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de a move during the skirmish。 Perhaps he'd frozen； or maybe he'd figured his best hope of survival lay in passivity。 〃I don't； either。 They're liable to kill us； too。〃
〃How disappointing；〃 Pharaun said。 〃And here I thought Ryld and I had found a cozy enclave of kindred spirits。 But of course we won't force our pany on those who lack the rarified sensibility to appreciate it。 Neither； however； will we quit this place before we slake our thirst。 You goblins and whatnot will have to withdraw。 Good evening。〃
The undercreatures glowered。 The mage could tell what they were thinking。 They were many； and the intruders only two。 Yet they'd seen what those two could do； and after a few seconds； they started trudging out； leaving their unconscious rades sprawled on the floor。
〃You're crazy；〃 Bruherd told the masters。 〃You need to keep your heads down very low for a few years。 Give the matrons and the Academy time to forget。〃
〃Alas；〃 Pharaun said； 〃I suspect I'm unforgettable。 You too may depart if you can bear to tear yourself away。〃
〃Crazy；〃 the outcast repeated。
He limped for the stairs and in a moment was gone like the rest。
Pharaun walked behind the bar。 〃Now；〃 he said； 〃to begin drow's eternotnal search for the stuff that bubbles？
Ryld surveyed the slumbering goblins as if pondering whether to stick his sword in them。
〃I still think this is a bad idea；〃 the weapons master said。
Careful not to soil his boots； Pharaun stepped around the two bloody pieces of the barkeep and inspected a rack of jugs and bottles。
〃You always say that； and you're always mistaken。 The goblinoids will carry word of our whereabouts far and wide。 The rogues are bound to hear。〃
〃As will your sister and everyone else we've managed to annoy。〃
Pharaun uncorked a jug。 The pungent liquid inside didn't seem to be fizzing； so he moved on。
〃Care to make a wager on who'll arrive first？〃
〃Either way；〃 Ryld snorted； 〃we wind up dead。〃
〃Had I wished to hear the dreary voice of pessimism； I would have denottained our friend Bruherd；〃 the wizard said as he inspected a jar full of cloudy liquid。 〃Here's a jar of pickled sausages if you care to break your fast； but I won't vouch for the ingredients。 I think I see a kobold's horn floating in the brine。〃
He opened a glass bottle with a long； double…curved neck； and the connottents hissed。
〃Aha！ I've found the draught the Duskryn remended。〃
〃Someone's here；〃 said Ryld。
The mage turned。 Two figures were descending the stairs。 They looked like ores； with coarse； tangled manes and lupine ears； but Pharaun's silver ring revealed that the appearance was an illusion； disguising dark elf males。 The wizard saw the masks as translucent veils lying atop the reality。
He conveyed the truth of the situation to Ryld with a rapid flexing and crooking of his fingers。
〃Gentlemen；〃 said the mage； 〃well met！ My rade and I have been looking everywhere for you。〃
〃We know；〃 said the taller of the newers； evidently not surprised that a Master of Sorcere had instantly penetrated his disguise。 He was Houndaer Tuin'Tarl； one of the highest ranked of the missing males； likenotwise one of the first to elope； and thus almost certainly one of the ringnotleaders。 Certainly he looked like a princely mander of lesser folk。 His rich silk and velvet garments； the magical auras of many of his possessions； and strutting demeanor all proclaimed it。 He wore crystals in his thick； flowing hair…a nice effect…had close…set eyes and a prominent jaw； and looked as if he knew how to manage the scimitar hanging at his side。 He also looked rather tense
〃We've known for a while；〃 said the oth