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the whip。 It dropped its axe and crumpled to the floor； spasming and crying out in anguish。
Pharaun realized he was holding his breath and exhaled sharply； regaining his wits。 Disgusted with himself for being so undisciplined； he remembered the tiny piece of squid tentacle that he had in his hand。 Righting himself； he made a rapid inspection of the battlefield in order to determine where best to place the spell he had in mind。
A host of dead tanarukks had piled up around Jeggred and Ryld； but still the remaining creatures fought their way to get nearer the pair； snarling and leaping about； looking for an opening where they could use their axes。 The wizard decided he could easily position the magic behind those few savage humanoids that remained； but then he paused； startled。
A face had caught the drow mage's eye at the far back of the passage。 He blinked and peered more carefully； not trusting his assumption。 Lurking in the darkness； watching the battle； was a beautiful woman。 Pharaun found her attractive； despite the fact that she was not a drow but appeared human。 Black curly hair framed her face； and she was dressed in a tight； shiny leather corset that hugged her curves like a second skin。 She seemed to be saying something to the last rank of humanoids； giving them orders and gesturing； but when she noticed Pharaun staring at her； she smiled； her highly arched eyebrows raising even farther in a bemused grin。 That was when the wizard also noticed the black； leathery wings sprouting from her back。 She wasn't human after all。
Pharaun shook his head in wonder。 Such a gorgeous creature manding a pany of foul…smelling； enraged half…fiends somehow didn't seem right to the wizard。 But； beautiful or not； she was on the other side of the fight。 Sooner or later； he supposed； she would have to be dealt with。
Not here； though； not now。
Snapping back to the task at hand； Pharaun finished casting the dweomer he had chosen； and a collection of black tentacles sprang up； situated between the contingent of drow and the remaining tanarukks。 Each of the slimy； writhing things was as thick as his thigh and squirming around； trying to locate anything to entangle。 Too late； Pharaun noticed that Ryld had felled the remaining enemies that had challenged him directly and was stepping forward； ready to confront the handful that hung back。
Pharaun opened his mouth to shout a warning to the weapons master； but before the words were out he saw Jeggred reach over and grasp the Master of Melee…Magthere by the collar of his breastplate and yank him back； out of harm's way。 An instant later； one of the tentacles wrapped itself around the lifeless body of a tanarukk that had been at Ryld's feet and quickly coiled more tightly； constricting the corpse。 If the weapons master had still been there； it would have been his leg instead。
Numerous other tentacles squirmed and lashed out； grasping the surprised tanarukks and coiling around them。 The creatures bellowed and screamed； thrashing and biting as the tentacles began to crush the life out of them。 The she…demon on the far side merely arched one eyebrow at the appearance of the spell； taking a single step back so that she was clearly beyond the reach of the writhing black appendages。 She seemed oddly content to watch as one by one； her troops began to grow silent； their breath lost； their ribs cracked。
Pharaun didn't waste time waiting for the spell to end and allow either the beautiful fiend or any of her remaining minions to reach his team。 Not wanting to reveal the extent of his magic any more than necessary； the wizard stooped quickly and slapped at the ground before him。 He took one last look at the beautiful fiend opposite him as darkness welled up between them。 The moment that spell was finished； he began another； producing a pinch of gem dust from another pocket and weaving a spell that placed an invisible wall between the drow and the tanarukks。
The magical barrier was impervious to any normal attack； would withstand most magical assaults； and would buy the expedition time to find another way out。 The wall of energy would not hold indefinitely； but it would last long enough for them to figure out how to escape unseen。 Pharaun dusted his hands as he stepped back from the casting。
〃Well； a fine solution that is；〃 Quenthel sniped； 〃sealing us in here。 We'd be better off facing those filthy beasts on the other side than just sitting here。〃
Ryld hunched down nearby； breathing heavily； cleaning his blade with a piece of cloth。 Faeryl slumped； exhausted； against the far wall； trying to catch her breath。 Only Jeggred and Valas seemed unwinded； both of them standing easy。 The scout moved to study the blockage； while the draegloth hovered near Quenthel。
〃As I tried to tell you；〃 Pharaun retorted； running his hand along the surface of the damp； gray substance that prevented their passing； 〃this is the Araumycos。 It could go on for miles。〃
The drow wizard knew his scolding tone was unmistakable； but he didn't care。 Quenthel let out an exasperated sigh as she leaned against the wall of the passage。 A massive fungus； the Araumycos resembled nothing so much as the exterior of a brain。 It pletely filled the passage。
〃At least we can stop running for a while；〃 Quenthel said。 〃I'm sick of carrying this damned thing。〃
She growled； kicking at the knapsack at her feet。 She began rubbing her shoulders。
Pharaun shook his head； amazed at the high priestess's stubbornness。 The mage had tried to be as deferential as possible； to let her see the folly of heading in this direction； but despite his warnings…and Valas's…the Mistress of Arach…Tinilith had； with her usual haughty demeanor； browbeat them into obeying her wishes anyway。 Now they were pinned against the bloated growth； just as he had predicted； and she was simply going to ignore that fact。
Pharaun pursed his lips in vexation as he watched her out of the corner of his eye。 She labored to work the stiffness out of her shoulders。 He could only imagine the disfort she must be feeling； but he had no pity for her plight。 Despite the fact that his own haversack was magically lightened； Pharaun's shoulders ached； too。 They had gone far beyond sore and were； he was certain； chaffed raw。
〃Ah； yes；〃 he said； continuing to examine the spongy growth； 〃you've made it quite clear how far beneath a Baenre…the Mistress of the Academy no less…it is to 。。。 how did you say it？ 。。。 'demean herself like a mon slave lugging rothé dung through the moss beds’。 But； I would respectfully point out…again…that it was your masterful tactical decision to leave our thralls and pack lizards behind； tethered and bleeding； in order to facilitate our escape from those cloakers。〃
The wizard knew full well that his cutting remarks would further sour her already unpleasant mood； but he truly didn't care。 Getting under Quenthel's skin gave him no end of delight； even during trying circumstances such as these。
〃You presume much； boy〃 the high priestess snapped as she stood straight again； glaring balefully at him。 〃Perhaps too much。 。 。 。〃
Still not looking at