按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
He glumly concluded that until he knew more； it would be foolish to continue attacking a foe seemingly capable of turning his own potent wiznotardry against him。
So he'd break off hostilities。
And； he thought； with a sudden pang of uneasiness； hope his sister didn't guess who'd engineered her recent perils。
C h a p t e r
S E V E N T E E N
All the undercreatures gawked when Pharaun and Ryld strolled into the cellar； and why not？ The mage doubted this foul little drinking pit had ever seen such an elegant figure as himself； an aristocrat of graceful carnotriage； exquisite ornaments； dress； and coiffure 。 。 。 well； he hoped that； after some emergency adjustments； his hair was at least passable。
In any case； it was plain the goblins； ores； and whatevers had little innotterest in aesthetic appreciation。 They whispered； glowered； and fingered their weapons whenever they thought the two dark elves weren't looking at them； and the fear and hate in the sweltering； low…ceilinged room were palpable。 Pharaun supposed that considering what Greyanna and her hunters had wrought in the Braeryn the previous night； a measure of surlinotness was； if not good form； at least understandable。
He wondered how they'd react if they discovered his sister had slaughtered their fellows by the score merely to create an opportunity to kill him。 Perhaps it was a question best left in the realm of the hyponotthetical。
Knowing that Ryld was watching his back； the Master of Sorcere saunnottered to the bar and； with a sweep of his arm； scattered clattering coins across it。 The currency was the usual miscellany encountered in Menzoberranzan…rounds； squares； triangles； rings； spiders； and octagons… half of it minted by the dozen or so greatest noble Houses and the rest imported from other lands in the Underdark and even the World Above。 It was all silver； platinum； or gold； though； more precious metal than this squalid hole probably saw in a decade。
〃Tonight；〃 Pharaun announced； 〃this pany of boon panions drinks at my expense！〃
The taverner； a squat ore with a twisted； oozing mouth and a mangy scalp； stared for a heartbeat or two； scooped up the coins； and began dipnotping some foul…smelling brew from a filthy tub。 Cursing and threatening one another； the rest of the undercreatures shoved forward to get it。 The wizard noted that no one thanked him。
After looking around for another moment； Pharaun spotted another dark elf slouched in a corner； evidently one of the wretches who'd sunk so low the goblinoids accepted him as one of their own。
〃e here； my friend；〃 the wizard beckoned。
The outcast flinched。 〃Me？〃
〃Yes。 What's your name？〃
The fellow hesitated； then said； 〃Bruherd； once of House Duskryn。〃
〃Indeed； until your noble kin kicked you out。 We have much in mon； Bruherd； for I myself am outcast twice over。 Now e advise me on a matter of vital importance。〃
〃I'm； uh； all right where I am。〃
〃I know you don't mean to be unsociable；〃 said Pharaun； setting blue sparks dancing on his fingertips。
The Duskryn sighed； and； limping in a manner that betrayed some chronic pain； did as Pharaun had bade him。 He was gaunt； and half a dozen boils studded his neck and jaw。 He'd evidently parted with his piwafwi at some point during his decline； but he still wore a filthy robe that； the Mizzrym noted with mild surprise； had once been a wizard's。 With the aid of the silver ring； he could see that the dozens of pockets no longer held the slightest trace of magic。
〃They may kill me for this；〃 Bruherd said； subtly i