steel table。 He could see Prath's hands shaking as he gently； almost reluctantly； folded the leather straps around Gromph's right wrist。 He fastened the strap； but not nearly tight enough。
〃Tighter； boy；〃 the archmage growled。 〃Don't be squeamish； and don't be afraid you're going to hurt me。〃
Gromph allowed himself a laugh as his nephew tightened the strap then moved on to his right ankle。 Jaemas continued to chant the words of the spell as Prath finished strapping his uncle to the table at both wrists and both ankles。 When Gromph was satisfied that he was properly secured； he nodded to the Xorlarrin mage。
Odd； the Archmage of Menzoberranzan thought as Jaemas set Kyorli down on his bare chest。 If Lolth wished it； none of this would have been necessary； but whether she answers her priestesses' prayers or not； all of it would still be possible。
That thought brought a tentative peace to Gromph。 The knowledge…no； the certainty…of his power had always reassured him； and it did still。 It was that certainty that helped him breathe normally and remain still as he watched； from the rat's own eyes； Kyorli's meandering； reluctant march up his chest and onto his chin。 The rat paused and Gromph saw black fingertips…Jaemas's…descend over his left eye with a twisted bit of wire。 The Xorlarrin's touch was cool and dry on Gromph's eyelids。 The archmage held still while the Xorlarrin mage set the wires gently； carefully； to hold his eyelid open。 That was repeated on his right eye while Jaemas continued to chant； and Kyorli looked on with uncharacteristic patience。 The rat was slowly ing under the influence of the spell； and it was that magic that was focusing the rodent's attention on Gromph's eyes。
Though he could feel the wires holding his eyes open； Gromph； when he let his concentration fall away from his familiar； could see nothing。 There was not a hint of light or shadow； not a sliver of reflection。
Gromph took a deep； steadying breath and said； 〃Proceed。〃
His concentration off the rat and onto himself； Gromph couldn't see Kyorli crawl over his face； but he could feel every needle prick of her claws； could smell her musk； and could hear her sniffing。 A whisker slipped across one of Gromph's open eyes； and he flinched。 It stung。 His eyes might have been useless； but they could still register pain。
Well； thought Gromph； too bad for me。
The first bite sent a wave of burning agony blasting through the archmage's head。 Gromph's entire body tensed； and his teeth ground together。 He could feel the rat back off and could feel the blood slowly drip down the side of his face。 Jaemas continued to chant。 The pain didn't stop either。
〃Kyorli；〃 the archmage grunted。
The rat was hesitating。 Even under the influence of the spell； even offered the tasty morsel of a living…if sightless…eye； the rat knew that she was mutilating her own master； a master who had proven in the past to be anything but forgiving。
Gromph slipped his consciousness into his familiar's； and despite the one already ruined eye sending blood dripping down the side of his head； Gromph could see。 It was the same colorless； dull rat's vision； though。 He could see the bite the rat had already taken out of his right eye； could see the blood； could see himself shaking； could see the grim set of his jaw； and the open； helpless orb of his other blind eye awaiting the rodent's reluctant ministrations。
Gromph pelled the rat to finish her work。
Kyorli might have hesitated at the orders of Jaemas； but she responded to her master's invitation to feed without a second's pause。 For at least three bites； Gromph watched his own eye being chewed out of his head； then Kyorli's vision blurred as she plunged her head into the ruined orb to tear at the tender； blood…soaked bits inside。
The pain was unlike anything Gromph had ever imagined； and in his long； uneasy life； the Archmage of Menzoberranzan had imagined a lot。
〃Scream if you have to； Archmage；〃 his nephew whispered into his ear； barely audible over the sound of the feeding rat。 〃There is no shame in it。〃
Gromph grunted； trying to speak； but kept his jaw clamped shut。 The young apprentice had no idea what shame was； but even in his maddening agony； Gromph promised himself that his nephew would learn and that would be the last time Prath Baenre offered his uncle advice。
Gromph didn't scream； even when the rat moved on to the other eye。
Chapter Two
