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th a high； arched ceiling； and heard another band of hunters。 It sounded as if they were just about to round the corner dead ahead。 Pharaun looked around at the blank walls。 The corridor lacked any doorways into which a fugitive might duck。
The wizard could run； but he didn't want to retreat back the way he'd e。 He could evoke a curtain of darkness； but that would alert the rogues that someone was hiding behind it。 He could throw darts of force； but it would exhaust his offensive magic。 He decided to take a chance。
Concentrating on the stolen House insignia； he shed his weight and floated upward to stretch out horizontally； his spine pressed against the crest of the rounded ceiling。
The hunters passed below him； oblivious to his presence。 He stared down； looking for a fellow mage。 If there was a chance he could obtain new spell foci； he might attack and the odds be damned； but the males were all warriors。
Once they'd gone by； he drifted back down to the ground and skulked onward。 He got turned around once more； then unexpectedly found himself before a small service entrance to a stable much like the one in his family's castle。 Moldy stone troughs； casks； mounting blocks； and rusty ironring hitches defined regular patterns across the floor； while musty； rotting tack hung along the walls。 The aerial steeds were long gone； stolen by the conquerors； evidently； as he didn't see any bones。 Two rogues stood watch； guarding the huge sliding doors。
Pharaun smiled； threw his last darts of light； and； without waiting to see how much damage they did； broke from cover and sprinted toward the sentries。
One renegade coughed blood and fell。 The other appeared unaffected。 A nicelooking fellow with a single elegant tendril dangling beside each cheek； he turned； spotted Pharaun； and calmly lifted his crossbow。
The wizard threw himself flat； and the bolt whizzed over his head。 Still prone； he shot his own crossbow。 The shaft plunged into the renegade's chest。
The rogue snarled； drew his scimitar； and advanced； but only for three steps。 He stopped； and his arm fell； his sword clattering against the floor。 An astonished look on his face； he dropped to his knees。
Rising； Pharaun noticed that the dying male's garments were as tasteful as his coiffure。
〃Who's your tailor？〃 Pharaun asked； but the renegade merely fell facedown。 〃Ah； well。〃
The wizard strode on to one of the outside doors； unbolted it； and shoved it open。 Perhaps the casters were magical； for they worked as well as ever。 The panel rolled easily and quietly aside。
On the other side was a sheer drop to the glowing palaces a thousand feet below。 Silently thanking the dead guard's House； he touched the stolen brooch and sprang over the edge。
C h a p t e r
T W E N T Y
T W O
Pharaun could float down a thousand feet； or he could fall； relying on levitation to slow his descent at the end。 The latter course was dangerous。 If he waited too long to counteract the pull of gravity； he would break bones or even pulp himself when he landed。
Still； he chose to plummet； because of what he saw beneath him。
He'd lost track of time inside the rogues' citadel； but it was plain that the Call had gone forth around the black death of Narbondel； when most dark elves had gone home for the night。 With few drow about to contest them for possession of the streets； the undercreatures had erupted from their kennels to kill； loot； and destroy。 Pharaun couldn't make out individuals； but he could see the mobs as great surging； formless masses like the living jellies that infested certain caverns； and he could certainly see the fires they were setting。 He could smell the strange； foul smoke of burning stone； and he could hear the goblins shouting。
Perhaps the embattled moners looked to the noble Houses for succor。 If so； they waited in vain。 Sorcerous power flashed white and red from the windows and baileys of the stalactite castles as the nobles struggled with their own rebellious slave soldiers。 For the time being； at least； the drow were pinned down； unable to brace the marauders outside their own walls。
A house was growing larger and larger beneath Pharaun's boots。 He made himself lighter than air but still slammed down hard。 The impact knocked the wind and the sense out of him； and when his wits returned； he was bouncing upward again。
Restoring a portion of his weight； he achieved a more graceful landing； flattened himself against the roof； and peered about。 The goblins weren't running amok in his immediate vicinity—not yet—so he jumped down onto the street。 Glad the Bazaar was just three blocks away； he dashed in that direction。
He'd almost reached his destination when a motley assortment of scaly little kobolds； pigfaced ores； and shaggy； hulking bugbears surged from an alley。 So far； the revolt was going well for them。 They'd manage to lay their hands on spears； swords； and axes； and bloody them； too。
Pharaun ran even faster。 A javelin flew past him； but the thralls didn't chase him。 Evidently they were more interested in other prey。
When the wizard reached the marketplace； he cursed； for the riot had arrived there ahead of him。 Undercreatures were looting and burning the stalls； creating patches of dazzling glare。 Some of the merchants had fled。 Others attempted to defend their wares； unsuccessfully if they relied on goblin underlings for assistance。
Pharaun skirted the edge of the Bazaar； witnessing scenes of carnage as he skulked along。 Laughing； a goblin flogged his master's corpse with a scourge。 A bugbear used her manacles to strangle a merchant。 Trapped in a blazing stone pen； riding lizards hissed and scuttled back and forth in fear。
The first stall Pharaun had hoped to find intact was burning merrily； and the second was crawling with gnolls； growling； whining； and barking as they pawed through the vendor's goods。 The Master of Sorcere knew of only one more possibility on the perimeter of the Bazaar。 Should that one be lost to him as well； he would either have to venture deeper into the burning； oreinfested maze of stalls or conceive another plan。
Warty； bearded ogres overturned a twelvewheeled wagon； dumping out the dark elves who'd been making a stand inside。 A w