s。 Her ashen skin darkened to a gleaming black； her blue eyes turned red； and her ears grew points。 Her features became more delnoticate。 Her snowy hair thickened； changing from brittle and lusterless to wavy and glossy。
〃The pain went away；〃 she breathed。 〃I feel stronger。〃
〃Of course；〃 Pharaun said。
She stared at her hands； then sat up； rose from the cot； and tried to walk。 At first she moved with an invalid's caution； but gradually； as she proved to herself that she wouldn't fall； that hesitancy passed。 After a few seconds； she was striding； jumping； and spinning like an exuberant little girl testing her strength； her grimy nightshirt flapping about her。
〃You did it！〃 she said； and the pure； uncalculated gratitude in her crimnotson eyes showed that even wearing the flesh of a dark elf maiden； she was still human at the core。
Though it was foreign to his own nature； Pharaun found her apprecianottion rather gratifying。 Still； he hadn't transformed her to bask in her naive sentimentality but to elicit some answers。 〃Now；〃 he said； 〃please； tell us。〃
〃Right。〃 She took a deep breath to pose herself and said； 〃I do benotlieve something emboldened the Undercreatures in this house。 What's more； I think it's affected goblinoids throughout the Braeryn。〃
〃What is it？〃 asked Ryld。
〃I don't know。〃
The warrior grimaced。
〃What led you to infer this agency？〃 Pharaun asked。 〃I assume you were housebound even before you barricaded yourself in your room。〃
〃I saw a change in the brutes who live here。 They were surly； insolent； and foul…tempered； ready to maim and kill one another at the slightest provocation。〃
Ryld hitched his shoulders； working stiffness out or shifting Splitter to lie more fortably across his back。
〃How is that different than normal？〃 asked the weapons master。
Smylla scowled at him and said； 〃All things are relative。 The creatures exhibited those qualities to a greater extent than before； and whenever I heard tidings from beyond these walls； they suggested the entire precinct shared the same truculent humor。〃
Pharaun nodded。 〃Did you hear about tribal emblems appearing in the streets？〃
〃Yes；〃 she said。 〃That bespeaks a kind of madness； don't you think？〃
〃Maybe in one or two thralls；〃 said Ryld。 〃What of it？ You promised my friend information。 Tell us something we don't already know； and I mean facts； not your impressions。〃
The clairvoyant smiled。 〃All right。 I was building up to it。 Every few nights a drum beats somewhere in the Braeryn； calling the lower orders to some sort of gathering。 Many of the occupants of this house clear out。 With what little remains of my clairvoyance； I've sensed many others skulking through the streets； all converging on a mon destination。〃
〃Nonsense；〃 said Ryld。 〃Why has no drow patrol heard the signal and e to investigate？〃
〃Because；〃 said Pharaun； 〃the city possesses enchantments to mute sound。〃
〃Well； maybe。〃 Ryld turned back to Smylla。 〃Where do the creatures go； and why？〃
〃I don't know；〃 she said； 〃but perhaps； with my health and occult talnotents restored； I could find out。〃 She beamed at Pharaun。 〃I'd be happy to try。 I fulfilled the letter of our bargain； but I do realize I haven't provided you with all that much in exchange for the priceless gift you gave me。〃
〃That remark touches on the question of your future；〃 the wizard said。 〃You'd have no difficulty reestablishing your dominion here in the Stench…streets； but why live so meanly？ I could use an aide of your caliber。 Or； if you prefer； I can arrange your safe repatriation to the World Above。〃
As he spoke； he surreptitiously contorted the fingers of his left hand； exnotpressing himself in the silent language of the dark elves； a system of gesnottures as efficient and prehensive as the spoken word。
〃I think…〃 Smylla began； then her eyes opened wide。
She whimpered。 Ryld pulled his short sword out of her back； and she collapsed。 Pharaun skipped back to keep her from toppling against him。
〃Despite her previous experiences；〃 the lanky wizard said； 〃she couldn't quite leave off trusting drow。 I suppose it shows you can take the human out of the sunshine； but not the sunshine out of the human。〃 He shook his head。 〃This is the second female I've slain or murdered by proxy in the brief time since our adventure began； and I didn't particularly want to kill either one of them。 Do you suspect an underlying metaphysical significance？〃
〃How would I know？ I take it you bade me kill the snitch because she was feeding us lies。〃
〃Oh； no。 I'm convinced she was telling the truth。 The problem was that I deceived her。 Her metamorphosis didn't really purge her disease。 I