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ps they were too brave。 Or perhaps the fresh； butchered corpses littering the floor turned their thoughts from shadowy terrors to the monplace violence that was their profession。
They found the bodies； often cut in two or more pieces； lying here and there about the castle。 Pharaun was astonished at the quantity。 Apparently poor wounded Ryld had had a nice long homicidal run of it before the conspirators slew him。 Perhaps it had even required Syrzan to do the job。
In retrospect； Pharaun wondered why the alhoon hadn't joined the search for the escaped prisoners right from the start。 Maybe giving the Call had temporarily depleted its strength。
The Master of Sorcere led the soldiers into a long； spacious hall with a large dais at the far end。 there； no doubt； a matron mother had held court and also dined； judging by the benches and trestle tables stacked in an alcove。 Carved and painted spiders crawled everywhere； a sort of mask； Pharaun supposed； given that the former tenants of the keep had petitioned other deities in private。 Sheets of genuine spiderweb veiled the artwork。
Welverin said； 〃Look。〃
Pharaun turned his head； then caught his breath in surprise。 Ryld Argith had just stepped from the mouth of a servants' passage midway up the left…hand wall。
The weapons master's strides were even and sure despite his wounded leg。 He was noticeably thinner； as if his body was burning fuel at a prodinotgious rate； and somehow he'd recovered Splitter。
The soldiers aimed their crossbows。
〃No！〃 Pharaun said。 Not yet； anyway。
Ryld pivoted toward the newers and stalked forward。 His eyes were intent yet somehow empty； his face； expressionless； and he seemed indiffernotent to the weapons leveled at his burly frame。 One warrior muttered unnoteasily； as if he'd mistaken the Master of Melee…Magthere for a ghost。 Pharaun knew better； he recognized a deep trance when he saw one。 Evidently his friend had utilized some esoteric martial discipline to keep himself alive。
〃Ryld！〃 Pharaun said。 〃Well met！ I knew you could defeat Houndaer and the rest of those buffoons。 Otherwise I never would have left you。〃
The he sounded thin even to the liar。
Certainly it didn't impress Ryld。 Perhaps in his altered statue of connotsciousness； he hadn't even heard it or recognized his fellow master； either。 He just kept ing。
〃Wake up！〃 the wizard said。 〃It's me； Pharaun； your friend。 I came back to rescue you。 These boys hail from House Freth； and they're our allies。〃
Ryld took another gliding swordsman's advance； still directly toward the Master of Sorcere。
I'm sorry； Pharaun thought； but this time you bring it on yourself。 He drew breath to give the order to shoot； and shapes surged through the three tall arched doorways at the rear of the dais。
In the lead capered several human…sized creatures wrapped in lengths of clattering chain。 They were kytons； malign spirits whom mages could summon and control。 Behind the devils strode the surviving conspirators； and Syrzan in its decaying robes。
Ryld wheeled and oriented on the conspirators。 The rogues shot a flight of whistling quarrels； and the Freth warriors responded in kind。 The renegades had the advantage of their elevated platform； and the solnotdiers； of numerical superiority； but neither volley dropped more than a smattering of its targets。 The batants were too well armored； by metal； magic； or both。
Eager to see if swords would serve where the darts had failed； the Freth soldiers howled a battle cry and charged。 Most of them； anyway。 In his deep； booming voice； Welverin ordered some of the troops back outside to find their way around to th