odd whirring sound fluttered through the air。 Without even thinking about it； Halisstra threw herself flat on the ground…she knew the sound too well。
Two small quarrels flew past her； one sinking into a nearby tree trunk； the other glancing from her armored sleeve。 Halisstra rolled behind the tree and quickly sang a spell of invisibility； hoping to throw off her assailants' aim； when she happened to glance again at the bolt。 It was small and black； with red fletching； the bolt of a drow hand crossbow。
Several stealthy attackers moved closer through the wood； their presence indicated only by the occasional rustle of leaves on the ground or a low signaling whistle。 Halisstra carefully stood； still hiding behind the tree。
In a low voice she called； 〃Hold your fire。 I killed the Eilistraeen priestess who carried these arms。 I serve the Spider Queen。〃
Her voice carried the hint of a bae'qeshel song that gave her words an undeniable sincerity。
Several drow stalked closer； their feet rustling softly in the underbrush。 Halisstra caught sight of them； furtive males in green and black who prowled through the moonlit forest like panthers。 They peered into the darkness； searching for her； but her spell concealed her well enough。
She set her hand to the hilt of Seyll's sword and shifted slightly to ready her shield in case they found a way to defeat her invisibility。
One of the drow in front of her paused a moment and replied； 〃We've been looking for you。〃
〃Looking for me？〃 Halisstra said。 〃I seek an audience with Tzirik。 Can you take me to him？〃
The Jaelre warriors halted。 Their fingers flashed quickly； signing to each other。 After a moment； the warrior who had spoken straightened and lowered his crossbow。
〃Your pany of spider…kissers came to Minauthkeep three days ago；〃 he said。 〃You were separated from them？〃
Hoping that Quenthel and the others had done nothing to make enemies of the Jaelre； Halisstra decided to answer honestly。
〃Yes；〃 she said。
〃Very well； then；〃 the stranger replied。 〃High Priest Tzirik ordered us to find you； so we'll take you back。 Why； and what bees of you there； is up to him。〃
Halisstra allowed her invisibility to fade； and nodded。 The Jaelre drow fell in around her and set off at a quick pace toward the south； following the stream。 She might have had no idea where she was； but the Jaelre seemed to know the woods well enough。 In less than an hour； they came to a ruined keep； its white walls gleaming in the moonlight。 The stream passed a stone's throw from the fortress。
I had the right stream； Halisstra noted with some surprise。
She'd kept her course for two nights and veered only a couple of miles too far to her right； it seemed。 She thought about what would have happened if she'd crossed the stream and continued。 The thought made her shiver。
The Jaelre scouts led Halisstra into the ruined keep； past watchful guards who crouched in hidden places and kept an eye on the forest all around。 She discovered that the place was in much better repair than it seemed from outside。 Her guards escorted her to a modest hall whose only furnishings were a large fire and an array of hunting trophies； mostly surface creatures Halisstra did not recognize。 She waited for a long time； growing hungrier and thirstier； but eventually a short； solidly built male of middle years appeared； his face covered in a ceremonial black veil。
〃Lucky me；〃 he said in a rich voice。 〃Twice in three days servants of the Spider Queen have called upon my home and asked for me by name。 I begin to wonder if Lolth wishes me to reconsider my devotion to the Masked Lord。〃
〃You are Tzirik？〃 Halisstra asked。
〃I am he；〃 the priest said； folding his arms and studying her。 〃And you must be Halisstra。〃
〃I am Halisstra Melarn； First Daughter of House Melarn； Second House of Ched Nasad。 I understand that my panions are here。〃
〃Indeed they are；〃 Tzirik said。 He offered a cold smile。 〃One thing at a time； though。 I see you wear the arms of a priestess of Eilistraee。 How did you e by them？〃
〃As I told your warriors； my pany was attacked by surface elves some distance away from here five days ago。 My panions escaped the attack； but I was captured and taken to a place called Elventree。 There； a female who called herself Seyll Auzkovyn called on me in my cell； and sought to indoctrinate me in the ways of Eilistraee。〃
〃A rather simpleminded notion；〃 Tzirik observed。 〃Continue； please。〃
〃I allowed her to believe I might be swayed；〃 Halisstra said。 〃She offered to take me to a rite they were to hold two nights ago out in the forest。 I found an opportunity to escape as we traveled to their ceremony。〃
She glanced down at the mail and weapons she wore。 The naivete of the female still surprised Halisstra。 Seyll had not seemed like a stupid drow； not by any stretch of the imagination； and yet she had fatally misjudged Halisstra。
〃In any event；〃 she finished； 〃I took the liberty of borrowing some things Seyll had no more use for； since the good people of Elventree confiscated my own weapons and armor。〃
〃And now you would like to be reunited with your rades？〃
〃Provided they're not dead or imprisoned； yes；〃 she replied。
〃Nothing like that；〃 said the priest。 〃They asked me to provide an unusual service for them； so I thought of something they could do for me by way of pensation for my time and trouble。 If they succeed； they should return in a day or two。 The question is； will you be here to greet them？〃
Halisstra narrowed her eyes and remained silent。 The high priest paced over by the fire and took a poker from a stand by the hearth。 He prodded at the crackling logs。
〃The rades who abandoned you to captivity among the surface folk told me a very unusual story；〃 said the priest。 〃Doubtless you're thinking to yourself； 'How can I know how much they told Tzirik？' You can't； of course； so the wisest thing to do would be to tell me everything。〃
〃My panions may not appreciate that when they return；〃 Halisstra said。
〃Your panions will never know you were here if you fail to satisfy my curiosity； Mistress Melarn；〃 Tzirik said。 He set down the poker； and lowered himself into a seat by the fire。 〃Now； why don't you start at the beginning？〃
Ryld crouched in the thick embrace of a deadly； acidic fog； trying hard not to draw breath despite the fact that he panted for air。 His skin burned as if liquid fire had been poured over his body； and ugly welts were already rising wherever his ebon skin was exposed to the air。 To stay where he was invited nothing less than a slow； agonizing death； but the vapors clung to his limbs like soft white hands； impeding his every movement。 The cursed beholder lurked somewhere in the chamber； but where？
A brilliant bolt of lightning illuminated the white murk； lashing out with a dozen crackling arcs as it plowed through the mist。 The weapons master threw himself aside and fell slowly to the floor； cushioned by the clinging mists； as a mighty thunderclap shook the stones of the chamber and rattled his teeth in his head。
〃Pharaun！〃 he shouted。 〃Where is the damned…？〃
He instantly regretted speaking； as needles of hot pain filled his nose and throat。
〃Against the east wall！〃 the wizard replied from some distance away。
The Master of Sorcere fell at once into another spell； rushing his words as he tried to cast as quickly as possible。 Meanwhile the beholder mage droned its horrid spell…song； muttering the black words of half a dozen incantations at once。 Lightning flashed again； followed by the whining shrieks of conjured missiles arrowing for their targets； and the cries； shouts； and curses of his panions。
Ryld finally reached the floor； where he found himself fetched up against one curving stone wall…the only landmark he could make out in the horrible mist。 Without pausing for thought； he scrabbled forward at the best speed he could； hoping to emerge from the acidic fog before it burned the flesh from his face。
Goddess； what a mess！ he thought； slashing and cleaving at the thick tend