plitter； the burly warrior parried several weapons at once。 His chest was heaving； and he was covered in blood from a dozen small wounds。 He didn't appear capable of going on the offensive with so many foes surrounding him。
As Pharaun closed with his panion； he had the magical rapier slash at the back of one of Ryld's adversaries。 The blade jabbed into the drow soldier from behind； causing the poor fellow to arch his back in agony and crumple to the ground。 Grimly； Pharaun ordered the rapier to return and protect him as he began to conjure another spell。
Backing himself into a defensive position near the same statues that Ryld had used to hide himself earlier； the Master of Sorcere extracted a second pinch of the powdered diamond。 This time； though； the spell he wove created an invisible barrier between himself and the dozen or so soldiers and wizards who had been pursuing him。 The location where Ryld had chosen to hide was more or less in a corner of the great audience chamber； and Pharaun took advantage of that by stretching his invisible wall at an angle； sealing himself and the Master of Melee…Magthere off from most of the rest of the chamber； with only the five drow who were still surrounding Ryld to contend with。
The Master of Sorcere turned his attention to aiding Ryld as the other soldiers painfully discovered his magical wall。 He ignored the thumps they made as the first two or three slammed into the barrier； but he couldn't help but smile。 Ryld had fatally wounded a second foe； a priestess who was writhing on the floor in a growing pool of blood。 Pharaun drew out his own crossbow and loaded the weapon even as he brought his dancing rapier to bear on a drow male who was trying to get in behind Ryld。
The rapier slashed； grazing the guard's shoulder； and as the soldier turned to protect himself from this new threat； Pharaun fired his crossbow； striking true。 The soldier grunted in surprise and pain as the bolt took him in the shoulder of his weapon arm。 He dropped his long sword and staggered backward； eyeing the rapier as it flitted about in front of him。 Pharaun reloaded the crossbow and was taking aim when Valas stepped from a shadow and finished the guard from behind。 Eyes wide； the drow gasped and tried to say something； seemed confused that his words wouldn't form； then died； sliding to the floor as the scout freed his kukri from its victim。
〃I assume that's you； wizard？ What's the point of being invisible if you're going to glow all purple like that？〃
〃I'm glad to see you wound up on the right side of things；〃 Pharaun said； then staggered as another rumble shook the building。 〃By the Dark Mother； what is going on out there？〃 he said； steadying himself from the aftershocks。
〃Whatever it is； I don't know if it's better to be out there or in here；〃 Valas replied； wiping his curved dagger clean on the dead draw's piwafwi。 〃We've got to get out of here。〃
Pharaun nodded； forgetting that the scout couldn't see him； then he said； 〃I agree〃 before turning to see how Ryld had fared。
The warrior was facing only a single opponent； stepping warily around the slick pools of blood as he feinted a few times。 His ploys weren't terribly effective； and he was gasping for breath。 His close…cropped white hair was matted red with blood。
Valas crept forward； ready to get in another attack from behind the moment an opportunity presented itself； so the mage turned his attention back to his magical wall； confident his two panions had the situation well in hand。
On the other side of the barrier； several of the drow wizards were levitating； testing to see if Pharaun had left any gaps along the ceiling。 Another wizard was obviously casting； trying to find something that would dispel the effect。 Soldiers stood at the ready； fingering their weapons and eyeing Pharaun and his two panions balefully。 Pharaun knew by sense that the magical partition still held； but it would only be a matter of time before their enemies would find the right bination of magic to bring it down。
At that moment； Pharaun noted the smoke on the far side of the room。 It was where the matron mothers had been； but they were no longer there。
Of course not； the mage thought sardonically。 They're not going to e out until they know we're in custody again。
The smoke； however； was thick and black and seemed to be pouring into the room through a hole in the wall。 He could see flames licking the stone； and he realized what was going on。
