ed hand surrounded by flames。 Though it was small and smeared in paint that barely contrasted with the stone behind it； Ryld was slightly chagrined that Pharaun had nonotticed it and he hadn't； but he supposed wizards had a nose for glyphs。
〃Do you know what this is？〃 asked Pharaun。
〃An emblem of the Skortchclaw horde； one of the larger tribes of ores。 I've been to the Realms that See the Sun a time or two myself； remember？〃
〃Good； I'm glad you confirm my identification。 Now； what is it doing here？〃
Ryld took a reflexive glance around； searching for potential threats； and said； 〃I assume some orc painted it。〃
〃That would be my supposition； too； but have you ever known a thrall to do such a thing？〃
〃No。〃
〃Of course not。 What slave would dare deface the city； knowing that each and every drow takes pride in its perfection？〃
〃A crazy one。 We've all seen them go mad under the lash。〃
〃Whereupon they attack their handlers。 They don't creep about scrawlnoting on walls。 I'd like to questions the people in these houses on either side。 Perhaps someone can shed some light on this occurrence。〃
〃You get curious about the strangest things；〃 Ryld said； shaking his head。 〃Sometimes I think you're a little mad yourself。〃
〃Genius is so often misperceived。〃
〃Look； I know this puzzle is going to nag at you； but we're right in the middle of trying to find the runaways and so save your life。 Let's stick to that。〃
The tall； thin wizard smiled and said； 〃Yes； of course。〃
They walked on。
〃But eventually；〃 Pharaun said after a moment； 〃when we've located the rogues and covered ourselves in glory…or at least convinced Gromph to let me continue breathing…I am going to inquire into this。〃
They traveled another block； then a column of roaring yellow fire fell from the sky； engulfing Pharaun's body。 Wings beat the air； and an arrow streaked at Ryld。
The netherspirit couldn't see the new enchantments surrounding Tier Breche； but as the uttermost attenuated projection of its substance washed over them； it could feel them。
Metaphorically speaking； the wards were not unlike a castle。 There was the motte； the steep slopes of which would slow an enemy's approach while the defenders rained missiles down on him。 Atop that loomed the thick； high walls； virtually unbreachable and un climbable。 Amid those was the renotcessed gate； defensible by spears and arrows loosed from three directions。 Within the passage itself； murder holes gaped in the ceiling to rain burnnoting oil on the invaders' heads； while beyond it rose a gatehouse with batnottlements at the top； another barrier to enclose the first section of the courtyard and turn it into a killing pit。
Gromph's first counter magic； the one that had admitted the late and unlamented Beradax to the temple； had stormed the fortress like a ramnotpaging army equipped with catapults； rams； and siege towers。 The arch…mage's second effort resembled a mine sappers had excavated to pass unobtrusively beneath the walls。 Except that this hole ran though extra dimensional space。
As the netherspirit understood it； this method of egress was arranged by the Baenre elder male so that the occupants of Arach…Tinilith would expenotrience another kind of terror。 They had already discovered the dread of a screaming alarm； and they would learn the fear that came when death slipped into their midst without any warning at all。
Pulling in the longer tendrils of its ectoplasmic substance； the entity… it and its kind had no names； an advantage in that most wizards therefore lacked the ability to summon them…poured its formless form into the tunnel； albeit not without a measure of trepidation。 If Gromph's magic was unable to neutralize the conjurations of his minions； this was where the spirit would discover it in some unpleasant way。
As it crept down the mine； it sensed the wards poised above and around it； enchantments like hanging axes； precariously balanced and eager to fall； or taut tripwires attached to crossbows； or caltrops strewn lavishly undernotfoot。 The constructs of mystical force fairly quivered like living things with their pulsion to slay； but none of them detected the intruder。
The other end of the tunnel； which would not exist for mortal eyes unless they were magically augmented； opened on a corridor。 The nether…spirit climbed out and took its bearings。 It was inside one of the spider leg annexes of Arach…Tinilith； some distance from Quenthel's suite； but that was all right。 It was confident that nothing could bar its path to its target。
The intruder hunched and drifted around a corner and saw a novice standing watch。 Happily； the dark elf fe