax failed？〃
Of course。 No one of your world has ever escaped me。 Afterward； I will feast on Quenthel's soul； one tiny morsel at a time。
Most likely the netherspirit would do exactly that； and if it failed； Gromph had six more waiting in line to pick up where it left off。 Perhaps it wouldn't even e to that。 He had； after all； manipulated events in such a way as to inspire more mundane assassins。
A third…year student came scurrying up with a stubby chalcedony wand in his hand。 Recalled to more immediate concerns； Gromph sighed and prepared to teach the youth how the device worked。
Pretending to take an interest in an itinerant vendor's rack of cheaply forged and poorly balanced daggers； Ryld turned and surreptitiously surnotveyed the intersection。
A fellow with what the weapons master suspected were self…inflicted sores on his legs chanted for alms and shook a ceramic bowl。 Since it was a rare if not demented dark elf who ever felt the tug of pity； the beggar sat near the entrance to a shabby boarding house catering to non…drow。
A female hurried by with a hooked and pointed pole…virtually a pike； when one really looked at it…on her shoulder and a giant weasel on a leash。 She was plainly an exterminator headed out to rid a household of some substantial infestation。
A snarling noble from House Hunzrin drew his rapier and lashed a moner with the flat； evidently because the latter had been a trifle slow stepping out of his way。 The Hunzrins were notorious for their virulent arnotrogance。 Perhaps it stemmed from the fact that they controlled the greater part of Menzoberranzan's agriculture。 Or maybe they were pensating for the fact that； for all their wealth； they were stuck living in 〃mere East。〃
Any number of other rather drab and hungry…looking souls rushed on about their business。
〃Reliving childhood memories？〃 the wizard asked。
〃You forget；〃 Ryld replied； 〃I was born in the Braeryn。 I had to work my way up to get to Eastmyr。〃
〃I daresay you took one look around； then kept right on climbing。〃
〃You're right。 Just now； I was checking to see if someone's tailing us。 No one is。〃
〃What a pity。 I was hoping that if we asked enough questions in diverse male gatherings； some more friends of the runaways would try to murder us； or at least seek to learn what we're about。 Perhaps the rogues are too canny for that。〃
〃What do we do now？〃
〃Visit the next vile tavern； I suppose。〃
They started walking； and Pharaun continued； 〃Say； did I ever tell you how； two days into my first mission to the World Above； I wound up having to tail a human mage while the sun was blazing in the sky？ I was blind with the glare； my eyes…〃
〃Enough；〃 Ryld said。 〃You've told this a thousand times。〃
〃Well； it's a good story。 I know you'll enjoy hearing it again。 There I was； blind with the glare 。。。〃
As the two masters strolled on； they passed a doorway sealed with a curnottain of spider web。 Forbidden by sacred law to disturb the silken trap until such time as its builder ceased to occupy it； the luckless occupant of the house had placed a box beneath his front window to serve as a makeshift step。
Across the way； a ragged half…breed child； part dark elf； part human by the look of her； brushed past a drunken laborer； then quickened her pace a trifle。 Ryld hadn't actually seen her lift the tosspot's purse； but he was fairly certain she had。
Pharaun came to a sudden halt。 〃Look at this；〃 he said。
Ryld turned； the long； fortable weight of Splitter shifting ever so slightly across his back。 On a wall at the mouth of an alley； someone had clumsily daubed a rudimentary picture of a clawed hand surrounded by flames。 Though it was small