your rivals in Melee…Magthere had engaged me to murder you as soon as the opportunity arose。〃
〃How did you discover that？ Never mind； I suppose it was your silver ring。 I didn't know what it was back then。 Anyway； that's not the same kind of secret。〃
〃You're right； it isn't； and I regret my reticence but I do propose to make up for it by sharing the most astonishing confidence you've ever heard。〃
Ryld stared into Pharaun's eyes。 〃I'll pardon you。 With the understandnoting that if you withhold any other pertinent information； I'll knock you over the head and deliver you to your bitch sister myself。〃
〃Point taken。 Shall we sit？〃 Pharaun pointed to a bench hewn from the limestone wall at the back of the ledge。 〃My discourse may take a little time； and I daresay we could use a rest after our exertions。〃
As he turned away from the molded rock rampart； Ryld noticed that the cracking of the whip had stopped。 When he glanced down； two goblins were carrying the corpse of a third； hauling it somewhere to be chopped apart and the pieces turned to some useful purpose。 Possibly chow for other thralls。
The fencing teacher sat down and removed a cloth； a whetstone； and a vial of oil from the pockets of his garments。 He unfastened his short sword from his belt； pulled on the hilt； and made a little spitting sound of disnotpleasure when the blade； which he had been forced to put away bloody； stuck in the scabbard。 He yanked more forcefully； and it came free。
He looked over at Pharaun； who was regarding with him with a sort of quizzical exasperation。
〃Talk；〃 the warrior said。 〃I can care for my gear and listen at the same time。〃
〃Is this how you attend to mind…boggling revelations？ I suppose I'm lucky you don't have to use the Jakes。 All right； here it is 。。。 Lolth is gone。 Well； maybe not gone； but unavailable at least in the sense that it's no longer possible for her Menzoberranyr clerics to receive spells from her。〃
For a moment； Ryld thought he'd misheard the words。 〃I guess that's a joke？〃 he asked。 〃I'm glad you didn't make it while we were in the middle of a crowd。 There's no point pounding our crimes with blasphemy。〃
〃Blasphemy or not； it's the truth。〃
Rag in hand； Ryld scrubbed tacky blood off the short sword。
〃What are you suggesting；〃 the weapons master asked； 〃another Time of Troubles？ Could there be two such upheavals？〃
Pharaun grinned and said； 〃Possibly； but I think not。 When the gods were forced to inhabit the mortal world； the arcane forces we wizards notmand fluctuated unpredictably。 One day； we could mold the world like clay。 The next； we couldn't turn ice to water。 That isn't happening now。 My powers remain constant as ever； from which I tentatively infer this is not the Time of Troubles e again but a different sort of occurrence。〃
〃What sort？〃
〃Oh； am I supposed to know that already？ I thought I was doing rather well to detect the occurrence at all。〃
〃Only if it's really happening。〃
Ryld inspected the point of the short stabbing blade； then took the hone to it。 Bemused by Pharaun's contention； he wondered how his canny friend could credit such a ludicrous idea。
〃I want you to think back over the confrontation from which we just emerged；〃 said the Master of Sorcere。 〃Did you even once see Greyanna or the other priestess cast divine magic from her own mind and inner strength as opposed to off a scroll or out of some device？〃
〃I was fighting the skeletons。〃
〃You keep track of every foe on the battleground。 I know you do。 So； did you see them casting spells out of their own innate power？〃
Ryld thought that of course he had 。 。 。 then realized he hadn't。
〃What does that suggest？〃 Pharaun asked。 〃They have no spells left in their heads； or only a few； which they're hoarding desperately because they can't solicit new ones from their goddess。 Lolth has withdrawn her favor from Menzoberranzan； or 。。。 something。〃
〃Why would she do that？〃
〃Would she need a reason…or at any rate； one her mortal children can prehend？ She is a deity of chaos。 Perhaps she's testing us somehow； or else she's angry and deems us unworthy of her patronage。
〃Or； as I suggested before； the cause of her silence； if in fact she is mute when her clerics pray to her'and not just uncooperative； may be something else altogether。 Perhaps even another happenstance involving all the gods。 Since we have only one faith and clergy in Menzoberranzan； it's difficult to judge。〃
〃Wait；〃 Ryld said。 He unstoppered his little bottle of oil。 The sharp smell provided a wele counterpoint to the moist stink of the dung fields。 〃I admit； I didn't see Greyanna or any of the lesser priestesses worknotin