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fterward； several fingers of the same bolt crackled again； fanning outward from its first victim to strike the rest of the dark elves。
Halisstra cried out in pain and flung her arm up to shield her eyes from the flaring light of the bolt； cowering against the wall and cursing the wizard for blinding her and making her vulnerable to the soldiers' attacks。 Her vision swam for several moments with the afterimage as she groped along the wall； trying to listen for the sound of imminent attack； but nothing came。 Ahead； she heard one last gasp as someone was wounded； and the sounds of battle faded。
When her vision finally cleared； she saw Danifae and Quenthel looking as dazed as she felt。 Pharaun appeared proud of himself； and the entire host of House Zauvirr soldiers lay on the ground to either side of her。
〃Damn you； Pharaun；〃 Quenthel snarled； her hands on her hips as she glared at the wizard； who was a few inches shorter than the high priestess。 〃You warn me next time you intend to cast a spell like that！〃
Pharaun bowed； and Halisstra wasn't sure if it was meant to be mocking or not； but he said； 〃My apologies。 There wasn't time to warn anyone。 They would have been upon us if I hadn't acted as swiftly as I did。〃
Quenthel sniffed； apparently not pletely satisfied with his explanation； but she said nothing else。 After a moment； Halisstra realized that the Mistress of the Academy was looking at her。
〃Well？〃 Quenthel said； 〃Lead on。 I don't want another horde of Ssipriina's lackeys finding us still standing around their rades' corpses。〃
Halisstra nodded curtly and turned toward the door。 She was careful not to stare overly long at any of the bodies of the soldiers Jeggred had dispatched。 She reached the door and waved her brooch in front of it； allowing the magic to do its work and unlock the portal。 The priestess stepped inside and beckoned the others to follow her。
The interior of her mother's chambers was gaudy and out of style for Halisstras tastes； but she paid the decorations no mind。 As the rest of the group filed inside； she gestured toward the rest of the room and the different doorways。
〃Mistress Baenre's things are here somewhere；〃 Halisstra said。 〃If we spread out； we can find them more quickly。〃
As if to punctuate the need for urgency； another rumbling vibration bounced through the House； and Halisstra thought she heard the fracturing of solid rock。
〃Never mind that；〃 Quenthel said brusquely。 〃They're in there。〃
She pointed through one of the doorways。
〃That's the bedrooms；〃 Halisstra said； slightly puzzled at how the high priestess would know they were in there。 〃e on；〃 she said； and the entire group followed her into the interior chamber。
The oversized bed sat to one side； a huge； round affair that could acmodate five or six drow and probably had on more than one occasion； Halisstra supposed。 In addition to that； there were a number of couches； chests； dressers； and tables for furniture； and rich tapestries covered every square foot of the walls。
Quenthel trudged across the room to a point between two tall ar…moires； where a tapestry woven of black fabric glowed in phosphorescent hues of green； purple； and yellow with an image of a drow priestess。 Halisstra knew it was supposed to be her grandmother； and she wondered why Drisinil had kept it。 Halisstra certainly didn't intend to keep anything to remind her of her own mother。
〃Here；〃 Quenthel said。 〃Everything's behind here。〃
〃Well don't touch it； yet；〃 Pharaun admonished； striding up beside her。
He studied the tapestry for a moment then nodded to himself as though satisfied。 He took hold of a corner of the weaving and yanked it off the wall。 Behind it was only bare stone。
Quenthel's scowl deepened； but the wizard simply produced a wand from inside the folds of his piwafwi； waved it about； and uttered an arcane phrase。 He pocketed the magical device and went back to studying the space as the others gathered around。 Danifae stood near Halisstra； and the priestess felt her attendant press something against her hand。 Looking down； Halisstra saw that the battle captive had procured a pair of daggers and was handing one to her； on the sly。
Oh； you clever girl； Halisstra thought。 She quickly palmed the weapon and tucked it into the folds of her piwafwi； out of sight。 Then she returned her attention to what the wizard was doing。
〃Yes； of course；〃 Pharaun said； as though he had recognized something that should have been obvious to him。 〃All right everyone； step back。 I can disarm the protective wards and sigils that are here； but I cannot deal with the more mechanical trap that I suspect is also present。〃
〃That's all right；〃 Valas said。 〃If you can remove all of the magical protections； I might be able to manage the rest。〃
Pharaun nodded and began to gesture and mutter； finally pointing toward the space between the two tall armoires with a flourish。 Halisstra supposed the wizard must have some ability to sense the presence of various spells； wards； and charms； for she could not see what he was working on and had never known of a secret portal anywhere in her mothers rooms。 Pharaun gazed at the wall a moment longer after he was finished with his casting then nodded for the scout to give it a try。
Valas moved up closely to the wall and began to inspect it little by little； inch by inch。 Halisstra wanted to get in close beside him； to see what he was looking at； but she dared not disturb his concentration。 At that moment； yet another in the series of rumbles shook the room； and Halisstra nearly lost her footing。
〃By the Abyss！〃 Valas yelled； waving his arms in an effort to avoid falling against the wall。 〃This is no good。 I can't do this with all of the…〃
The scout's words were cut off as the whole room suddenly lurched and began to tilt。 Halisstra fell to the floor as the chamber was no longer level but instead tipped to one side； away from the wall they had been inspecting。 She realized she was screaming as she rolled along the floor。 The movement stopped； but all through the House she could hear the