〃Not as such； but you know I'm prone to sudden bursts of inspiration。〃
The masters entered a crowded section of street outside of what was evnotidently a popular tavern； with a howling； barking gnoll song shaking the calcite walls。 Pharaun had never had occasion to walk incognito among the lower orders。 It felt odd weaving； pausing； and twisting to avoid bumps and jostles。 Had they known his true identity； his fellow pedestrinotans would have scurried out of his way。
As the two drow reached the periphery of the crowd； Ryld pivoted and struck a short straight blow with his fist。 A hunchbacked； piebald creanotture…the product of a mating of goblin and ore perhaps…stumbled backnotward and fell on his rump。
〃Cutpurse；〃 the warrior explained。 〃I hate this place。〃
〃No pangs of nostalgia？〃
Ryld glowered。 〃That isn't funny。〃
〃No？ Then I beg your pardon；〃 Pharaun said with a smirk。 〃I wonder why this precinct always seems so sordid； even on those rare occasions when one finds oneself alone in a plaza or boulevard。 Well； the smell； of course。 We don't call them the Stench streets for nothing； but the buildnotings； though generally more modest than those encountered elsewhere in the city； still wear the same graceful shapes our ancestors cut from the living rock。〃
The teachers paused to let a spider with legs as long as broadswords scuttle across the street。 The Braeryn notoriously harbored hordes of the sacred creatures。 Sacred or not； Pharaun reviewed his mental list of ready spells； but the arachnid ignored the disguised dark elves
〃That's a foolish question；〃 said Ryld。 〃Why does the Braeryn seem foul？ The inhabitants！〃
〃Ah； but did the living refuse of our society generate the atmosphere of the district； or did that malignant spirit exist from the beginning and lure the wretched to its domain？〃
〃I'm no metaphysician；〃 said Ryld。 〃All I know is that somebody should clear the scavengers out of here。〃
Pharaun chuckled。 〃What if said clearing had occurred when you were a tyke？〃
〃I don't mean exterminate them…except for the hopeless cases…but why just let them squat here in their dirt like a festering chancre on the city？ Why not find something useful for them to do？〃
〃Ah； but they're already useful。 Status is all； is it not？ Does it not follow； then； that no Menzoberranyr can find contentment without someone upon whom she can look down。〃
〃We have slaves。〃
〃They won't do。 Predicate your claim to self…respect on their existence and you tacitly acknowledge you're only slightly better than a thrall yournotself。 Happily； here in the Stench streets； we find a populace starving； filthy； penniless； riddled with disease； living twenty or thirty to a room； yet nomnotinally free。 The humblest moner in Many folk or even Eastmyr can turn up his nose at them and feel smug。〃
〃You really think that's the reason Matron Baenre hasn't ordered the slum scoured clean？〃
〃Well； if that conjecture seems implausible； here's another： Rumor has it that from time to time； someone meets the goddess herself in the Braeryn。 Supposedly she likes to visit here in mortal guise。 The matrons may feel that the neighborhood is； in some sense； under her protection。〃 The wizard hesitated。 〃Though if Lolth has gone away for good； perhaps they don't need to worry about it anymore。〃
Ryld shook his head。 〃It's still so hard to belie…〃
Pharaun pointed。 〃Look。〃
Ryld turned。
On a curving wall below a dark elf's eye level was a sketch； this time smeared in blue。 It consisted of three overlapping ovals； conceivably repnotresenting the links of a chain。
〃It's a different mark；〃 said Ryld。 〃Hobgoblin maybe； though I couldn't tell you the tribe。〃
〃Don't be intentionally dim。 It's the same peculiar； reckless； pointless crime。〃
〃Fair enough； and it's still irrelevant to our endeavors。〃
〃It's a dull mind that never transcends pragmatics。 Two signs； reprenotsenting two races； implying two specimens of the lesser races demented in precisely the same way？ Unlikely； yet why would a single artist daub an emblem not his own？〃
〃Coincidence？〃
〃I doubt it； but as yet I can't provide a better answer。〃
〃It's a puzzle for another day； remember？〃
〃Indeed。〃
The masters walked on。
〃Still；〃 pressed Pharaun； 〃don't you wonder how many scrawled signs we passed without noticing and exactly what form they took？〃
Ignoring the question； Ryld pointed and said； 〃That's our destination。〃
The house's limestone door stood open； most likely for ventilation； for the interior radiated a perceptible warmth； the product of a multitude of tenants crammed in together。 It also emitted a muddled drone and a thick stink considera