creature。 As the little incendiary devices struck the arachnid； they burst into flame； and the colossal spider reared up as it began to burn； looking to eliminate the source of the pain。
More of the clay pots were cast down； several of them striking the spider on the head and abdomen。 Rising up on its hind legs； the spider attempted to reach the duergar； but they were too high overhead。 The spider spun in place； turning its back on its attackers； and fired a thick stream of fluid in their direction。
〃Webbing；〃 Pharaun noted aloud； impressed。
The stream of webbing sailed accurately； attaching to the underside of the web street； hardening as it did so。 The spider turned and began to scamper up the strand of sticky filament； pursuing the gray dwarves； who were desperately clambering to get out of the way。
〃The fools；〃 Ryld said。 〃They just managed to get its attention focused on them。 Fortunate for us； though。〃
〃Enough；〃 Quenthel said。 〃We still need to get our belongings from the inn and leave this wretched city。〃
Pharaun turned to gaze at the high priestess； knowing full well that his expression was one of dumbfounded amazement。
〃You can't be serious！ Look around；〃 he said； gesturing out toward other parts of the city； where the distant glows of more and more fires were visible through the ever…thickening smoke。 〃The whole city is in turmoil。
〃Use your ears；〃 he continued； gesturing in a different direction； where the screams of the fighting and dying echoed off the walls of the huge cavern。 〃We're running out of time。 I'm sure the whole city is choosing sides and taking the battle to the streets； and yet you want to tempt fate by trying to go after more of your trinkets？ I think…〃
〃Listen to me； boy〃 Quenthel spat； her face livid。 〃We just went through this with your warrior friend。 You will do as I say； or you will be left here to die。 If you've forgotten who I am； allow me to remind you that I am High Priestess Quenthel Baenre； Mistress of Arach…Tinilith； Mistress of the Academy； Mistress of Tier Breche； First Sister of House Baenre of Menzoberranzan； and I will no longer tolerate your snide remarks and your haughty insubordination。 Do you understand？〃
As if to back up her words； Jeggred stepped forward and with a menacing growl took hold of the collar of Pharaun's piwafwi； bunching it up in his clawed fist。
The wizard glanced over to Ryld； who still looked weakened from his fight with the spider。 Nonetheless； he had his hand on the hilt of Splitter and was stepping forward； ready to e between the drae…gloth and the mage。 But Pharaun could tell by the warriors expression that he was trying to determine just how badly he really wanted to choose sides at this juncture。
Jeggred whipped his head around and snarled； 〃Don't even think about it； weapons master。 I will tear out your stomach and feast upon it if you interfere。〃
Ryld's expression tightened as he took offense at the draegloth's threats； but Pharaun gave a quick； subtle shake of his head to warn the warrior off。
〃Mistress Quenthel； since you are so passionate about recovering your valuables；〃 Pharaun said； trying to make his voice sound jovial； 〃then let's make haste； before the opportunity is wasted。〃
Quenthel smiled； obviously pleased at having successfully asserted herself and regained the upper hand。
〃I knew you would appreciate the importance of my decision；〃 she replied； turning away。
〃So； wizard； how do you propose we cross over to the Flame and Serpent？〃 she asked； appraising the devastation alongside Pharaun。 〃What magic do you still have up your sleeve that can get us there quickly and safely？〃
〃None； Mistress Baenre；〃 Pharaun replied in all seriousness。 〃I have consumed over half of my magic for the day； and I'm not even certain how we'll get out of the city。〃
〃That's not good enough； Mizzrym。〃
〃I have a counter…suggestion；〃 the mage said； pursing his lips。 〃Let me go get the goods while you and the rest of the group wait here and rest。 It's out of the way； fairly easily defended； and I can find you again when I e back。 I have a spell to get me to the inn and back quickly； I just can't take all of you with me。〃
Quenthel scowled； thinking； and Pharaun wondered if； as often as she frowned so severely； the high priestess even realized she was making such a face。
〃Very well；〃 Quenthel said at last； nodding。 〃Do not dawdle。〃
〃Oh； I don't intend to。 The less chance there is of large chunks of this doomed city falling atop me； the better off I'll feel。〃
