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et them squat here in their dirt like a festering chancre on the city？ Why not find something useful for them to do？〃
〃Ah； but they're already useful。 Status is all； is it not？ Does it not follow； then； that no Menzoberranyr can find contentment without someone upon whom she can look down。〃
〃We have slaves。〃
〃They won't do。 Predicate your claim to self…respect on their existence and you tacitly acknowledge you're only slightly better than a thrall yournotself。 Happily； here in the Stench streets； we find a populace starving； filthy； penniless； riddled with disease； living twenty or thirty to a room； yet nomnotinally free。 The humblest moner in Many folk or even Eastmyr can turn up his nose at them and feel smug。〃
〃You really think that's the reason Matron Baenre hasn't ordered the slum scoured clean？〃
〃Well； if that conjecture seems implausible； here's another： Rumor has it that from time to time； someone meets the goddess herself in the Braeryn。 Supposedly she likes to visit here in mortal guise。 The matrons may feel that the neighborhood is； in some sense； under her protection。〃 The wizard hesitated。 〃Though if Lolth has gone away for good； perhaps they don't need to worry about it anymore。〃
Ryld shook his head。 〃It's still so hard to belie…〃
Pharaun pointed。 〃Look。〃
Ryld turned。
On a curving wall below a dark elf's eye level was a sketch； this time smeared in blue。 It consisted of three overlapping ovals； conceivably repnotresenting the links of a chain。
〃It's a different mark；〃 said Ryld。 〃Hobgoblin maybe； though I couldn't tell you the tribe。〃
〃Don't be intentionally dim。 It's the same peculiar； reckless； pointless crime。〃
〃Fair enough； and it's still irrelevant to our endeavors。〃
〃It's a dull mind that never transcends pragmatics。 Two signs； reprenotsenting two races； implying two specimens of the lesser races demented in precisely the same way？ Unlikely； yet why would a single artist daub an emblem not his own？〃
〃Coincidence？〃
〃I doubt it； but as yet I can't provide a better answer。〃
〃It's a puzzle for another day； remember？〃
〃Indeed。〃
The masters walked on。
〃Still；〃 pressed Pharaun； 〃don't you wonder how many scrawled signs we passed without noticing and exactly what form they took？〃
Ignoring the question； Ryld pointed and said； 〃That's our destination。〃
The house's limestone door stood open； most likely for ventilation； for the interior radiated a perceptible warmth； the product of a multitude of tenants crammed in together。 It also emitted a muddled drone and a thick stink considerably fouler than the unpleasant smell that clung to the Braeryn as a whole。
Ryld had been born in a similar warren； had fought like a demon to escape it； and he felt a strange reluctance to venture in； as if squalor wouldn't let him escape a second time。 Unwilling to appear timid and foolish in the eyes of his friend； he hid the feeling behind an impassive warrior's countenance。
Pharaun； however； freely demonstrated his own distaste。 The porcine eyes in his illusory ore face watered； and he swallowed； no doubt trying to quell a surge of queasiness。
〃Get used to it；〃 said Ryld。
〃I'll be all right。 I've visited the Braeryn frequently enough to have some notion of what these little hells are like； though I confess I never entered one。〃
〃Then stick close and let me do the talking。 Don't stare at anybody； or look anyone in the eye。 They're likely to take it as an insult or challenge。 Don't touch anyone or anything if you can avoid it。 Half the residents are sick and probably contagious。〃
〃Really？ And their palace gives off such a salubrious air！ Ah；