； I'm one of the thirty most puissant mages in the city。 If I controlled the Sarthos demon； I'd be one of the five。 Perhaps even the first； mightier than dreary old Gromph himself。〃
I see。
Ambition was an essential part of the drow character； and Ryld somenottimes envied Pharaun his still…passionate investment in the struggle for status。 The warrior supposed that he himself had achieved the pinnacle of his ambitions when he became one of the lesser masters of Melee…Magthere； for certainly he； born a moner； could never climb any higher。 From that day forward； he'd stopped peering hungrily upward and concentrated on looking down； to guard against all those who wished to kill him in hopes of ascending to his position。
Pharaun was a Master of Sorcere as Ryld was a Master of Melee…Magthere； but perhaps； being of noble blood； Pharaun really did aspire to assassinate the formidable Gromph Baenre and seize his office。 Even if he didn't； wizards； by the nature of their intricate and clandestine art； maintained a rivalry that enpassed more than who was a master； who was chief wizard in a great House； and who was neither。 They also cared about such things as who could know the most esoteric secrets； could conjure the deadliest specter； or see most clearly into the future。 In fact； they cared so deeply that they occasionally sought to murder each other and plunder one another's spell books even when such hostilities ran counter to the interests of their Houses； severing an alliance or disruptnoting a negotiation。
〃Now；〃 Pharaun said； reaching inside the elegant folds of his piwafwi and producing a silver flask； 〃I'll have to turn my back on the Sarthos demon for a while。 I hope the poor behemoth won't be lonely without me。〃
He unscrewed the bottle； took a sip； and passed the container to Ryld。
Ryld hoped the flask didn't contain wine or an exotic liqueur。 Pharaun was forever pressing such libations on him and insisting that he try to recnotognize all the elements that allegedly blended together to create the taste； even though Ryld had demonstrated time and again that his palate was innotcapable of such a dissection。
He drank and was pleased to find that for a change； the flask contained simple brandy； probably imported at some expense from the inhospitable world that lay like a rind atop the Underdark； baking in the excruciating sunlight。 The liquor burned his mouth and kindled a warm glow in his stomach。
He handed the brandy back to Pharaun and said； 〃I assume Gromph told you to leave the entity alone。〃
〃In effect。 He assigned me another task to occupy my time。 Should I succeed； the Archmage will forgive me my transgressions。 Should I fail 。 。 。 well； I'll hope for a nice beheading or garroting； but I'm not so unrealistic as to expect anything that quick。〃
〃What task？〃
〃A number of males have eloped from their families； and not to a mernotchant clan or Bregan D'aerthe either but to an unknown destination。 I'm supposed to find them。〃
Pharaun took another sip； then offered the flask again。
〃What did they steal？〃 asked Ryld； waving off the drink。
Pharaun smiled and said； 〃That's a good guess； but you're wrong。 As far as I know； no one walked off with anything important。 You see； it isn't just a few fellows from one particular House。 It's a bunch of them from any number of homes； noble and mon alike。〃
〃All right； but so what？ Why does the Archmage of Menzoberranzan care？〃
〃I don't know。 He offered some vague excuse of an explanation； but there's something…several somethings； belike…that he's not telling me。〃
〃That's not going to make your job any easier。〃
〃How true。 The old tyrant did condescend to say that he isn't the only one interested in the fugitives' whereabouts。 The priestesses are equally connotcerned； but that emphatically did not make them want to join forces with Gromph。 Matron Mother Baenre herself ordered him to drop the matter。〃
〃Matron Baenre；〃 said Ryld。 〃I like this less with every word you speak。〃
〃Oh； I don't know。 Just because Triel Baenre rules all Menzoberranzan； and I'm about to flout her express wishes 。 。 。 Anyway； the Archmage says he can no longer investigate the disappearances himself。 Seems the ladies have their eyes on him； but； lucky me； I am not so burdened。〃
〃That doesn't mean you're going to find the missing males。 If they fled the city； they could be anywhere in the Underdark by now。〃
〃Please；〃 said Pharaun with a grin； 〃you don't have to try to cheer me up。 Actually； I'm going to start looking in Eastmyr and the Braeryn。 Apnotparently some of the runaways were last sighted in those d閏lass椤icinities； and perhaps they linger t