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〃We're still too far away from the proper outskirts of Ched Nasad for me to recognize any features with certainty；〃 she said。
〃Then we must slay them；〃 Jeggred announced。 〃Let me engage them and cut a path for you； Mistress。〃
〃No； Jeggred； there's no need； however much fun you might think it would be。 Pharaun； here； is going to get us through this。 Aren't you？〃
The mage grinned bemusedly and said； 〃I might have an incantation or two that will allow us to make our way through to the tunnel。 Aliisza has assured me that； in good sporting fashion； she will stay out of it。 Slaying these creatures should be minimal trouble。〃
〃I'm not concerned with that。 Just clear a path for us；〃 Quenthel manded。
〃Very well；〃 he said as he began to move forward； weaving the beginnings of a spell as he did so。
FOUR
Aliisza wasn't sure how Kaanyr would receive her latest news； but it didn't slow her steps。 Tarrying to deliver it served no purpose。 He would find out eventually； and she might as well pass it to him and get on to other； more interesting things。 Besides； she wasn't really troubled by the prospect of the cambion's anger。 He might fly off the handle from time to time； but he knew better than to direct it at her。 Whether or not he flew into a rage this time； she had an idea that might just soothe his ruffled feathers and give her a bit of fun； besides。
Passing through the great doorway and into the throne room； Aliisza expected to find Vhok sitting on his throne； but he was not。 He paced in front of it； which meant that he had serious things on his mind； serious in a bad way。 The alu…fiend had a pretty good idea what those things were。
Any more information on what that duergar horde is doing？〃 she asked as she approached him。
Vhok looked up from his contemplation； seemed to stare right through her for a moment； and at last said； 〃All I've been able to determine at the moment is that they don't seem to be headed in this direction； which is good。〃
〃Good？ Why？〃 Aliisza asked。 She moved to sit on the top step of the dais。 〃I thought you liked the idea of a little sport for the Legions。 You told me the other night that things were getting a bit staid around…〃
〃Because something big is definitely going on；〃 Kaanyr interrupted； 〃and because they were responsible for wiping out the patrol to the northeast。〃
Aliisza had been about to stretch out； hoping to distract Kaanyr from all of this serious discussion for a few moments of romance； but she sat straight。
〃That wasn't just a roving band of duergar；〃 Vhok continued； 〃they were professional mercenaries。 The Xornbane clan； if the evidence is correct。 They don't go anywhere without major coin changing hands and big battles in the works。〃
Aliisza pursed her lips in thought。
〃So if they aren't moving against us；〃 she said； 〃then where？〃
〃Though I already have an idea； I was hoping you could tell me；〃 Kaanyr said； looking down at the alu…fiend； 〃Where are my guests？〃
Aliisza avoided meeting Vhok's gaze。
〃I wasn't able to convince them to join us；〃 she said carefully； 〃and after they defeated my little patrol as easily as they did； I thought it wise not to pursue the matter so directly。〃
〃Defeated？ Wiped out is more like it。〃
Kaanyr's tone was measured； and Aliisza could tell he was displeased。
So he already knew； did he？ Is he spying on me； now？
She was glad she'd been up front with him on the subject。 It had been tempting to fudge the truth a bit； to tell him that the tanarukks had not followed her instructions； but in the end； something had convinced her that she was going to have to start being a little more careful with Vhok。
〃They are formidable；〃 she answered at last。 〃The wizard with them is 。。。 interesting。 He's the one I spoke with； and it was definitely he who plowed through the Legions。 Drow are formidable to begin with； and it was a tactical error on my part to engage them in such a large chamber。 They were able to easily evade the Scourged simply by getting up off the floor and out of range。 Pharaun laid 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 throw