r metamorphosis didn't really purge her disease。 It was a bit tricky just suppressing it for a few minutes。〃
Pharaun stepped back again to keep the spreading pool of blood from staining his boots； and Ryld cleaned the short sword on the dead human's bedding。
〃You didn't want to leave her alive and angry to carry tales to Grey…anna；〃 the weapons master said。
〃It's unlikely they would have found one another； but why take the chance？〃
〃And you asked Smylla about the marks on the walls。 You're just too cursed curious to let the subject go。〃
Pharaun grinned。 〃Don't be silly。 I'm the very model of single…minded determination； and I was asking to further our mission。〃
Ryld glanced at the door and the iron bar。 They were still holding。
〃What does the strange behavior of goblins have to do with the rogue males？〃 he asked。
〃I don't know yet；〃 Pharaun answered； 〃but we have two oddities ocnotcurring at the same time and in the same precinct。 Doesn't it make sense to infer a relationship？〃
〃Not necessarily。 Menzoberranzan has scores of plots and conspiracies going on at any given time。 They aren't all connected。〃
〃Granted。 However； if these two situations are linked； then by inquirnoting into one； we likewise probe the other。 You and I have experienced a denotpressing lack of success picking up the trail of our runaways。 Therefore； we'll investigate the lower orders and see where that path takes us。〃
〃How will we do that？〃
〃Follow the drum； of course。〃
The door banged。
〃First；〃 said Ryld； 〃we have to get out of here。〃
〃Easily managed。 I'll remove the locking talisman from the door； then use illusion to make us blend with the walls。 In a minute or two； the resinotdents will break the door down。 When they're busy abusing Smylla's corpse and ransacking her possessions； we'll put on goblin faces and slip out in the confusion。〃
C h a p t e r
E L E V E N
Quenthel's patrol had stalked the shadowy； candlelit passages of Arach…Tinilith for hours； until spaces she knew intimately began to seem strange and subtly unreal； and her subordinates' nerves visibly frayed with the waiting。 She called a halt to let the underlings rest and collect themselves。 They stopped in a small chapel with the images of skulls； daggers； and spinotders worked in bas…relief on the walls and the bones of long…dead priestnotesses interred beneath the floor。 Rumor whispered that a cleric had cut her own throat in this sanctuary and her ghost sometimes haunted it； but the Baenre had never seen the apparition； and it wasn't in evidence then。
The priestesses and novices settled on the pews。 For a while； no one spoke。
Eventually Jyslin； a second…year student with a heart…shaped face and silver studs in her earlobes； said； 〃Perhaps nothing will happen。〃
Quenthel stared coldly at the novice。 Like the rest of the party； the younger female cut a warlike figure with her mace； mail； and shield； but her dread showed in her troubled maroon eyes and shiny； sweaty brow。
〃We will face another demon tonight；〃 Quenthel said。 〃I feel it； so it's pointless to hope otherwise。 Instead I suggest you concentrate on staying alert and remembering what you've learned。〃
Jyslin lowered her eyes and whispered； 〃Yes； Mistress。〃
〃Wishful thinking is for cowards；〃 Quenthel said； 〃and if you fools are lapsing into it； we've lingered here too long。 Up with you。〃
Reluctantly； someone's links of supple black mail chiming ever so faintly； Quenthel's minions rose。 She led them onward。
In light of the two previous intrusions and the obvious uselessness of the wards the mages of Sorcere had created； Quenthel had placed Arach…Tinilith on alert and organized her staff and students into squads of eight。 Most of the units would stand watch at set locations； but several would patrol the entire building。 The Baenre princess had opted to lead one of the latter。
She'd also decided to throw open the storerooms and armories and disnotpense all the potent enchanted tools and weapons still deposited there。 Even the first…year students bore enchanted arms and talismans worthy of a high priestess。
Not that the gear had done much to bolster Jyslin's morale； nor that of many another novice。 Had Quenthel not been suffering her own carefully masked anxieties； their glumness might have amused her。 The girls had seen demons throughout their childhoods。 They'd even achieved a certain intimacy with them in Arach…Tinilith； but this was the first time such ennottities had posed a threat to them； and they'd realized they hadn't truly known the ferocious beings at all。
No doubt some of the females had also been perceptive enough to