〃That's not the only reason； Mistress。 There are 。。。 oddities there；〃 Valas said。 〃It's said to be a gateway of sorts to the Plane of Shadow。 Anyway； I know where the Lake of Shadows is； and I know of two different ways to reach it that are reasonably safe。〃
Finally； Quenthel thought then asked； 〃What are they？〃
〃The lake is connected to the surface by natural chimneys in the rock…that part of the Surface Realms that lies just above it is known for the bats that fly out of the holes in a cloud every night。 We could descend through one of the chimneys…but that would mean climbing up to the World Above again and traveling through the forest。〃
Quenthel considered that…briefly。 She wasn't about to subject herself to a cold； snowy trudge through bright sunlight again。
〃We're not going back to the surface；〃 she decided。
That's wise； Hsiv's voice breathed in her ear。 House Jaelre's warriors will still be looking for us。
〃We want to avoid House Jaelre's warriors；〃 Quenthel explained to Valas。 〃They either killed or captured Ryld Argith； the best warrior we had。 We don't want to lose anyone else。〃
Valas's eyes narrowed slightly； and Quenthel wondered if he was silently questioning her order。 To remind him or his place； she drew her whip…but held it by her side。
Ha！ K'Sothra chortled。 That pricked his pride。
Valas glanced at the vipers。
〃As you mand； Mistress；〃 he acquiesced。 〃We'll keep to the Underdark。 But that leaves only one other means of reaching the Lake of Shadows…and it's a dangerous one。〃
〃Go on；〃 Quenthel prompted。
〃There is an ancient portal that gives access to a lake。 It's a march of about four cycles from here； northward through a series of connecting tunnels and caverns。 The portal was constructed centuries ago； but I have heard from a reliable source that its magic is still active。 Reaching it； however； might prove difficult。〃
Quenthel nodded； unperturbed by Valas's grim tone。 Everything in life was difficult…only those who rose above difficulties were worthy of Lolth's favors。
〃We'll make for the portal；〃 she told the mercenary。 〃Pack your things； everyone。 We'll set out at once。〃
〃This portal；〃 Pharaun said slowly。 〃What makes it so difficult to reach？〃
〃It lies directly under the ruins of Myth Drannor。〃 Valas said nothing more； as if that was explanation enough。
〃Myth Drannor？〃 Pharaun groaned。 〃Not again。 I have no desire to stare down a beholder a second time。〃
〃We wouldn't be facing a beholder； this time；〃 Valas said。 〃Which is probably just as well； since we don't have our 'best warrior' here to dispatch it； like he did the last one。〃
〃What would we be facing？〃 Pharaun asked。
Valas muttered something too low for Quenthel to hear； but Pharaun's reply was loud enough for her ears to catch。
〃Too bad our spiders have lost their venom；〃 he said； glancing at Quenthel and Danifae。
Valas nodded gravely。
Furious at the deliberate slight； Quenthel drew her whip。 She snapped it； and the serpents hissed loudly； splattering venom on a stone floor that had been hastily vacated by Danifae。
〃You will address your answers to me；〃 she told Valas。 〃House Baenre has paid for your services； mercenary； not Sorcere。〃
〃I beg your pardon； Mistress；〃 he said； bowing deeply and addressing her in a suitably chastised voice。 〃Ah 。 。 。 what was your question？〃
Pharaun turned abruptly away； suddenly interested in placing his spellbooks back into his pack。
What creatures might we face？ Hsiv prompted。
Quiet！ Quenthel thought back。 I can ask my own questions。 Then； out loud； she added； 〃What will we have to fight； this time？〃
Rising from his bow； Valas met her eye。
〃Wraiths；〃 he said。 〃Dozens of them。〃
That made Quenthel pause。 Wraiths were dangerous creatures； shadowy； incorporeal。 Their slightest touch could drain a living creature's vitality in an instant； and even magical healing would not restore it。 Those drained entirely by wraiths became undead themselves； rising as twisted caricatures of their former selves to feed on their own kind。 Few ordinary drow had seen a wraith…let alone several dozen of the shadowy creatures…and survived to speak of it。
And that was what Quenthel had been reduced to after all； an ordinary drow。 Had Lolth not been silent； Quenthel could have used her magic to drive the creatures back from her； blowing them away like rags in a wind； but without it； she was as powerless against them as any other drow。 The thought of facing several of the creatures without being able to turn them made her shiver。
