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He skulked on； and quickened his pace when someone shouted behind him； and metal clashed on metal。
Ryld quickly learned that one of the rogues was a wizard； and a deft one at that。 He had no difficulty lobbing spells through the line his rades had formed across the hall； leaving them unscathed but battering the weapons master with one attack after another。
So far the flares of power had seared and chilled the Master of MeleeMagthere but done no serious harm。 He doubted that would last。 He needed to put a stop to the magic before the mage slipped an attack through his natural resistance； and that meant breaking through the line
He faked a sidestep to the left； then dodged right。 His wounded leg throbbed； and a soreness； the residue of Syrzan's attack； twisted through his mind。 The pain slowed him just enough to render the deception ineffective。 Urlryn； the longarmed； gaptoothed renegade on the right； another of Ryld's former students and a good one； met him with a wicked thrust to the belly。
As every warrior knows； you can't retreat at the same instant you're advancing。 Ryld had no choice but to defend with the blade。 He swept his broadsword across his body in a lateral parry。 Urlryn tried to dip his point beneath the block； but moved just a hair too slowly。 Ryld smashed his adversary's blade aside； loosening his grip in the bargain。
The weapons master started to riposte with a chest cut； then sensed movement on his flank。 He pivoted。 Hoping to take him unawares； the rogue next to Urlryn was swinging an axe at his knee。 It was how warriors fought in a line。 You killed the male who was focused on your neighbor。
Ryld leaped over the attack。 When he landed； his leg screamed with pain and threatened to buckle beneath him。 Shouting； he made it hold and cut at the axeman's belly。 The broadsword crunched through mail； and the rogue toppled。
Ryld's blade was still buried in the axeman's guts when Urlryn and the other surviving warrior rushed him。 The master floundered backward； dragging the broadsword free。 Swords flashed at him； and somehow； even offbalance； he dodged them； but in so doing； fell on his rump。
The rogues scrambled forward to finish him。 He surprised the other stranger with a boneshattering kick to the ankle； knocking him reeling backward； then reared up on one knee； his sword raised in a high guard for what he knew was ing。
Urlryn's blade crashed down on his own； and he felt the jolt all the way to his shoulder。 With both feet planted beneath him； the renegade could bring all his strength to bear。 Ryld couldn't。
But he was bigger and more powerful than his adversary and was nicely positioned to hamstring other drow。 Teeth gritted； he maintained his defense until his enemy faltered； then whipped the broadsword behind the rogue's leg for a drawing cut。
Urlryn let out a shrill cry and staggered sideways。 Ryld heaved himself up and turned toward the wizard； only to discover he could no longer see him。 Deprived of his wall of warriors； the spellcaster had conjured another defender； a vaguely bearish thing with folded bat wings and luminous crimson eyes； so huge it nearly filled the corridor。
Ryld had watched Pharaun exercise the famous Mizzrym talent for illusion on numerous occasions； and his experiences stood him in good stead。 He sensed； though he couldn't say how； that the demon bear was just a phantasm。 He limped forward； flicked the broadsword at it； and it popped like a fungus discharging a cloud of spores。 It was strange to think that； had he believed in it； it could have torn him to shreds。
The rogue mage turned tail。 Ryld didn't want the bastard to reappear and try to kill him again later； so he gave chase。 His head and wounded leg seemed to scream in unison； and he had to stop。 The sorcerer scuttled round a corner and disappeared。
As Ryld waited for the pain to subside； he realized he couldn't survive many more fights in his present condition。 He either had to escape his foes posthaste or shed his disabilities。
Sadly； he had just about e to the conclusion that he was fated to wander through the castle； ducking his enemies the while； until pure luck led him to an exit。 That could take hours。
He had reason to hope he wouldn't need nearly as long to revitalize himself； but he'd leave himself vulnerable during the process。 He wouldn't be able to sneak in the opposite direction whenever he detected a party of hunters。 He'd have to stay in one place。 Still； it seemed the better option。
He skulked along the corridor； peering into doorways。 One led to a desolate training hall。 The target mannequins looked like ghosts in their shrouds of spiderweb。
Near the righthand wall were tiers of seats； from which spectators could watch the warriors train。 If Ryld crouched down behind the structure； no one would see him without making a careful search of the entire room。
Besides； the master thought； going to ground in a salle might bring him luck。 The dark powers knew； he needed it。
He limped behind the sculpted seats and sat down on the floor with his legs crossed。 He rested his hands on his thighs； closed his eyes； and menced a breathing exercise。
Spellcasters smugly imagined they were the only folk who truly knew how to meditate。 They were mistaken。 The brothers of MeleeMagthere had mastered the practice as well。 It helped them reach the highest level of martial proficiency。
Spellcasters。 The thought reminded him of Pharaun。 It brought the shock and anger flooding back。
But at the moment； those feelings were an impediment。 He had to relax and empty his mind。
He could heal the wound Syrzan had left inside his head。 He could stop his leg bleeding。 He could banish pain and fatigue and tap his body's deepest reservoirs of strength。
If only the enemy gave him time。
Pharaun groped his way onward for just a few more minutes； then found another staircase； this one a narrow spiral leading downward。 It was almost as if the mysteriously silent Lolth had returned long enough to reward him for his treachery。
If so； he soon had cause to recall that she was a fickle and treacherous entity herself。 He reached the bottom of the steps； headed down a hallway with a high； arched ceiling； and heard another band of hunters。