Aliisza was more than a little surprised to see the horde of duergar seemingly appear out of thin air around the great manor Pharaun and his panions had entered。 From the looks on their faces； though； she wasn't nearly as surprised as the drow who were guarding the place。 The gray dwarves； whom she estimated numbered between two and three thousand； had formed a line along one side of the manor house before making themselves visible by firing off a volley of crossbows。 They also lobbed several dozen small clay pots； which burst into orange balls of flame upon impacting the stonework wall that surrounded the manor。
The few drow who'd been lounging around near the palatial front gates scrambled for cover as the hail of bolts and incendiary bombs struck。 The blast from the initial attack shook the entire web street； and Aliisza had to improve her grip to avoid slipping and falling from her roost on the roof of the building on the opposite side of the open plaza。 When she could look again； she saw that few of the dark elves had survived the first attack。
An alarm was quickly sounded inside the courtyard of the cyst…like building； and more drow appeared from inside； a large contingent of them； in fact。 Aliisza watched as they formed a line across the protective wall and returned fire with their hand crossbows。 Several duergar dropped before the barrage； but the gray dwarves exhibited wise tactics； throwing up a shield wall with the front rank and firing a second volley from behind that protective barrier。 In several places； the stone itself seemed to burn from the duergar fire bombs； and the fire was spreading。
In the plaza； citizens of Ched Nasad scrambled for cover； and in the distance； Aliisza could see a large column of troops marching； one web street over； in her direction。 The duergar were about to have unwanted pany 。。。 or so she thought。
That's when the second mass of gray dwarves appeared inside the courtyard； flanking the drow who had formed up to defend the front gates。
Oh； how clever； the alu…fiend thought。 They look like they've done this a time or two。
***
Pharaun never hesitated。
〃Scatter；〃 he said sharply to the two drow with him。
He willed a spell into being。 Ordinarily he would have needed at least a few seconds to speak the phrase and perform the gestures to bring the effect about； but he had enhanced this particular magic； and this conjuration simply happened as he thought it； with no gestures； words； or delays。 A thick； roiling mist appeared； obscuring everything around the wizard。 He knew that Ryld would know how to take care of himself； and he hoped that Valas would understand； too。 He promptly dismissed them from his mind as he levitated upward。
Another concussive blast shook the House； though the wizard； hovering in the air； only heard it this time。 He floated all the way to the ceiling； casting a spell of invisibility on himself。 He knew it wouldn't pletely obscure him from the more clever wizards and matron mothers； but it would at least prevent the mon soldiery from spotting him。 From below； he could hear the turmoil and confusion as a host of drow reacted to both the messenger's words and the rumbles in the foundation。
When he reached the ceiling； Pharaun reached inside his piwafwi and extracted a small pinch of diamond dust。 He incanted once more； watching as the dust vanished in a sparkle of light。 It would further conceal him； he hoped； this time from detection magic。
By then； someone had had the presence of mind to magically dissipate Pharaun's mist； and the floor below was clear once more。 The Master of Sorcere surveyed the entire chamber； looking for signs of Ryld and Valas。 The scout was nowhere to be found； which didn't surprise the wizard in the least； and Ryld had maneuvered himself off to one side of the room。 The weapons master crouched behind some statuary； Splitter in hand； watching as the enemy ran here and there。
He won't stay hidden long； Pharaun reasoned； knowing the matron mothers still intended to mete out their own personal justice just as soon as they could restore some order。
Considering quickly； the wizard dug out a bit of fleece from one of his pockets。 With it he manufactured another spell。 This one he cast at Ryld； creating a little enhancement to the warrior's hiding place。 When he was done； a new； illusory statue stood where Ryld was； further concealing him。
Pharaun turned his attention back to the center of the room； where several wizards were standing； some of them casting。 Another was carefully turning； peering in every direction； and Pharaun could see that magic emanated from the drow。
They're looking for us； the Master of Sorcere realized。
Fumbling around in his pockets； Pharaun found what he was looking for： a tiny hammer and bell； both made of silver。 Striking the hammer against the bell； the wizard produced another magical effect。 This time； the results were flashy。
A horrid vibration beat through the floor beneath the wizards' feet； causing them to clap their hands over their ears and stumble about。 Even the one who'd been scanning the room seemed startled； though he planted his feet and continued searching。 As the vibration reached a crescendo； the stone of the floor itself could no longer stand the strain and began to fracture。 A thousand spiderwebbing cracks shot through the floor； making footing unstable and knocking many of the wizards down。 The floor continued to fracture until it was nothing but pulverized powder； half a foot deep。 The downed wizards kicked up dust as they flailed about； trying to regain their footing。 Several of them didn't move at all。
Excellent； Pharaun thought； but his elation was short…lived。 Ryld had been discovered and was engaged in a fierce battle with several House Melarn soldiers and at least two priestesses。 Though blood streamed from a gash across one arm； the warrior was otherwise holding his own； but Pharaun knew that it wouldn't last long if anyone was able to bring magic into play。 Already； the mage could see a priestess unfurling a scroll。 Before he could act； though； Valas stepped up behind her； seemingly from nowhere…How does he do that？ Pharaun marveled…and plunged one of his two curved daggers into the small of her back。 As the cleric dropped woodenly to the floor； the scout was turning away； and Pharaun lost sight of him again when the wizard turned his attention for a moment to the other side of the room。
There； several of the matron mothers had e together； protected by a significant portion of their entourage； and were huddled around something Pharaun couldn't see。 He considered whether to strike at them while they were in such close proximity but dismissed the idea。
Don't want to draw any more attention to myself than necessary； he decided。
Pharaun felt the tingle of magic being cast at him； and he saw another wizard with his finger pointed in his direction。 Somehow； they'd discovered his position。 Pharaun realized he was glowing with a pale violet flame； despite his invisible state。 Already； several other wizards were looking in his direction； and a handful of soldiers were arming crossbows。
Damnation！ the mage thought。
He quickly pulled his piwafwi around himself and turned away as the first volley of bolts crashed into the ceiling around him。 He felt a pair of the missiles strike his back； but the piwafwi did its job。 There was no way he could eliminate the faerie fire around himself without also dismissing the invisibility； he knew； but if he simply let himself be a target； he would wind up a pincushion。 Shaking his head in consternation； Pharaun quickly dropped from his position； pulling up just short of hitting the floor。
The contingent of wizards and soldiers had followed Pharaun's descent and were moving to close with him。 Two soldiers brandishing long swords came at him from opposite sides； and though he was able to duck the first attack cleanly； the other one caught him flush across the arm； penetrating his piwafwi。 Blood spurted from the gash as the mage cried out in pain。 A heartbeat later； he and his two adversaries were engulfed in a torrent； as though they had danced their dance into the center of a waterfall…only it wasn't water。 It burned like fire； and both of the sword wielders shrieked and thrashed as their skin blistered and reddened。 Pharaun felt his own skin bubbling and boiling as he flung his piwafwi up to shield his face and threw himself clear； moving at an unnaturally rapid pace； thanks to the magic of his boots。
Rolling free of the downpour of acid； Pharaun summoned his rapier as he leaped to his feet； continuing his forward progress right at two more soldiers。 He used the hovering； dancing rapier to hold the pair of drow at bay just enough so he could pass between them before they even knew he was ing。 Once he was through； he headed in the direction of Ryld； while more crossbow bolts and a couple of streaking missiles of light and fire fizzled out as they reached his form。
Valas had hidden himself away again； but Ryld was hard at work； surrounded by no less than six opponents。 With each swing of Split