ing； melancholy mouth and passed between two rune…carved pillars to step two hundred miles to the northwest shore of Lake Thalmiir； an easy walk to Sschindylryn。
Valas knew he wasn't the only one who'd used it。
A crystal normally hung on his vest…an enchanted garment that gave Valas much of his nimble footing and lightning reaction…with many other magical trinkets he'd picked up over a lifetime in the wilds of the Underdark。 Through that crystal the scout could see that which others couldn't…most things rendered invisible by magic either sorcerous or innate。
Valas slowly and carefully scanned the base of the great face； then to the left along the still pool of black water that bisected the round floor of the cavern。 There was a cave low in the sloping wall across from him and a smaller one…another lava tube of similar dimensions to the one Valas had e through…higher up and to the right。 The scout began to scan the roof of the ruined monastery when he heard Danifae all but stomping through the tunnel behind him。
Valas didn't stop his slow； methodical examination of the structure。
He knew chat Danifae would walk past him； their shoulders close to touching； and she would never see him。 He had told her to wait； and if she disregarded his warning it was her choice。
Let her stomp on in； he thought。 Let her…
Valas froze when the crystal revealed the tip of what could only be a talon resting on the top of the monastery。 Holding his breath； the Bregan D'aerthe scout drew his head back half an inch and played the crystal； still held close to his left eye； along the domed roof of the ancient face。
The creature that rested atop the ruin wasn't too big； at least not as far as dragons go。 No taller than Valas himself； with a wingspan maybe twice that； the beast was coiled fortably but alert atop the dome。 Though the crystal tended to bleed any color from the scene； Valas knew the monster was as gray in color as it appeared to him through the magic item。 Even through the crystal it seemed undefined； blurred as if it had been painted onto the giant face in watercolors。
That's how you hide； Valas thought。 You blend into the darkness。
Danifae passed him and strode uncaring to the mouth of the lava tube。 She stood for a moment； one hand resting casually on the rock wall； gazing out into the cavern。 Valas could tell she hadn't seen the dragon on the top of the face； but a last quick glimpse through the crystal showed him that the dragon had seen her。 It slowly uncoiled itself； drawing up its wings。
Valas slipped into the cavern； relying in no small part on his own training and experience but not too proud to call on the power of an enchanted ring to speed his way。 Mithral chain mail hushed any sound he might make as he moved； and it helped his toes find safe； quiet footing。 Keeping always in shadow； always without the slightest scrape of sole on stone； without the faintest reflection of stray light on metal； Valas came down the incline from the mouth of the lava tube and along the bowl…shaped edge of the huge space to the yawning black cave across。
He risked the occasional glance up at the creature； whose outline he could only barely discern in the gloom high up in the cavern…and only then because he knew it was there。 Valas also risked a glance or two back at Danifae； who was slowly； and with surprising grace； making her way down into the bowl of the cavern。 She looked all around but not up。 Her eyes never rested on either Valas or the stone…gray dragon。
Danifae walked slowly toward the edge of the pool as Valas drew the shortbow from his back。 He nocked an arrow and drew back the string。
The female was all but offering herself on a silver platter to the beast； and though Valas ached to allow her to see her folly through； he worried about Quenthel。 The high priestess seemed to have taken a liking to the Melarn battle…captive； stealing her away without a thought from the female from Ched Nasad。 Valas didn't want to find out the hard way that he'd let the battle…captive die when Quenthel had plans for Danifae beyond their occasional loveplay。
〃Valas？〃 the female called into the dark； still cavern。
Her voice echoed； Valas cringed； and the dragon took wing。
Nimor Imphraezl watched from above as the duergar engaged the spiders。 Drow warriors…all male…rode the enormous arachnids into battle。 The spiders skittered and whirled around them while the riders sat stiff and straight in their saddles。 The mounted drow carried long pikes…weapons the duergar were unaccustomed to； as rare as the long weapons were in the confines of the Underdark…and they skewered one after another before the gray dwarves drew any dark elf blood。
