ny more such fiends did appear； the renewed wards would keep them out。 Plainly； she'd been too optimistic。
At least Arach…Tinilith was the seat of her power。 There； she could deploy a small army of retainers and a hoard of magical devices in her own defense； but those resources hadn't helped her against the darkness； and she couldn't help wondering how many hostile visitations a priestess in her condition could hope to survive。
C h a p t e r
E I G H T
Greyanna's henchmen came floating down around her。 Two were warriors； one a wizard； and the third was another priestess。 All wore the half masks of true seeing； giving them the deceptively foolish look of actors in a pannottomime。
Pharaun tried to levitate； but the net was too heavy。 He willed his aninotmate rapier into existence。 The steel ring vanished from his finger； and the long； slim sword materialized outside the net。 The blade started slicing at the thick ropes； but to little effect。 A rapier was a thrusting weapon and not suited to sawing。 Tensing his muscles against the remorseless pressure of the tightening web； he turned the floating sword around to threaten his fellow representatives of House Mizzrym。
Greyanna laughed。 〃Is that one little bodkin supposed to hold us all at bay？〃
〃Possibly not；〃 said Pharaun； straining to work his fingers closer to one of his pockets。 〃That's why I instructed it to kill you first。〃
〃Did you； now？〃
His sister motioned her warriors forward。 Twin brothers possessed of the same slightly yellowish hair and deeply cleft chin； they carried pale bone longbows slung over their backs in preference to the more mon crossbows。
Greyanna herself remained on her mount and produced a scroll from within her piwafwi。 Thanks to his remaining ring； Pharaun could see from the plex corona of magical force shining around the rolled parchment that it contained； among others； a spell to disrupt the other fellow's magic。 Perhaps she intended to use it to render the dancing rapier inert long enough for her minions to break or immobilize it。
The wretched ropes were digging into the wizard's flesh like knives。 He would hardly have been surprised if they drew blood。 They were certainly cutting off his circulation and numbing his extremities。 Trembling with effort； he shifted his fingers another inch。
〃My panion is Ryld Argith；〃 he said； 〃a Master of Melee…Magthere。 He's never done anything to you； and you will place yourself in debt to the warriors of the pyramid by killing him。〃
Entangled as he was； Pharaun couldn't even turn his head to look at his friend anymore； but he could hear Ryld grunting and swearing and feel him shaking the net。 The swordsman was plainly trying to free himself； but it seemed unlikely that even his extraordinary strength would be enough if he was unable to bring one of his blades to bear； and apparently such was the case。
〃I've kept tabs on you through the years。〃 Greyanna said。 〃I know Master Argith is your most valued rade。 I don't need him trying to libnoterate or avenge you。 Our mother will handle Melee…Magthere。〃
On further inspection； Pharaun observed that the subordinate priestess had readied a scroll as well。 That struck him as vaguely odd； but he supnotposed this was hardly the time to ponder the possible significance。
The warriors were approaching steadily but warily； and not merely； he suspected； because of the hovering rapier。 Greyanna could neutralize the weapon； but they feared that Pharaun would work some terrible magic that only required speech； not gestures or a focal object。 He was sorry to disappoint them。 He did have one or two such spells in his memory but none that could annihilate all five of these unpleasant folk at a single stroke； and he knew that once he conjured some devastating attack； they would abandon any intention of taking him alive for a demise by torture。 They would strike back as fast and murderously as possible； and immonotbilized in the mesh； he would have little hope of defending against their efforts。
〃Actually； you ought to think twice about harming either of us；〃 he said； hoping that further conversation would slow the fighters' advance； even if only for a second。
Greyanna chuckled。 〃Be assured； I've thought of it a thousand thousand times。〃
〃The archmage won't like it。〃
〃I'm acting on behalf of the Council。 I doubt he'll deem it politic to retaliate 。 。 。 any more than Melee…Magthere will。〃
〃Well； Gromph won't sign his name to your cadaver； but someday 。。。〃
Pharaun's fingers finally jerked into the pocket and closed around a small but sturdy leather glove。 With the net still tightening every second； it