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themselves。
〃My lord Archmage；〃 said Master Godeep。 〃We drew this circle to exnottinguish the fires below。 If you break it…〃
〃I'm not breaking it；〃 said Gromph； 〃I'm fixing it。〃 He turned his gaze on one of the apprentices； some moner youth； and the dolt flinched。 〃Fetch me a bit of fur； an amber rod； and one of the little bronze gongs the cooks use to summon us to supper。 Runf
〃Archmage；〃 said Guldor； 〃you see we already have all the necessary foci for fire magic。〃 He gestured to a brazier of ruddy coals。 〃I'm whispering to the flames below； manding them to dwindle。〃
〃And making more smoke in the process。 That's just what we need。〃 Gromph kicked the brazier over； scattering embers across the rock。 〃Your approach isn't working； elementalist。 I should exile you to the Realms that See the Sun for a few decades； then you might figure out what it takes to extinguish a fire of this magnitude。〃
The male came sprinting back with the articles Gromph had requested。 The Baenre whispered a word of power； and the pentacle changed from red to blue。
〃Right； then；〃 he said to the wizards。 〃I assume you can tell where you're meant to stand； so do it and we'll begin。 I'll say a line； you repeat it。 Copy my passes if you're up to it。〃
For a properly schooled wizard； magic was generally easy。 He relied on an armamentarium of spells； many devised by his predecessors； a few； pernothaps； invented by himself。 In either case； they were perfected spells that he thoroughly understood。 He knew he could cast them properly； and what would happen when he did。
An extemporaneous ritual was a different matter。 Relying on their arcane knowledge and natural ability； a circle of mages tried to generate a new effect on the fly。 Often； nothing happened。 When it did； the power often turned on those who had raised it or discharged itself in some other manner contrary to their intent。 Yet occasionally such a ceremony worked； and with his station； his wealth； and his homeland at stake； Gromph was resolved to make this one of those times。
After the mages chanted for fifteen minutes； power began to whisper and sting through the air。 The archmage tapped the beater to the gong； sounding a clashing； shivering tone。 At once a vaster note answered and obscured the first； a booming； grinding； deafening roar。 Gromph's subornotdinates flinched； but the Baenre smiled in satisfaction； because the noise was thunder。
Perched high in the side cavern； the residents of Sorcere had an excelnotlent view of what transpired next。 The air at the top of the great vault； alnotready thick with smoke； grew denser still as masses of vapor materialized。 The shapeless shadows flickered like great translucent dragons with fire leaping in their bellies。 Following each flash； they bellowed that godlike hammering blast； as if the flames pained them。
Gromph knew that many of the folk in the city below had no idea what was occurring…it was possible that even some of his erudite colleagues didn't know…but whether they understood or not； clouds； lightning； and weather were paying a call on the hitherto changeless depths of the Under…dark。
As one； the clouds dropped torrents of water to fall in frigid veils。 The Baenre could hear the sizzling sound as it pounded the cavern wall。
〃That's impressive；〃 said Guldor； 〃but are you sure it will put out the flames？ The fire's magical； after all。〃
Gromph's bruise gave him a twinge。
〃Yes； instructor；〃 he growled； 〃because I'm not an inpetent from a House of no account。 I'm a Baenre and the Archmage of Menzoberranzan 。 。 。 and I'm sure。〃
Before it was over； Pharaun lost track of how many bat