gth of itself； and whipped it around her neck。
The female thrashed a little； then passed out for want of air。 Her assailnotant laid her down and slid beneath the door。
Scores of costly icons decorated Quenthel's private rooms； so many that the place seemed a temple of Lolth in its own right。 Beyond that； however； the suite was sparsely furnished； albeit with exquisite pieces； as if the Mistress of Arach…Tinilith practiced an asceticism at odds with the habits of the average sybaritic Menzoberranyr。
The darkness sent an intangible ripple of itself probing ahead。 At once it discovered an element of Quenthel's personal defenses。 It was not； as the spirit might have expected； a hidden mantrap woven of potent divine magic but a simple set of crystal wind chimes rendered invisible and hung at a point where any oblivious intruder would be sure to bump his head on them。 Apparently the Baenre priestess believed that so long as an assasnotsin gave her a second's warning； she would be able to handle the threat her…self。
Maybe she could。 The netherspirit would never know； because it had no intention of informing her of its ing。 It took a certain ironic amusenotment in sliding its smoke like form directly through the dangling crystals without disturbing them in the slightest。
Eyes closed； in Reverie no doubt； Quenthel sat straight…backed and cross…legged on a rug。 Along the back wall； pulses of mystical force throbbed from a pair of iron chests and from behind a theoretically secret door。 The high priestess had invoked some formidable magic to protect her valuables。 It was too bad she wasn't similarly careful with her life。
Gromph's agent flowed forward； and something reared hissing atop a round little table。 It was the five vipers prising an enchanted whip。 Distracted by the magical power blazing at the back of the chamber； the netherspirit had missed feeling the lesser emanations of the vipers。
Fortunately； it didn't matter。 The animate darkness had skulked too close to its prey for anything to balk it。 It solidified a twisting strand of itself and slapped the table over； sending the whip flying。 At the same time it darted； stretching； to pounce on Quenthel。
Her slanted eyes opened but of course saw only blackness。 She opened her mouth to speak or shout； and the demon shoved a tendril inside。
C h a p t e r
S E V E N
For an instant； the world blazed bright and hot； searing Pharaun's skin。 However； when the flame was gone it left little more than a tactile memory of pain。 Gasping； the wizard took stock of himself。 Except for a blister or two； he was all right。 Some bination of the protective enchantments woven into both his vest and piwafwi； his innate drow resistance to hostile magic； and the silver ring he wore bearing the insignia of Sorcere； had saved him from fatal burns。
Ryld had drawn Splitter。 An arrow whizzed down from a rooftop across the street； and the burly swordsman batted it out of the air。 A huge flying mount wheeled overhead； vanishing from view before Pharaun could get a good look at it。
〃Are you all right？〃 Ryld asked。
〃Just singed a little；〃 Pharaun replied。
〃Here are your rogues； not so canny after all。 We'll either have to rise into the air after them or pull them down to the street。〃
〃We'll do neither。 Follow me。〃
〃Run？〃 the weapons master asked； swatting away another arrow。 〃I thought we wanted to catch one of them。〃
〃Just follow。〃
Pharaun began moving down the street； meanwhile peering upward； looking for his attackers。 Ryld scowled but trailed along behind him。
The Master of Sorcere glimpsed a swirling motion from the corner of his eye。 He pivoted。 Crouched on the edge of a roof； a spell caster spun his hands in fluid mystic passes。
Gesturing； speaking rapidly； Pharaun rattled off his own incantation。 He was racing the other mage； and he finished his magic first。 Five darts of azure light leaped from his fingertips； shot at the spell caster； and plunged into his chest。 From that distance； he couldn't tell how badly he'd hurt his colleague； but at the least his foe flailed his arms in pain。 The Acanotdemician's attack had disrupted his spell。
Ryld knocked another arrow away； and only then did Pharaun realize that this time； the shaft had been hurtling at him。 An instant later； a studnotded mace seemingly made of shadow flew out of nowhere and swung itself at his head。 Splitter flicked over and tapped that manifestation。 As connotjured objects often did； the war club vanished at the great sword's touch。
〃In here；〃 Pharaun said。
The two masters ran to the arched sandstone door of one of the modest houses o