〃We've definitely got to get out of here；〃 the mage said to Valas。
〃That's what I said；〃 Valas replied； 〃but you seem to have sealed us in here。〃
Ryld had dispatched his final adversary and sank down to one knee； trying to regain his breath。
〃Hello； Pharaun。 It's good to 'see' you。 You two aren't going to walk through walls again； are you？〃 Ryld asked； heaving himself to his feet again。
On the other side of the barrier； some of the House Melarn delegation had lost interest in them； turning and pointing back at the smoke or running toward it。 〃Whatever was happening in the obscured side of the audience chamber； they were very agitated。
〃Alas；〃 Pharaun answered the warrior； 〃I have exhausted my quota of wall…walking for the day。 I'll have to rely on more conventional means of egress； I'm afraid。 Still； we shouldn't tarry。 That smoke is from the same stuff we had to deal with during the insurrection back in Menzoberranzan。〃
〃The fire bombs that burned the very stone？〃 Valas asked。
〃Then that means 。 。 。〃 Ryld added。
〃Precisely。 We may be contending with associates of Syrzan； or others； who are inciting the populace to riot and arming them with the same tools of destruction。〃
〃I thought you said the alhoon was operating alone； an outcast from its own kind；〃 Ryld said； turning in circles and analyzing every nook and cranny of the corner of the room。
〃I did；〃 Pharaun admitted。 〃In my conversation with the thing during our captivity； it claimed that very thing。 Perhaps whoever supplied it or its minions with the alchemical incendiary jugs is serving multiple fronts。〃
〃Regardless of who's doing it； we know how grave the situation is；〃 Valas said。 〃We need to get out of the city。〃
〃Again； I agree；〃 Pharaun said。 〃I suggest we make a run for it once I lower the barrier。〃
〃Into that mob？〃 Ryld countered。 〃We should try to find another way out。〃
〃But that's the quickest way to the streets。 We don't know our way around in here； and House Melarn could be an inferno before long。〃
〃Look；〃 Ryld argued； 〃you may be feeling fine； but I can't take another stand…up fight right now。〃 He gestured at his own bloody form。 〃There's got to be other ways out of this House。 Let's go find one。〃 The warrior gestured toward a door in the corner and added； 〃Leave your barrier up and let's go。〃
Valas nodded and said； 〃Ryld is right。 We can't fight through all of them。 Let's try another route。〃
〃Very well；〃 Pharaun sighed； 〃but if the House falls down around our ears； I will personally blame both of you。〃
He gestured toward the door； inviting Valas to lead the way。
***
For the first few minutes； the halls of House Melarn were remarkably empty as Ryld； Pharaun； and Valas limped their way through them。 Occasionally； the trio heard running footsteps in the twisting； winding passages that threaded their way through the massive structure； but they were able to avoid confrontations by cither taking a detour or momentarily hiding。 It appeared to the Master of Melee…Magthere that most of the inhabitants were focusing their attention outside； where the bulk of the fighting was taking place。
As they reached an intersection； Valas held up his hand for a halt； and the scout slunk off in one direction； investigating the route ahead。 Ryld and Pharaun pressed themselves against the wall； trying to remain out of sight。 The wizard was no longer invisible； nor was he glowing with that annoying； flickering purple hue。 Ryld had taken care of that with a pass of his enchanted blade。 The warrior could see that his panion's skin was blistered； and he imagined that Pharaun was in considerable pain。 His own wounds troubled him only when he thought about them。
Don't you have some son of magic that can help us locate an exit？ Ryld flashed to the wizard as they waited。
Pharaun shook his head。
Such spells exist； but I don't know them； he silently replied。 Without knowing the way； we could be down here forever。 This is a fool's errand； Ryld。
Then perhaps we should just follow the soldiers。 They can unwittingly lead us out of here。
Pharaun waved away the warrior's suggestion； though whether it was in exasperation or acceptance； Ryld wasn't sure。
The risk of discovery or disaster is greater if we do that。
Ryld shrugged but gave no other reply。 Instead； he turned to Watch for Valas's return。
Why do I bother arguing？ the weapons master thought as his listened for telltale sounds。 He's already made up his mind。
Valas returned at that moment； gesturing for them to follow him。 Together； they crept forward into a ne