The mage wondered what kind of magical alarms he was triggering as he created one of his blue extradimensional doorways and stepped through to the outside of the Arcanist Conservatory。
No matter； he thought； allowing the magical passage to wink out as he floated between two levels of web streets； near a wall of the great cavern。 They'll simply think my presence there was an attack from a rival institution。 If anyone thinks to ask the sentries； I shall be famous。
With that； Pharaun drifted down to the street below and started on his way back to the Serpent and Flame。
He would have accounted the stroll back to the inn pleasant； had the streets not been so busy。 All along the way； he caught snatches of conversation that centered mainly on the growing discontent of the citizens； the imminence of an attack from beyond the gates by all manner of fiendish armies； and the conviction that Lolth had abandoned the city to its fate。 More than once； he witnessed the beginnings of a confrontation； but each time he saw trouble was beginning to brew； he wisely took a different route； frequently levitating either up or down to a different level to avoid the brawl。
〃Pharaun；〃 a voice called to him as he was making his way through a lane filled with cheese shops； wishing the odors were a bit less 。 。 。 well； stale。
Surprised and perhaps a bit unnerved at being flagged； he stuck his hands in his piwafwi； contemplating what sort of spell he might use to extract himself from trouble。
The wizard turned to find himself gazing at a beautiful drow female； her silvery white hair in lustrous curls down to her shoulders。 She arched one high eyebrow at him and smiled； and he felt as though he knew her。 Her dress was a bit unusual； and it lacked any sort of identifying insignia。 Most telling of all； though； were the several auras of magic that she radiated； and he knew that she was not revealing everything。
〃I beg pardon 。。。 do I know you？〃 Pharaun asked。 In response； she merely winked and crooked her finger for him to follow。 Wondering what dangerous game he might be embroiled in but fancying a bit of fun； the wizard turned and sauntered after her。 The female led him along a few streets； mostly back ways； and up a number of sections； until they found themselves in a residential area。 The drow ducked into a small abode and turned and looked at him expectantly。
Pharaun hesitated at the doorway； looking around the street for any signs that would clue him in。
〃e on；〃 his panion said； sticking her head back out。 〃e inside。〃
〃Why would I want to do that？〃 the wizard asked。 〃You've very obviously cloaked yourself in some obscuring magic； so your efforts to deceive me are only partially successful。 I think my well being and I will remain out here； thank you all the same。〃
She simply smiled； and before his eyes the cloaking aura faded as her hair grew from light to dark； and her ebony skin transformed to the color of purest alabaster。 The clothing she had attired herself in was transformed as well； into a black leather corset。
Pharaun smiled back。
〃Hello； Aliisza；〃 he said。
〃Now； e inside so we can talk；〃 the alu…fiend said； motioning for the mage to follow her and disappearing inside。
The interior of the home was small； if tidy； but it had the look of being lived in for a long time。 The entirety of the place glowed with a soft violet hue； enough to illuminate the time…worn couch and table in the front room。
〃I daresay this is not your place；〃 Pharaun asked as he watched Aliisza slink across the floor and settle provocatively on the couch。
〃No； I'm just borrowing it for a while；〃 the demon said； reclining and propping a leg up。 〃I won't be here that long。 Unfortunately； a home； unlike everything else in this city； is a bad investment at the moment。 I doubt I could find a buyer； even if it did belong to me。〃
Pharaun grinned wryly as he settled into a chair across the room from the winged woman。
〃So you've noticed the unstable marketplace； have you？〃 he replied。 〃A shame； that； but then it's not your worry； since it's not your place。 Where are the owners at the moment？〃
The alu…fiend smiled again； but her green eyes sparkled dangerously as she answered； 〃Oh； I don't think they'll be ing back。 We've got the place all to ourselves； you know。〃
She turned over onto her stomach； propping herself up on her elbows and letting her feet wave lazily in the air above the backs of her thighs。