The spider riders were hopelessly outnumbered by the horde of duergar who continued to lay siege to the slowly crumbling city of Menzoberranzan； and Nimor was content to lose a few gray dwarves for the chance to watch the drow fight。 They were good； he would grant them that。 The spiders killed as many duergar as the pikes did； but the beasts were never out of their riders' control。 All in all it was a beautiful； bloody dance。
In the center of the spider riders a mounted drow male wearing armor of the finest mithral positively glowed with magic。 He carried a pike like the others but hadn't brought his to bear。 He held it up； and from it a long； thin banner wafted in the cool Underdark air。 It took Nimor a minute or so to recognize the sigil emblazoned on the banner。 The riders represented House Shobalar…a lesser House； but one loyal to the Baenres and known throughout the drow…settled Underdark for their effective and impeccably trained cavalry。 The dark elf with the banner must be their leader。
One of the riders took two duergar at once； pinning them together then using their weight at the end of his pike to topple three more of their panions onto the flowstone floor。 Nimor smiled。
He had e to that particular tunnel after hearing three separate times of unusual activity there。 The duergar had managed to kill a Menzoberranyr scout only a day before； and even the gruff gray dwarves had admitted that other drow had been there and gotten away。 It wasn't the most well defended approach； and Nimor had been keeping an eye on it； certain the Menzoberranyr would be testing it。
When the scout was killed； Nimor had Crown Prince Horgar send reinforcements； but only a few。 Enough； Nimor hoped； to satisfy the drow but not enough to close the approach。 Nimor wanted to draw them out； and like the arrogant aristocrats they were； they'd taken the bait。
Nimor hung upside down； hidden by a spell of invisibility； his piwafwi； another spell that prevented anyone using similar magic from finding him； and another that would draw enemies' attention away even if they thought to look up at him。 Those things and the immediate threat of the duergar soldiers were enough that he could wait and watch in peace…wait and watch for the spider rider captain to send his arachnid mount scurrying into the fray； scurrying right under Nimor。
With a touch to a brooch that bore the sign of the Jaezred Chaulssin； Nimor dropped slowly； still hidden from sight by magic。 As he descended； Nimor drew his dagger…a very special dagger…and when he came to rest on the spider； inches behind the cavalry leader； he flicked the blade across the back of the drow warrior's neck。 There was a perfect space there between his helm and his pauldron。
The spider rider flinched and turned in his saddle。 Nimor； still invisible； grabbed the drow around his neck and held the poisoned blade to his throat。
The spider rider couldn't see him； but he could hear Nimor whisper in his ear； 〃What is your name； Shobalar？〃
〃Who are you？〃 the warrior asked； and Nimor cut him again…not too deeply…in response。
The drow grunted； and Nimor could feel his body stiffen； jerk； and quiver。
〃Yes；〃 Nimor hissed into the slowly dying officer's ear； 〃it is poison。 Very； very elegant poison。 It will paralyze you； twist your throat closed； squeeze the last gasp of air from your lungs； and keep you from screaming while you suffocate。〃
The drow growled and said； his voice already quiet and tight； 〃My House will avenge me。〃
〃Your House will burn； Captain 。 。 。 ？〃
〃Vilto'sat Shobalar；〃 the drow answered even as his throat squeezed shut； 〃of the Spider Riders of House Sh…〃
Smiling all the while； Nimor held the dying drow upright in his saddle as he suffocated。 The Anointed Blade of the Jaezred Chaulssin waited until Captain Vilto'sat Shobalar quivered through his last attempt at a breath and his magenta eyes glazed over。 Then Nimor levitated up and away from the suddenly uncontrolled； feral war…spider。
The arachnid went berserk； chewing through duergar after duergar then turning on another of its kind。 The rider of that spider turned his attention to protecting his mount from the wild arachnid…just long enough for a particularly enthusiastic duergar footman to take his head with a poleaxe。
Nimor killed eight more drow himself over the next ten minutes or so； while the duergar claimed three。 The rest f