d spell； a hard spell； a rare spell； and one that only a handful of drow knew。 Jaemas had been chosen carefully； after all。
As the cadence rose and fell； the words repeating then turning upon themselves； the Xorlarrin mage stepped closer still to the shaking； terrified captive。 He held the spoon in a delicate grip； like an artist holds his brush。 With his other hand； Jaemas held the prisoner's left eye open wide。 It wasn't until the shining silver spoon was an inch from the boy's eye that the captive seemed to understand what was about to happen。
He screamed。
When the sharp edge of the spoon slipped up under his eyelid； he screamed louder。
When Jaemas； in one deft； fluid motion； scooped the eye from its socket； he screamed louder still。
When the eye fell with a soft； wet sound into the bowl that Prath held under the prisoner's chin； he shrieked。
Seen through the rat's eyes； the blood that poured from the empty socket looked black。 Jaemas held open the prisoner's right eye and the young drow started to beg。 All the while； the Master of Sorcere continued his incantation； not missing a beat； not missing a syllable； when he slid the spoon under the right eyelid； the boy began to pray。
When the eye came out； all the traitor could do was shake； mouth open wide； cords showing in his neck； blood flooding over his face。
Gromph had a fleeting thought of telling the prisoner； paralyzed with agony and horror； that at least the last thing he saw was a drow face and the simple line of a silver spoon。 The next thing Gromph would see might drive even the archmage mad。
Gromph； of course； said nothing。
Through Kyorli's eyes； Gromph saw Jaemas slip the silver spoon into the bowl； careful not to cut either of the fragile orbs。 The Xorlarrin mage； still incanting； took the rat from his master's hands； and Gromph's vision reeled。 He heard Prath set the bowl gently on the floor； and Jaemas turned the rat so that Gromph could see himself lying on his back on the cold 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 s