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s they occurred to him。 Perhaps the stories would strike a spark in Pharaun's unconscious mind； and in any case； it was better than just sitting and wondering what life would be like after Syrzan cornotrupted his mind。
Finally the wizard's chin jerked up off his chest。 His eyes were wild； and he tried to cry out。 The bit turned the sound into a strangled gurgle even as it cut into the corners of his mouth。 Beads of blood blossomed from the wounds。
〃It's all right；〃 Ryld said。 〃Whatever the lich did to you； it's over。〃
Pharaun took a deep breath and let it out slowly。 Rationality returned to his eyes。 Ryld got the feeling that if not for the harness； the wizard would have smiled his usual cheery smile。 He nodded to the weapons master； thanking him for the reassurance； then he inspected the sheath constraining his hands。 He bashed it on the floor a few times to see if he could jolt the catches open。 They held with nary a rattle。 He shook his head； sat still for several seconds； then closed his eyes and settled back against the wall； no doubt pondering their plight。
After several minutes； the wizard straightened up。 He started scraping the heel of one boot against the side of the other。
Ryld felt a stir of excitement。 He could only assume his fellow master had a talisman hidden inside the footwear。 It was odd the wizard hadn't renotmembered until then； but perhaps it was a result of the seizure。
Like all drow boots； Pharaun's were high and fit snugly。 By the time it slid off the mage's foot； Ryld was avid with curiosity to see 。 。 。 nothing。 Nothing but trews and a stocking。
Pharaun set to work shoving off the other boot。 Ryld wished he knew what his friend had in mind； but knew it would be pointless to ask。 With his hands concealed； the spellcaster couldn't answer even in the silent drow sign language。
Eventually the second boot slipped free； whereupon Pharaun pushed off his socks。 His bare feet were of a piece with his hands； slender and long； the digits included。
The wizard lifted his right foot； stared at it intently； and started curling and crossing the toes。 He fumbled through a sequence of moves； then renotpeated it。 It took Ryld another few moments to prehend； and he didn't know whether to laugh or cry。
In point of fact； the Underdark abounded in creatures； Syrzan included； whose extremities differed notably from a dark elf's； yet who worked magic nonetheless。 So maybe Pharaun had a chance。 Maybe he could cast one of those spells that only required movement； not an incantation or material ponents。
But only if he could shift his feet and toes through the proper patterns； those precise and intricate passes he'd spent years learning to execute with his hands。
When the toes of his right foot grew tired； he started working with those of his left。 After that； he shifted his weight back； lifted his legs； and practiced twining them together。 Ryld might have found it quite a inotcal spectacle had his life not depended on the mage's success。
Soon Pharaun began to sweat and occasionally to tremble； which always forced him to stop and rest for a bit。 After an hour； he moved on to the next phase of his experiment： putting the elements of the spell tonotgether； moving everything at the same time with the proper sequence and timing。
Ryld watched the process intently。 He was no wizard； but to his untunottored eye； it appeared that after a while； Pharaun was producing exactly the same pattern two times out of three。 The rest he fumbled in one way or another。
Finally； breathing hard； he looked at the weapons master and shrugged。
〃That's all right；〃 the swordsman re