fitted together； formnoting a towering； massive； and vaguely drowlike form； like a heroic statue abandoned when the sculptor had barely begun。 Its footsteps shaking the ground； the creature lurched up the corridor between the stalls。
Pharaun was mildly impressed。 It wasn't easy to summon and control an essential spirit of the earth…nor easy to fend one off； either…but the manifestation didn't shake his concentration。 He continued his recitation without a flub； meanwhile floating up into the air to avoid； if only monotmentarily； the swords of the onrushing warriors。
He spoke the final syllable of the conjuration。 A dagger made of ice flew from his hand。 Gelroos dodged it； but the conjured blade exploded； pepnotpering its target with frozen shards。 One slashed open the mage's cheek and he stumbled； but Pharaun could tell he wasn't seriously hurt。
Below the Mizzrym； some of the warriors were readying their crossnotbows。 Others began to levitate。 By rushing him； they'd drawn even with the game merchant's tent； and Ryld burst from underneath it。 Half an hour earlier； he'd purchased a scimitar to use in this particular battle； but it was Splitter； rendered visible by his touch； that he currently clasped in his hands。 He must have decided that； since Gelroos had already called out Pharaun's name； it would be pointless to try to conceal his own identity。
The greatsword leaped back and forth； each stroke dropping a foe to the ground。 Bellowing for his minions to turn and face the new threat； Ryld's fellow instructor tried to shove his way toward him。
Stone； liquid as magma； flowed upward from the ground into the elemental's body。 Most of the rock served to grow the creature bigger and taller； but some of it accumulated in the palm of its hand； forming a spiky sphere that it no doubt intended to hurl at Pharaun。
The wizard snatched a tiny vial of water from one of his pockets。 Brannotdishing it； he chanted。 He felt the walls of the cosmos attenuating； and for a moment； sensed an infinite number of Pharaun s conjuring in adjacent realities； receding away from him like reflections in a mirror； growing subtly less and less like himself with each step。
A pulse of scarlet light struck him in the chest。 Gelroos must have connotjured it。 The blaze of pain was extraordinary。 Pharaun strained to plete the last word of power and final mystic pass without a fumble。
He wasn't sure he'd succeeded until a vacancy； a gap not in matter but in the medium that underlies it； opened under the elemental's feet。 The creature cocked back its arm to throw； and the animating force fell out of the body it had created for itself and down the hole。 The wound in the fabric of the world contracted and sealed itself。 Rumbling and thudding； the huge stone form fell apart。
Pharaun took stock of himself。 It didn't look as if the red light had done more than scrape and prick his skin。 He grinned down at Gelroos。
〃Not quite； colleague。〃
〃This time；〃 the younger wizard said through gritted teeth。
He started casting； and Pharaun did the same。
Force crackled around the outcast Mizzrym but failed to bite into his flesh。 His own magic； launched from the same round little mirror he used to check his appearance； made the air surrounding Gelroos tinkle like chiming crystals。 The junior wizard screamed； and in the blink of an eye he was transformed into an inert figure made of cool； smooth glass。
Metal rang below Pharaun's feet。 He looked down。 Ryld appeared as if he might be having a difficult time of it； but a conjured barrage of ice； flung into the midst of the surviving students； turned the tide。 Ryld cut down his fellow Master of Melee…Magthere； whirled to do the same to a young spearman； and the fight was over。
Pharaun surveyed the battlefield。 Though burned and incapacitated； some of the warriors…in…training were still alive； but that was all right。 The important thing had always been to murder his fellow instructors。 That was what would impress the rogues。
He floated back down to earth。 〃That wasn't too difficult。 Looking back； it's a pity we didn't slaughter Greyanna and her allies in the same fashion。〃
Ryld grunted； pulled up the hem of a fallen fighter's cloak； and wiped the blood from Splitter。
〃Can you shatter Gelroos before we decamp？〃 Pharaun asked。 〃Othernotwise； he'll eventually revert to flesh and blood。〃
〃If you like。〃 Ryld hefted his blade。
C h a p t e r
F I F T E E N
Wrapped in a plain； dark piwafwi； the cowl drawn over her head； Quenthel tramped south across the city。 The experience was strange； unique in her personal experience。 She was on foot； not mounted on a lizard or en