〃I don't think I've ever seen such a thing；〃 Valas breathed。 〃The gall those subcreatures have is truly bewildering。〃
〃Lets put a stop to this；〃 Ryld said； taking a step forward。
Suddenly； Pharaun was aware of magic around him； an effect that seemed to be centered on him and his two panions。 He reached out and put a hand on the warrior's arm。
〃Wait；〃 he said。 〃Lets see what happens。〃
When Ryld looked at the wizard quizzically； he continued； 〃Drawing attention to ourselves is not the best way to investigate。 Besides；〃 the mage added； 〃We might see once and for all if our theory is correct。 This might be the proof we need。〃
The wizard flashed in sign language； I think someone is watching us； observing us magically。
Both Ryld and Valas raised eyebrows in concern； but before they could turn and look around； Pharaun cautioned； Don't draw attention to the fact that we know。 Just pretend we're watching the spectacle。
Pharaun briefly considered dispelling the magic； but he discounted the idea because he knew It would only give their spy notification that they were aware of his or her presence。 Instead； he pretended to turn his attention back to the brewing fight below while in actuality scanning the plaza for signs of someone looking at him rather than at the hobgoblins。 There were a great many magical auras radiating from many different individuals； but no one； as far as the wizard could observe； seemed to be staring in his direction。
The hobgoblins seemed content for the moment to keep their distance； though they were increasingly pressed from behind by a gathering crowd。 For her part； the priestess seemed to have lost interest in her detractors and was standing relatively still； her eyes closed； swaying slightly。 She was mumbling something； but Pharaun again could not make it out。
Well； spy or no spy； he thought； I want to know what she's saying。
He reached into one of his many pockets and produced a tiny brass horn； with which he cast a spell。 When the magic was plete； the wizard could hear the priestess's mutterings as though he were standing right in front of her。
“…beseech thee； our Mistress Lolth； return to me。 Give me your blessings。 Do not abandon me when I am your loyal an…aieee！〃
One of the hobgoblins had chosen that moment to prod the drow with a sharpened stick； and she shrieked as she jumped； losing her grip on the bottle of spirits。 It fell to the calcified pavement and shattered； spilling only the trickle that remained。
〃Damn you； thrall！〃 she screamed at the hobgoblin that had molested her； attempting to stalk forward； her hand outstretched as though she were going to throttle him。
A second hobgoblin casually reached out with his own short spear and tripped the priestess； who went sprawling。
She rose to her hands and knees and began shouting； 〃My goddess； e to me； aid me！ Do not abandon me； your loyal servant； who will obey…〃
〃Your goddess is dead；〃 the first hobgoblin snarled； kicking the drow。
She grunted from the impact and toppled to the side； clutching for her scourge。
〃No！〃 she shrieked。 〃Lolth would not abandon us！ She is mighty； and her faithful are mighty！〃
The four hobgoblins advanced together； and the drow priestess tried to kick at them； but the creature in the lead easily sidestepped the attack and jabbed down at her with his spear。 Pharaun saw the point draw blood from the dark elf priestess's thigh。
Ryld snarled and flashed； This is not right。 We should do something。
Valas nodded in agreement and produced his two kukris； one curved dagger in each hand。
The mage laid a hand on each drow's shoulder to slow them。
You only put our mission in danger； he signed。 As you can see； no other drow move to help her。
He gestured down into the crowd； where several other dark elves were in attendance； observing dispassionately。
She has lost her faith and deserves no less； Pharaun admonished his panions。
It is not the priestess I am worried about； Ryld replied； a sullen look on his face； but to allow those vermin to believe they can so blatantly confront a superior being spells trouble for us all。 They should be put in their place。
Perhaps； Pharaun responded； but we need anonymity if we are to finish our task。 Confronting those beasts does nothing to further our own goals。
The wizard is right； Valas motioned； sagging back from the edge of the colonnade。 If the matron mothers hear that three outsiders inter…fered in what may very well be one of their own plots； we will no longer be able to walk this city unhindered and unobserved。
If they're not already watching us； Ryld flashed。 Are we still being off served？ When Pharaun nodded yes； the warrior continued； We've got the proof we sought； anyway。 Let's return to the inn。 I no longer have the stomach for this city。
Pharaun nodded； though he did not share his friend's sentiment。 Together； they turned and strolled back the way they had e； ignoring the screams of the priestess as the hobgoblins opened her a hundred times with quick； controlled thrusts of their short spears。 After a few steps； the magical scrying vanished； and Pharaun cast his gaze around once more； hoping to find the source。 He did not； and the three of them departed the plaza。
Behind them； the crowd that had gathered around the confrontation stirred and grew rowdy。 Several other drow in the throng found themselves pushed and prodded as they tried to extricate themselves from the roiling multitudes。 The other races were growing bold after witnessing the murder of a dark elf。 Shouts rose up； curses to drow and their missing goddess。 Finally； the handful of dark elves scrambled free； cither rising up above the aggressors around them； or pushing through to more open streets。 The mood was turning ugly in Ched Nasad。
