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waste to the troops without much of a thought。〃
〃I'm sure you did the best you could；〃 Kaanyr said； waving her explanation away。 Aliisza scowled at the insult but said nothing。 〃It's probably just as well。 It seems that the gray dwarves are bound and determined to reach Ched Nasad； which is where our little visitors are headed； as well； I think。 We weren't going to dissuade them from that without bringing the entire might of the Scourged Legions； as well as some of your sisters； to bear。〃
〃I did find out a couple more things；〃 Aliisza said； ready to spring her idea on Vhok。 〃They are all high…ranking nobles from Menzo…berranzan； not just the priestess。 The wizard is powerful enough to be a member； if not a master； of Sorcere； and some of the things he admitted to convinced me that most of the others are of similar rank。〃
〃Well； that's all very interesting； but I probably would have inferred that from the fact that the Mistress of the Academy was out with such a small group to begin with。 It still doesn't tell me what they're doing。 It may help to answer the questions of why the grays are on the move。〃
〃Well； I have an idea about that；〃 Aliisza said； reaching the moment of truth。 She wondered if Kaanyr would agree with her plan or choose to use someone else。 〃Whatever it is they're planning to do when they reach Ched Nasad； they all seem very concerned； very grim。 Whatever it is； it's serious； and I bet they aren't the only drow in the city who are in the know about it。 So why don't I sneak into Ched Nasad and snoop around a little？〃
Kaanyr looked at Aliisza； pursing his lips。 She wasn't sure if he was thinking about her idea or just studying her to see if she was up to something。 Of course she intended to do just what she said； so he had no reason not to trust her on it； but if she had a little fun on the side； well then； what would be the harm in that？ She needed a vacation from Ammarindar； from Vhok。 Maybe a little time apart would do him some good； too； she thought。
〃All right；〃 he said at last； and the alu…fiend grinned broadly before she caught herself。 〃Go and see what you can find out。 In fact； I want you to drop in on Aunrae。 If there's something going on； the matron mothers will be in the know。 I'd like to keep my relationship with her on good terms； at least for the moment； so be polite。 And keep me updated。 I don't want to have to e find you to see what you've learned。〃
Aliisza was nodding energetically as she stood up and headed out the door。
〃I will；〃 she promised； already contemplating the sort of disguise she'd like to use。
***
As Khorrl felt the wagon finally roll to a stop； he almost groaned aloud。 His legs were cramping where he'd wedged himself into the hiding spot beneath the pile of supplies。 He could barely stand to be there much longer； and he prayed to Laduguer that the trip was actually over。 He couldn't imagine having to crouch there for even another few minutes。
The tarp over the top of the wagon was thrown back； and dim light shone down on the goods stacked beneath it。 Of course； to anyone not properly prepared； that's all they would have seen…a wagon…load of supplies for the city。 Khorrl waited as he listened； not daring to move； in case it was merely another checkpoint。 He didn't even want to breathe； for fear of being heard by whomever…or whatever… might be inspecting the wagon。
〃It's all right；〃 he heard a drow voice say； and he recognized it as belonging to Zammzt。 The dark elf was near enough that there was no mistaking who he was talking to。 〃You can show yourselves； now。 We're inside the storehouse。〃
With a thankful groan； Khorrl rose up； feeling his knees plaining。 Around him； fourteen other duergar did the same； winking back into visibility one by one。 They looked at each other； as if to confirm that everyone was all right； and began to peer around at their surroundings。 Khorrl himself hopped awkwardly down from the wagon； grabbing his axe as he did so。 Nearby； more wagons were being uncovered； and more of his fighters appeared； clambering out from between crates； barrels； and bales of foodstuffs。 He knew that there were over twenty wagons； so he had about three hundred troops。 More would arrive； in waves； over the course of the next several hours。
As Zammzt had promised； they were set up inside a large； open room； obviously a storehouse of some sort； though there were no goods there other than what was on the wagons。 Ostensibly； the contents of the wagons were for the benefit of the Houses； but in reality； it was his army's supplies。 They were going to be camping there for a few days； resting and preparing while the other duergar units arrived； all of them waiting until it was time to do their job。 Khorrl hoped the storehouses would be left undisturbed； as promised。
A handful of drow moved about； uncovering wagons in order to free their hidden occupants or unloading the supplies and stacking them out of the way。 Khorrl could see Zammzt looking a couple of wagons over； giving some young drow male a few instructions。 When the dark elf was finished； he turned back to the duergar clan leader。
〃I hope you find everything in order here； Captain Xornbane；〃 Zammzt said； smiling。 〃I know it's not quite like roughing it in the wilds of the Underdark； but it should acmodate you well enough。〃
〃It's fine； as long as no one conies snooping around here before we're ready to begin。 The last thing we need is the city catching wind of us before your mistress is ready to fly her true colors。〃
Khorrl paced about as he spoke； trying to get the feeling back in his legs as much as surveying his temporary home。
I seriously doubt that's going to be a problem；〃 Zammzt said； smiling。 Khorrl wanted to tell him to stop it。 The grin reminded the duergar of a pack lizard's visage。 〃I've got loyal drow troops on guard duty around the storehouse； and you're sequestered here in the far back chamber。 No one will bother you。〃
If you say so；〃 Khorrl answered doubtfully。 He had seen more battles take a turn for the worse through the most simple； straight…forward aspect of