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n though Ryld had demonstrated time and again that his palate was innotcapable of such a dissection。
He drank and was pleased to find that for a change； the flask contained simple brandy； probably imported at some expense from the inhospitable world that lay like a rind atop the Underdark； baking in the excruciating sunlight。 The liquor burned his mouth and kindled a warm glow in his stomach。
He handed the brandy back to Pharaun and said； 〃I assume Gromph told you to leave the entity alone。〃
〃In effect。 He assigned me another task to occupy my time。 Should I succeed； the Archmage will forgive me my transgressions。 Should I fail 。 。 。 well； I'll hope for a nice beheading or garroting； but I'm not so unrealistic as to expect anything that quick。〃
〃What task？〃
〃A number of males have eloped from their families； and not to a mernotchant clan or Bregan D'aerthe either but to an unknown destination。 I'm supposed to find them。〃
Pharaun took another sip； then offered the flask again。
〃What did they steal？〃 asked Ryld； waving off the drink。
Pharaun smiled and said； 〃That's a good guess； but you're wrong。 As far as I know； no one walked off with anything important。 You see； it isn't just a few fellows from one particular House。 It's a bunch of them from any number of homes； noble and mon alike。〃
〃All right； but so what？ Why does the Archmage of Menzoberranzan care？〃
〃I don't know。 He offered some vague excuse of an explanation； but there's something…several somethings； belike…that he's not telling me。〃
〃That's not going to make your job any easier。〃
〃How true。 The old tyrant did condescend to say that he isn't the only one interested in the fugitives' whereabouts。 The priestesses are equally connotcerned； but that emphatically did not make them want to join forces with Gromph。 Matron Mother Baenre herself ordered him to drop the matter。〃
〃Matron Baenre；〃 said Ryld。 〃I like this less with every word you speak。〃
〃Oh； I don't know。 Just because Triel Baenre rules all Menzoberranzan； and I'm about to flout her express wishes 。 。 。 Anyway； the Archmage says he can no longer investigate the disappearances himself。 Seems the ladies have their eyes on him； but； lucky me； I am not so burdened。〃
〃That doesn't mean you're going to find the missing males。 If they fled the city； they could be anywhere in the Underdark by now。〃
〃Please；〃 said Pharaun with a grin； 〃you don't have to try to cheer me up。 Actually； I'm going to start looking in Eastmyr and the Braeryn。 Apnotparently some of the runaways were last sighted in those d閏lass椤icinities； and perhaps they linger there still。 Even if they do intend to depart Mennotzoberranzan； they may still be making preparations for the journey。〃
〃If they've already decamped；〃 Ryld said； 〃you might at least find a witnotness who can at tell you what tunnel they took。 It's a sensible plan； but I can think of another。 It's reckless to gamble your life when you don't even understand the game。 You could flee Menzoberranzan yourself。 With your wizardry； you're one of the few people capable of undertaking such a dannotgerous trek alone。〃
〃I could try；〃 Pharaun said； 〃but I suspect Gromph would track me down。 Even if he didn't； I would have lost my home and forfeited the rank I worked my whole life to earn。 Would you give up being a master just to avoid a spot of danger？〃
〃No。〃
〃Then you understand my predicament。 I imagine you've also figured out why I called on you today。〃
〃I think so。〃
〃Of course you have。 Whatever it is that's truly transpiring； my chances of survival improve if I have a rade to watch my back。〃
Ryld scowled。 〃Yo