Her voice dripped with acid。
〃e a little closer； Faeryl；〃 Jeggred said； his deep voice flat with malice。 〃Let me caress you like before； in the underhalls of the Great Mound。 Don't you want to feel my kiss again？〃
Faeryl shuddered but ignored the draegloth； instead pulling a dagger from her belt。
Halisstra tapped Pharaun softly on the arm。
Let me lure her out here； the Melarn daughter signed。
Pharaun nodded and stepped back； out of sight。 Ryld pulled Danifae against the wall next to the wizard； while Valas took up a position on the opposite side of the door。
〃Still； it's going to be fun watching you both die；〃 the wizard heard Faeryl say。
〃I'm afraid we have other plans for her； Faeryl；〃 Halisstra said； pushing the door open。
The ambassador hissed in anger。
〃What are you doing here？〃 she snarled。 〃You should be dead！〃
Then； apparently realizing that Halisstra had discovered her secret； Faeryl's tone changed。
〃You don't really think I'm going to let you walk out of here alive； do you？ To run and tell the others what you found？ I don't think so。〃
Halisstra's tone was equally cold。
〃On the contrary。 You don't think I came down here alone； did you？ Danifae！〃 the Melarn daughter called out； back over her shoulder。 〃It's true。 Run； and tell them what we found。〃
〃I think not；〃 Faeryl said； appearing in the hallway as though she had leaped past the priestess。 〃You're not going to tell 。 。 。〃
The words died in Faeryl's mouth as she spotted Pharaun； Ryld； and Danifae leaning against the wall。
〃You！〃 she spat。 〃Halisstra； you cast your lot with them？You're a bigger fool than I thought。〃
The look In Faeryl's eyes was decidedly nervous； and her fear only grew as she felt Valas step in behind her and take hold of her arm。 The point of the scout's kukri settled against the hollow of her throat。
Pharaun reached out and held out his hand； waiting for Faeryl to relinquish her dagger to him。 Eyeing any possible avenue of escape； she appeared ready to bolt but realized she had no chance against so many。 She relinquished the dagger； flipping the handle around and laying the weapon in the wizards palm。
〃Perhaps I am a fool；〃 Halisstra said； 〃but at least I have them as allies； which is more than I can say for you。 Did you enjoy your little game of lies？ I hope it was worth it。 I think it will be the last thing you enjoy。 Ever。〃
〃Watch her；〃 the mage said to Valas as he stepped into the cell； Halisstra close behind。
It was obvious from the relieved look in Quenthel's eyes that she was glad to see him。 Pharaun only smiled as he uttered a magical phrase。 The collar around Quenthel's neck clicked open。
〃Help her；〃 he directed to Halisstra。
Pharaun then moved over to Jeggred； whose red； feral eyes glittered in anticipation。
〃Your arrival was timely； wizard；〃 the draegloth said； spreading his arms wide。 〃Free me so that I may rend the traitor and watch the life fade from her eyes。〃
〃You will do no such thing；〃 Quenthel said。 Halisstra had helped the high priestess remove the gag。 〃Do not touch her； Jeggred。 Do you understand me？〃
Jeggred looked at Quenthel for a moment； but then the demon inclined his head in acquiescence。
〃As you wish and mand； Mistress。〃
Pharaun had but one more spell with which to unlock the restraints that held Jeggred； and he quickly utilized it to free one of the draegloth's arms。 For the other bindings； the mage decided to cast a different spell； one that would suppress the magic that strengthened the adamantine。 He quickly wove the dispelling magic and watched as the aura surrounding the metal faded from his sight。
〃Try to break it； now；〃 he said to Jeggred。
The draegloth jerked experimentally on the chains holding him to the walls； then he really leaned into the effort； but the adamantine links still would not yield。
Pharaun frowned。
〃Perhaps a bit of cold； to make them brittle；〃 he mused aloud； producing a small； clear crystal from his piwafwi。 〃Gather the lengths together in a group；〃 he directed the draegloth。 Jeggred did so； holding them in his free hand like a set of reins on a pack lizard。
Pointing the crystal at the sections of chain； the Master of Sor…cere focused a cone of magically summoned arctic air along their lengths。 When the incantation was pleted； he gestured for Jeggred to try again。
This time； when the fiend began to work the restraints over； the frosty metal shattered； freeing him。 He still had the collar and manacles around his neck and limbs； but that could be dealt with later。