〃Well； then； that holds promise；〃 Pharaun said； his smile widen…tng as he leaned forward。 〃But a clever girl like you must have things to do； places to go； Kaanyr Vhoks to see。〃
Aliisza made a face。 〃e now； wizard。 You're not going to plead honor or some such nonsense to me； are you？ Kaanyr is a long ways away。〃
〃It's not so much the Sceptered One I worry about； you lovely creature。 It's me。 My mother always told me not to get involved with bad girls； especially if they had wings。 I'm just a wandering wizard； far from home。 You might take advantage of me。〃
The alu…fiend giggled。
〃Contrary to what your mother might have told you； we 'bad girls' aren't always looking to take you home to the Abyss with us。 Sometimes； we just like the look of a fellow。〃
Pharaun looked down at his hands as he said； 〃Sure。 And you just want to have some fun； right？ I'd love to stay and keep you pany； but I really do need to…〃
〃Pharaun； I already know what's going on；〃 Aliisza said； her tone serious。 〃Your Spider Queen has vanished without a trace； leaving no scraps of magic for the ladies； and you came all the way from Menzoberranzan to find out why。 I really couldn't care less。 〃Well； that's not entirely true； I can't wait to see Kaanyr's face when I tell him； but it can wait。 I just thought that before I head back to him and you went on your merry way back to your home； we might enjoy a little conversation。〃
She sat up； swinging her legs over the side of the couch to face him。
〃Besides；〃 she added； reaching up and beginning to loosen the laces of her corset； 〃you and I didn't get to finish sharing magic tricks。〃
〃No one's expecting me for a bit；〃 Pharaun chuckled。 〃I suppose I could stay for a little while。〃
***
Ryld knew Splitter would be next to useless in such tight quarters； so he had already reached down and grasped his short sword。 He slid the blade smoothly and easily from its sheath in one smooth motion； remembering the feel of it in his hand； the balance； even as he brought it up to defend against the onrushing half…ogre。 He parried die blow from the creatures upraised mace； then made a neat slice across the beast's midsection。
The half…ogre jerked just the tiniest bit in surprise； and Valas was on the creature from nowhere； drawing one of his kukris across its hamstring。 There was a burst of light and a crackle from the strangely curved blade as it struck home； and the beast howled and toppled as it clutched its gut and leg in pain。
Out of the corner of his eye； Ryld spotted sudden movement； and he ducked just in time to avoid a hurled mug。 The cup passed over his shoulder and hit the wall near the table； shattering in a spray of pottery。 Ryld didn't waste the moment evaluating the source of the attack。 He slashed at another of the half…ogres； drawing a thin opening across its upper arm that welled with blood as the creature staggered back； then the warrior was spinning away and parrying a large cudgel that a third foe； off to his right； swung at him。
The confrontation was drawing the attention of other patrons in the taproom； and Ryld could hear more than a few of them cheering the half…ogres； cursing him and Valas； and perhaps eyeing a chance to get in on the action themselves。
This is about to get really ugly； the warrior thought； warily waving the blade between himself and the half…ogre that blocked his way out。
A crossbow bolt struck him in the ribs； but his piwafwi and breastplate prevented the missile from penetrating。 Still； the force of the shot staggered him the slightest bit； and the cudgel crashed down on his left shoulder with a loud crunch。 His entire arm went numb； and he nearly lost his footing when something hooked his leg behind and tried to topple him。
This is madness； the warrior thought as he scrambled back against the wall； shoving the table between himself and the rest of the patrons。 Valas was nowhere to be seen。
Get him！〃 someone snarled from the crowd。
'Kill the dark elves！〃 another cried。
Yet no one seemed eager to approach him。
Ryld kept his short sword leveled at the threats in front of him as he scanned the room for his panion； wondering if the scout had abandoned him in favor of escape。 It would hardly have been the first time Ryld found himself in such a position。
When a pair of quaggoths…huge； white…furred humanoids some…rimes known as deepbears…lunged at the warrior； Ryld was forced to return his attention to the difficulties at hand。 Slashing with his short sword； he parried the spear the first creature tried to thrust through his chest； then sidestepped the seco