Quenthel turned and explained the plan to the rest of the group。 Everyone nodded in agreement； ready for a respite。
Ryld pulled Pharaun aside and asked； 〃You are ing back； aren't you？〃
Pharaun cocked an eyebrow and replied； 〃Besides having a fondness for you； my brooding weapons master； I still truly desire to get to the bottom of this mystery。 My chances are better with you all than without。〃
Ryld looked at him for a long time before nodding。
〃Be careful；〃 he said； turning to find a seat against a wall of the alley； his crossbow out。
〃How do you intend to cross the city？〃 Halisstra asked。
Her face was drawn and tired。 Still； her eyes glittered red； as with some new determination。
〃I have a spell of flying that I can use to get there and back again fairly quickly；〃 Pharaun answered。 〃Unfortunately； I would be much better off if I were not visible； but I have already played that particular trick today。〃
〃Maybe I can help；〃 the daughter of what once was House Melarn said。 〃Mistress Quenthel； that wand you just confiscated from me would serve us well； with your approval。〃
〃What is it？〃 the high priestess asked； seemingly pleased by the deference shown her。
〃A spell that will render him invisible； even should he attack a foe；〃 Halisstra replied。 〃I assure you； it will not harm him。〃
Quenthel scowled and looked at Pharaun for some sort of confirmation。 The wizard nodded。 He still believed the two females newly added to the group were trustworthy； and they certainly wouldn't be in much of a position to turn on the rest of them now。
〃Very well；〃 Quenthel said。
She produced the wand and passed it back to the other female。 Halisstra took it； offering her thanks to the high priestess。 She targeted her wand at Pharaun。
〃Wait；〃 the wizard said。
He produced a feather from inside his piwafwi。 Using the feather as part of the casting； he enchanted himself with the ability to fly。
Tucking the feather back into its customary pocket； he turned to the priestess and said； 〃All right； go ahead。 It's always easier to cast when you can see your own hands。〃
She smiled faintly and nodded； then summoned the magical energy from the wand。 In but a moment； Pharaun was totally invisible。 Halisstra offered the wand back to Quenthel。
〃No；〃 the high priestess said； shaking her head。 〃You can keep it。 I think you learned your lesson。〃
〃Yes； Mistress；〃 Halisstra said with a smile that did not reach her eyes。 She tucked the wand away and went to sit down once more； beside Danifae。
〃I'll be back shortly；〃 Pharaun said。
He rose into the air before anyone could think to reply。
***
Danifae watched as the wizard disappeared； and she sensed when he departed the alley。 Shaking her head； she sat back and watched the weapons master and the scout； both of whom paced； apparently eager to be away from there。
This is a strange lot I've wound up with； she decided。 They are petent； and yet they bicker and argue unlike any group of dark elves I've ever seen。
The battle captive looked over at Quenthel； who was speaking quietly with the draegloth； Jeggred。
She's certainly an interesting one； Danifae decided。
It wasn't the first time she'd encountered a female like the high priestess…confident yet blustering at everything and everyone。
Still； Danifae thought； letting her eyes linger appreciatively over Quenthels form； she's a fit leader。
Danifae turned her thoughts Halisstra。 The First Daughter of House Melarn looked visibly shaken at the physical loss of her home； even though Ssipriina had already wrested possession of it from her。 Danifae wondered how her mistress would hold up under that kind of duress。 Certainly； there was no lamenting the destruction of House Melarn on her own part； but Danifae could imagine how it would feel if her own family had been wiped out in such a fashion。 House Yauntyrr might well have been destroyed； for all she knew。 It had been far too long since she'd last seen it。 She didn't even know the fate of Eryndlyn itself in the current crisis； much less her own House。
〃Let us e with you；〃 Halisstra said to Quenthel。 〃Let us help you find the priest of Vhaeraun。〃
Danifae looked at her mistress sharply。
〃What makes you think we're going to try to find the scout's friend？〃 Quenthel asked。
〃I…I beg forgiveness； Mistress Baenre；〃 Halisstra stammered。 〃I merely assumed…〃
〃Assumptions are best left to that miserable wretch； Pharaun；〃 Quenthel warned。