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〃I know；〃 Pharaun responded； examining the bolt wound in Danifae's leg more carefully。
It had struck the same leg that was already injured but didn't appear bad； having missed the bone and penetrated only the fleshy part of her calf。 He snapped off what he could； and the battle captive gave a slight jerk。
Quenthel made a disgusted sound； pulling back from the edge。
〃All of this motion has attracted their attention below us；〃 Quenthel said in a harsh tone。 〃We can't go that way。〃
〃Then we'll go over the other side；〃 the wizard replied。
He shoved what was left of the bolt through Danifae's leg and out。 She hissed from the sudden pain； but bit her lip and stifled any more sounds。 More crossbow bolts and firepots were smacking down against the stone around them。
〃Is it poisoned？〃 Pharaun asked the high priestess。
In answer； one of the viper heads on Quenthel's whip rose up and hissed； 〃No。〃
More of the firepots slammed down nearby； adding to the roar of the fire； which was hot and spreading across the rock surface of the building。
〃We'll be roasted rothé meat in a moment；〃 the mage said。 〃Heal her so we can go！〃
〃Forget her；〃 Quenthel replied。 〃e on。〃
The Mistress of the Academy stood and moved toward the back of the building； still skulking behind the draegloth。
Pharaun looked back down at Danifae； shrugged； and began to stand。 The female reached up and grabbed him by the piwafwi； a determined look on her face。
〃Don't leave me here；〃 she said。 〃I can walk。 Just help me up。〃
Another pair of explosions erupted near her head； and she flinched forward as Pharaun took hold of her by the hand and hauled her to her feet。
〃You won't regret it；〃 she said； giving the wizard a brief but obvious look。 'Til be worth it。〃
Limping； blood flowing from the puncture； Danifae began to follow Quenthel and the draegloth。
〃Jeggred！〃 she called。 〃Carry me！〃
Pharaun realized his mouth was hanging open； and he snapped it shut。 As he trotted after the battle captive； he saw Quenthel and the draegloth freeze； and he swept his gaze to where they were looking； at the back side of the building。 Rising up from behind the roofline was an immense； chitinous leg of something all too familiar。 The leg sought footing upon the rooftop； and two more appeared； followed； by the head of a spider of massive size。
〃Lolth preserve us；〃 Quenthel breathed。 〃Where did that e from？〃
The immense spider pulled itself into full view； scrambling ponderously over the back edge of the building； each step making the entire structure shake violently。
〃Oh； no；〃 Danifae said。 〃They didn't。 。 。〃
〃They； who？〃 Pharaun asked； involuntarily backing up a step。
Even Jeggred seemed anxious； watching the enormous arachnid； black and shiny； heave itself fully atop the building。 Its mandibles clicked as it peered about； its multilensed eyes glistening in the firelight。
〃And what did they do？〃 the wizard added。
〃The matron mothers；〃 Danifae replied。 〃They summoned a guardian spider。 The fools。〃
Quenthel sucked in her breath。
〃Indeed；〃 the high priestess agreed。 〃We must flee。〃
Pharaun wanted to ask the two females what in the Abyss a guardian spider was； but at that moment； the arachnid spotted them； though they had remained quite still。 It leaned forward eagerly； ing after them。
As one； they turned and fled over the side。
***
As she reached the alley； following Ryld Argith； Halisstra turned to see who had caught up with her in the chaos of the swarming； fighting drow and duergar。 Of the others； there was no sign。
〃e on！〃 Ryld shouted from up ahead； motioning frenetically for Halisstra to keep up with him。
Several duergar had followed them into the alley that ran alongside the temple and were closing in on her。 She turned back for a moment； thinking to make a stand and drive them away； but a crossbow bolt snapped against the stone wall near the priestess； shattering and showering her with splinters。 She turned again and ran； the gray dwarves pounding along after her。
As Halisstra caught up to Ryld； he fired his own crossbow once； to slow down the pursuit； and they sprinted along the alley together； weaving through the turns of the pathway； trying to lose their foes。 The two of them turned one last corner and skidded to a stop。 The alleyway ended at a solid wall； though one side was low； protecting some sort of covered porch。
〃Damn；〃 Ryld muttered； slipping his greatsword free。 He turned back to prepare to face the oning gray dwarves。 〃Get ready；〃 he told her； and Halisstra planted herself beside the warrior； her heavy mace feeling good in her hand。
〃Why don't we just float up there？〃 she asked； pointing to the roofline as the first two duergar appeared。
The first of the gray dwarves wielded a wicked…looking； double…bladed axe； while the second had a heavy hammer that was easily twice the size of Halisstra's own mace。 She readjusted the grip on her shield as the hammer…wielding dwarf advanced； hate gleaming in his eyes。
Ryld risked a quick glance upward before he stepped gracefully to the side； avoiding the first cut of the double…bladed axe and making a quick； neat cut of his own that the gray dwarf barely managed to parry。
〃Only if we have to；〃 the warrior replied。 〃No sense making ourselves a target for their crossbows。〃
Halisstra could see that though the duergar's weapon was larger； the creature was forced to put a lot behind each swing； while Ryld was able to sidestep and redirect his own weapon far more easily。 Then the priestess was too busy thwarting her own attacker's strikes to watch the weapons master。
The first blow came low； aimed at her knees； and she dipped the shield down enough so that the hammer grazed it； scraping across as she spun back and out of the way to avoid taking the full brunt of the strike。 The dwarf followed this with an uppercut swing； which Halisstra was forced to block with her weapon； again redirecting the hammer rather than trying to pletely stop the swing。 She brought her mace back around and waited； thinking to let her enemy tire himself by repeatedly over…swinging。
That was all good in theory； Halisstra realized； but when three more duergar appeared； she knew that she and Ryld had been cornered。 This time； when the dwarf over…swung and she deflected the blow with her shield； she also kicked out； catching the gray dwarf with her boot in the side of his knee。 The humanoid grunted and staggered backward a couple of steps； but another dwarf was there； ready to step into the fray。 Halisstra moved to position herself next to Ryld again； working so that each of them could protect the other's flank； preventing the gray dwarves from getting inside their position。
Out of the corner of her eye； she saw Ryld； still battling with the gray dwarves。 One of the humanoids lay dead at his feet； while another had a bloody gash across his thigh。 Behind them； two more had appeared； and these had crossbows； which they brought to bear； waiting for openings to shoot at the two