〃My thanks； wizard；〃 the draegloth said； then strode over to where Quenthel was in the process of freeing herself from the last of the black； sticky； resinlike substance that her hands had been encased in。
Quenthel stood in the center of the cell； naked but seemingly oblivious to it。
〃Do you make a habit of remaining maddeningly out of reach until the last possible moment； Mizzrym？〃 she said； scowling slightly。 〃You cut your arrival a bit close； didn't you？〃
Pharaun sighed inwardly； realizing that whatever gratitude had been present before had been replaced by the high priestess's usual haughty demeanor。
〃My pardon； please； Mistress Baenre；〃 he said in as gracious a tone as possible。 〃We dallied with some of the local maidens as long as we could before rushing here at the last moment。 I didn't think you would mind terribly much。〃
Ryld chuckled at the wizard's snide remark； while both Halisstra and Danifae gave him sharp looks； reminding him that the two members of House Melarn were unaccustomed to his disrespectful relationship with Quenthel。 The Mistress of the Academy merely scowled at him then turned away to face Faeryl； who cringed； still under Valas's guard。
〃Strip her and give her clothes to me；〃 Quenthel manded； eliciting a high…pitched squeak of protest from the ambassador。
Valas held the prisoner steady as Ryld stepped up to help him； and Halisstra jumped forward almost eagerly and began to disrobe Faeryl； who struggled to avoid the ignominious fate。
〃Just who are these two？〃 Quenthel snapped； eyeing Danifae。
The battle captive cocked her head to one side； eyeing the high priestess in return； as though gauging how much she should defer to this new leader。
〃I am Danifae Yauntyrr； Mistress Baenre； formerly of Eryndlyn。 I am Halisstra Melarns personal attendant。〃
〃A battle captive？〃 Quenthel smirked； and Danifae merely bowed her head。
Quickly enough； Faeryl stood naked in the midst of the group； still held between Valas and Ryld； while Quenthel donned the ambassador's clothing。 As the high priestess was dressing； she jerked her head in the direction of the collar； still chained to the wall where she'd been restrained only moments before。
〃Lock her up；〃 Quenthel manded。
〃No！〃 Faeryl protested； trying desperately to jerk free of her two captors。 As Valas； Halisstra； and Ryld all corralled her； the ambassador shrieked and began to fight against her captors。 〃No！ You can't leave me down here。 。。。〃
〃Shut up！〃 Quenthel said； slapping Faeryl。 〃You sniveling； wretched creature； did you really believe you could get away with your betrayal？ Did you honestly think you could defy me； a Baenre； and the Mistress of Arach…Tinilith？ By the Dark Mother； child； the depths of your foolishness surprise me！ Lock her up；〃 she repeated； gesturing once more at the thick adamantine collar。
〃No！〃 Faeryl protested again； struggling as she was hauled over to the wall。
The ambassador flailed and kicked； but the scout and warrior held her tightly as Halisstra fitted the collar around her neck。 When the adamantine band clicked shut； the imprisoned drow sobbed once； and as soon as the two males relinquished their grip on her； she began frantically jerking on the restraint。
Quenthel started to turn away； then paused。
〃You can redeem yourself； if you like；〃 she said to Faeryl。
〃How？〃 the frantic dark elf asked。 〃Anything！ I will do whatever you want。〃
〃Tell me where my things are；〃 Quenthel replied。 〃Tell me where all of my possessions were stored when I was brought here。〃
Faeryl's face fell in despair。
〃I don't know；〃 she sobbed； dropping to her knees in supplication。 〃Please don't leave me here。 I will find them for you。〃
〃Don't bother with her；〃 Halisstra said。 〃I know where your things are； Quenthel Baenre。〃
Quenthel turned and eyed the daughter of House Melarn。
〃Why should I trust you？〃 she asked。
〃That is for you to decide；〃 Halisstra answered； 〃but consider this 。。。 I led your males down here to find you； I lured the traitor out into the hall before she could kill you； and I live here and can find my way around。 While that would ordinarily be a strike against me； as I told the wizard； I have no quarrel with you； and I do not want to see you suffer the consequences for House Zauvirr's betrayal of my mother。〃
Quenthel's eyebrows raised as she listened to the other priestess's words； then she looked at Pharaun。
〃She speaks