Then she reminded herself that the fate of the drow race hung in the balance。 She had to find the ship of chaos…it offered her the only chance she had to reach the Abyss and find out what had happened to Lolth。 And that meant reaching the Lake of Shadows。 Then； once Lolth restored her magic to the drow； Quenthel could return to Menzoberranzan in triumph。 She might； perhaps； even depose Triel and claim the throne of the most powerful House in the city。
Yes； Hsiv thought。 You were meant to rule。 You must succeed。
Ignoring him； Quenthel returned her attention to Valas。
〃Tell me more about the portal；〃 she ordered。 〃How do you know of it？〃
With a slight bow； Valas answered； 〃I heard about it from a rogue…an odd little fellow who hailed from Gracklstugh。 He learned of a vault under Myth Drannor that supposedly had treasure the surface elves left behind during their Retreat。 He found a way to get there through the Underdark； but the vault was empty…except for the wraiths。 They killed his four panions and nearly killed him too； but he escaped by leaping into a portal。 It led to a narrow ledge overlooking the Lake of Shadows。 Fortunately； he wore a ring that allowed him to levitate out of the cavern…otherwise he'd be there still。〃
Quenthel listened； nodding。
〃Did any of the wraiths follow him through the portal？〃 she asked。
〃No。 According to the rogue； it would admit only living creatures。〃
Quenthel thought a moment then asked； 〃Did he see anything that might have been the ship of chaos？〃
Valas shook his head and replied； 〃Nothing that he mentioned to me。 But the Lake of Shadows is wide…as large across as Lake Thoroot…and deep。 If the ship sank； there'd be nothing to see。〃
〃This rogue told you there were 'dozens' of wraiths？〃 she asked。
Valas nodded and said； 〃Those were his very words。〃
〃An exaggeration； no doubt。 What race was he？〃
Valas frowned。
〃The rogue？〃 he asked。 〃He claimed to be human； even though he was no taller than a duergar。〃
〃Humans；〃 Quenthel snorted。 〃A cowardly race。 There were probably less than half a dozen wraiths； all told。 With Pharaun's spells…and our magical weapons…we'll easily be able to fight our way through。〃
Valas opened his mouth…perhaps to protest that even half a dozen wraiths were too many…but he closed it a moment later。
Quenthel； meanwhile； took mental stock of the resources she had at hand。 Valas； whose speed and stealth would allow him to get behind the wraiths and dispatch them with his magical daggers。 Pharaun； with his arsenal of powerful protective spells。 Jeggred； who would protect Quenthel at any cost； hurling himself headlong at the wraiths； if the need arose。 And Danifae 。 。 。
Quenthel paused； considering。 What good was the battle…captive； really？ Oh； she groveled sweetly when threatened and gave pleasure readily enough； but Quenthel sometimes noticed a look in Danifae's eyes that she didn't like。 Not at all。
Still； Danifae was a petent enough fighter； when she had to be。 The morningstar she carried was no mere boy's weapon。 If it came to it； Danifae could be abandoned to the wraiths； if the need arose to sacrifice someone。 Truth be told； Quenthel would rather be rid of Pharaun…though she had to admit that his expertise with demons was going to e in handy； once the ship of chaos was finally located。
No； she'd have to make sure that Pharaun survived the encounter with the wraiths。 Which meant making sure that if Danifae's life was threatened； the mage didn't try to defend her。
〃We'll get by the wraiths；〃 Quenthel told the others。 〃We'll reach the portal。〃 Then； silently； so only the serpents could hear； she added； Or at the very least； some of us will。
Chapter Twenty…four
Gromph strode through one of the main corridors of Sorcere； followed closely by Kyorli； who scurried along behind him； and Prath； staggering under a load of spellbooks that Gromph had hastily assembled。 Since the duergar had been driven back from Tier Breche； and the tunnel sealed； most of the students were heeding the call of their respective Houses。 Apprentice mages ran this way and that down the corridor； arms laden with spellbooks and magical devices； bleating like a milling herd of rothe as walking chests scuttled along on spider legs behind them。
As he hurried along； Gromph held a circle of copper wire close to his lips。
〃Wizards of House Baenre；〃 he called； speaking through the enchanted wire。 〃Attend me at once in t