SIX
Aliisza； disguised as a lovely drow female； perched on the roof of a quaint shop that stood along the side of a street leading to the plaza； and she watched the ings and goings of the citizens； slaves； and visitors of Ched Nasad。 The store offered fashionable； decorative silk wraps and other clothing； but the fiend crouching on Its rounded； co…coonlike roof was not interested in making a purchase。 Instead； she watched intently as Pharaun and the other two drow males turned away from the slaughter of one of their own race and strolled calmly in the other direction。 She observed them as they disappeared down one of the calcified webs that served as a street in the unusual city。 When they were almost out of sight； she hopped down from her van…Sage point and strode off after them。
Aliisza was not terribly surprised that the three dark elves she was shadowing had not aided the drunken priestess。 She had seen far too much nonchalance in the city since she had arrived for it to strike her as odd。 Still； she got the distinct impression that the entire group from Menzoberranzan was making a great effort to avoid drawing attention to itself。 She intended to find out why； but first things first。
The alu could not help but smile as she made her way along the streets； following the wizard and his panions while pretending to shop for trinkets in the bazaars and markets。 She studied the myriad lines of calcified webs that stretched across from one side of the massive cavern to the other； glowing faintly with magical； flickering light as far as the eye could see。 She half expected to see some great； lumbering spider making its way across the vast webbing。
They sure do love their spider motifs； she thought wryly。 Everything they do revolves around the great Lolth； Queen of the Spiders。 You'd think they would learn to diversify a little bit； try to bee a little more well…rounded。
She grinned at her own little joke。 Drow were such odd creatures； she decided。 On the one hand so deceitful and chaotic； always turning on one another； but on the other hand trying to live their lives by some code or structure； based on the tenets of faith set down by a demon who was as unpredictable as could possibly be。
At least they universally agree on one thing； the alu concluded； they all think they're superior to every other species in the Underdark； and on the surface； too。
Aliisza watched as a gaggle of kobold slaves； pushed along by their hobgoblin slavemasters； scurried from one web street down a sloped ramp to the next web street below。 All in all； she had seen more species of creature in Ched Nasad than she could imagine being gathered anywhere else。 The 〃lesser races〃 outnumbered the drow by two to one； she figured； and included surface dwarves； ores； quaggoths； bugbears； and others； almost all of them slaves。 The one possible exception to this was the gray dwarves； who traded honestly enough with the drow that they were tolerated in the city as merchants。 In addition； Aliisza had seen an aboleth with its host of caretakers； illithids； grell； and what she suspected must be a deep dragon； for though it too was disguised as a dark elf； she detected the unmistakable scent as it strolled by。
The one notable exception to the eclectic collection of visitors were the beholders； for which Aliisza was not in the least sorry。
There's a race that's even more fond of itself than the dark elves； if that's even possible； the alu thought。
Eye tyrants were nothing but trouble as far as Aliisza was concerned； but fortunately they were in a perpetual state of war with the drow； so none were ever seen in the vicinity。 If she had caught even a glimpse of one inside the great V…shaped cavern； she would have turned and headed the opposite direction as quickly as was fiendishly possible。
The alu blinked； realizing that with all her daydreaming； she was letting her quarry slip away。 Glancing around； she spotted the trio of drow heading along a segment of web street toward a wall； into an out…of…the…way part of the city。 She realized that they were in the mercantile district； and she recognized quickly enough that Pharaun and the others were headed for an inn set along the end of the dead…end thoroughfare。
Good； she thought。 Now I can keep an eye on them and still enjoy the sights and sounds for a few days。 Maybe I can even get the wizard alone for a little while。 。 。 。
***
Faeryl Zauvirr brooded on the plush bed while Quenthel stalked back and forth in the room they shared at the Flame and Serpent。 The high priestess didn't like to be kept waiting during the best of times； and she certainly didn't like being kept waiting in the middle of a strange city； tendays away from her homeland； and by three males； no less。
That damnable Mizzrym and his infuriating smile； Quenthel thought。 I should have Jeggred rend him the moment he returns。
But she knew she couldn't eliminate the wizard or even allow him to be injured。 As much as she loathed the situation； Quenthel knew she was dependent on Pharaun as a resource。
But when we return to Menzoberranzan 。 。 。
The unfinished thought hovered in her mind； not so much because she didn't know what was to be done with the irritating mage but because she didn't know when；