The demon steered them to the darkest part of the lake； and not one of the drow thought anything of it。 Bobbing at anchor in the deep gloom of the Lake of Shadows； the ship of chaos…Raashub's ship of chaos…stood out stark white against the inky darkness。 The water itself was a black matched only by the deep ebony of his drow master's skin。 The wizard； the one they called Pharaun； had found him； bound him； chained him to his own deck； and had done so with no humility； no respect； and no fear。 The thought of it made the wiry black hairs that dotted the demon's wrinkled gray flesh stand on end。 For a few moments； the demon stood reveling in the hatred he felt for that drow and his haughty kin。
The drow had been gating in one servile； simpering； weak…willed mane after another。 The damned souls of petty sinners were food in the Abyss； and they were food for the ship of chaos。 The uridezu took note of the number of manes the drow wizard brought in at any given time in hopes of gauging the dark elf's power。 If it was an exact science； the gating in of lesser demons； Raashub didn't know its finer points； but so many of them were ing through there could be no doubt that the drow was skilled。 Raashub wasn't helping the drow and was happy to let them not only feed his ship but exhaust their spells； efforts； and attention in the process。 The presence of all those wailing； miserable demons must have clouded the drow priestess's senses enough that at times Raashub could push the boundaries of his captivity。
A rat's primitive consciousness intruded on his own； and Raashub sent only the tiniest hint of a glance its way。 He'd been calling them； subtly； for two days…ever since the drow had first e aboard。 The rodents swam the surface of the Lake of Shadows； and they inhabited the spaces between decks and under steps on the ship of chaos the same way rats everywhere swam； hid； and survived。 Raashub； an uridezu； was as much rat as anything else a mundane prime could understand； and he knew the rats of the Underdark as he knew rats in every corner of the endless planes。
The rodent responded to Raashub's glance with a silent twitch of its whiskers； a gesture the uridezu felt more than saw。 It scurried behind the thick base of the main mast and crept cautiously toward the draegloth。
They called the half…breed Jeggred。 As draegloths went he was an average specimen。 If Raashub were stupid enough to engage him； the draegloth would win a one…on…one fight； but the uridezu would never be that stupid。 He would never be as stupid as the draegloth。
The rat didn't want to bite the half…demon； and Raashub had to silently insist。 It was a gamble； but the uridezu didn't mind the odd risk for the odder reward。 His psychic urging drew the attention of one of the female drow again； though； and the uridezu backed off； looking away before they made eye contact。 All of the drow deferred； if grudgingly； to the female named Quenthel； who was apparently some high priestess of the drow spider…bitch Lolth。 That one was as conceited and as unworthy of that conceit as the rest of them； but she was sensitive。 Raashub worried that she could actually hear him when he didn't want her to。
Darting in fast； the rat nipped at the draegloth's ankle。 The half…demon swatted it away with a grunt； and the tiny rodent flew through the air； out into the darkness。 The splash was almost too far away to hear。 The draegloth； whose skin was unmarred by the puny creature's teeth； locked his eyes on Raashub's and glared at him。
The draegloth had been doing little the past two days but glare at him。
Annoying little vermin； Raashub sent into the draegloth's mind； aren't they； Jeggred？
The draegloth blew a short； vile…smelling breath out of his nostrils and his lips peeled slowly back to reveal fangs…rows of dagger blades as sharp as razors and as piercing as needles。 The half…demon hissed his anger； and boiling spittle sizzled on his lips。
Pretty； Raashub taunted。
The draegloth's eyes narrowed in confusion。 Raashub allowed himself to laugh。
The high priestess turned and looked at them both。 Again； Raashub avoided eye contact。 He moved his foot enough to let the chain that bound him rattle against the single dragon bone that prised most of the deck of his ship。 Above him； the tattered sails of human skin hung limp in the still air。 The demon heard Jeggred turn。 Raashub liked the game…they were both caught by a sternly disapproving mother in their boyish mischief。
Quenthel looked away； and Jeggred locked his eyes on Raashub again。 The uridezu didn't bother taunting him anymore that day。 It was being boring。 Instead； the demon contented himself with standing quietly