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The creature roared； arching its back； and its downward swing went awry； biting through the drow's arm instead of his torso。 The dark elf screamed as the half…giant fell forward； collapsing on him and driving the sword deeper into itself。
The soldier had dealt the killing blow； Aliisza realized； as the half…giant lay on top of him； unmoving。 The boy cried out in pain。 He was trapped； pinned beneath the half…giant's weight and with only one good arm to try to free himself。
〃Ilphrim！ Ilphrim； help me！〃 the drow cried out； but Ilphrim was long gone； and the fire burned closer。
Aliisza sighed。 The battle had been particularly entertaining； but it appeared to be over； though the wounded drow pinned beneath the half…giant still squirmed occasionally。 She considered his panion's treachery； pushing him into the path of the rampaging half…giant； to be very clever。 She laughed quietly。
The trapped and dying drow moved his arm again； futilely trying to shift the weight of the half…giant off himself so he could wriggle free； but Aliisza knew he would never do it； not with only one arm。
In a sudden and very uncharacteristic act of passion； the alu…fiend leaped off her perch and floated down to where the dark elf lay feebly squirming。 The drow spotted her and tensed； eyeing her warily。 She only smiled and nudged a discarded dagger a bit closer to him； so that it was within reach of his free hand。 Stepping back； she waited and watched to see if he would do the right thing。
The drow contemplated her for a moment； then he seemed to nod in understanding。 He took hold of the dagger and saluted Aliisza with it before he started cutting pieces off the half…giants corpse。 It was going to take a while； and it was already messy； but he might just cut his way free before the web street collapsed。
Smiling in satisfaction； Aliisza turned away and headed back up to her original vantage point； worrying anew over Pharauns fate。
THIRTEEN
The five drow worked their way into the bowels of House Melarn for what seemed like hours； though Pharaun was fairly certain they'd only been at it for about fifteen minutes。 On several occasions； the group was forced to stop while a member of the House guard crossed paths with them； and once； Halisstra actually posed as a member of House Zauvirr； issuing orders to a group of sentries to head to the surface to help in the defense of the House。
〃The lower levels are not usually very heavily occupied；〃 Halisstra said at one point。 〃I suspect most of Ssipriina's servants and troops are above； aiding in the defense of the House。 It's not much farther； now。〃
The mage nodded as the five of them continued on their way。 More than once； Pharaun caught himself gazing in infatuation at the gorgeous creature beside him。 She seemed to be considerably unhappy at the state of things； especially the fact that she was helpless to defend herself with her arms bound as they were； but she kept her gaze cast demurely down； and the wizard only found this to be even more endearing。
The group took one last stairwell down and found themselves in a dismal cell block。 The hall was undecorated； unlike the posh elegance of the levels above； and the stale stench of unwashed bodies； faint though it was； gave a certain hint of what was to be found there。 Halisstra led the five of them to a doorway at the end of a short hall。 It was stout and obviously designed to withstand considerable force。
The drow priestess stepped up to the portal and waved her House Melarn brooch before it。 There was an audible click as the magic of the insignia operated the locks set into the door。 Halisstra pushed the door aside and moved through into the chamber beyond； which appeared to be a guard room； currently empty。 At the far side of the chamber； a hallway stretched off into darkness。
Pharaun； spotting movement in the corridor there； put a finger to his lips and motioned for quiet。
Someone is there。 Be alert…and no noise； he signed； pointing to both Halisstra and Danifae。
The two drow females nodded； and Pharaun gestured for Halisstra to proceed。 As she entered the hallway； the others followed her in。 The majority of the cells were empty； their doors standing open and the chambers within dark and silent。 However； about halfway down； Pharaun could detect the low voice of someone speaking。 It emanated from one of the cells on his right； and he could just see the door being swung shut from inside。
Moving as quietly as they could； the five of them closed the gap to the doorway。 The portal was not pletely sealed； and Pharaun was able to peer inside the cell。 Quenthel was there； naked and crouched against the far wall。 A heavy steel collar was around her neck； with a thick chain running from it to a bolt set into the stone of the wall。 The high priestess was gagged with some sort of thick bit that was wedged tightly in her mouth； and her arms were obviously incapacitated； stuck together in some sort of thick； viscous black blob in front of her。 She had been very effectively immobilized； and Pharaun understood all too well； pletely prohibited from casting； should she still have a divine enchantment locked away after all this time without contact with Lolth。
To one side； against another wall of the cell； Jeggred stood glowering。 He too was chained to the wall； thick bands of adamantine encasing his neck； arms； and legs。 Pharaun could see that the restraints were magically strengthened； but even so； the draegloth strained against them； refusing to admit even for a moment that he was not going to break free。 Again and again； Jeggred jerked on the chains； causing them to rattle against the wall as he tried to lunge at the object of his wrath。
Faeryl Zauvirr stood just a little way out of the draegloths reach； her back to Pharaun and Halisstra。 She was standing over Quenthel in the middle of a scathing taunt。
〃。 。 。 know you would have loved to tell the matron mothers the truth； but it's too late for that now。 I only regret that we didn't have more time spend together； Quenthel。〃
Her voice dripped with acid。
〃e a little closer；