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be able to move and speak； but spellcasting was impossible while he was trapped within the sphere。 He'd have to rely upon brute force to get to where he needed to be。
Experimenting； he threw his weight forward against the smooth surface…and wound up tumbling in a clumsy somersault as the sphere rolled in that direction。
It took some doing； but at last Gromph figured out how to coordinate his hands and feet； scrambling forward like a rat and maintaining his balance as the sphere rolled across the floor。 More than once； a bump or crack in the floor sent him spinning in the wrong direction； but gradually； acquiring several painful bruises along the way； he made his way back down the tunnel that led to the river。
Kyorli； having overe her fear now that her master was no longer inside the bright wash of the faerzress； scampered along behind； from time to time correcting the course of the sphere with a nudge of her nose or paws。 When they reached the swiftly flowing river； she fretted； running hack and forth on its bank。
Master。 Deep water。 Swim？
No； Kyorli。 Only I will swim。 You return to Menzoberranzan the way you came； through the tunnel that leads up。 Go to Sorcere； fetch any of the wizards there； and lead them to the shore of the lake。
The rat thought about that a moment； whiskers twitching。 Gromph raised his hand； pressing his palm lightly against the inner surface of the sphere。 Kyorli pressed her nose briefly to the spot； then turned and was gone。
Gromph drew a deep breath； preparing for the plunge into the river。 Then he chuckled。 No need to hold his breath…the magic of the sphere was obviously still sustaining him； or he'd have suffocated long ago in the tiny； confined space。 Rocking the sphere forward； he plunged into the river。
Once again the world spun around him； then there was water； the bump of stone walls that sent him reeling； and the occasional flash of a luminescent fish。 After some time underwater…how long； Gromph still had no way of measuring； but several miles of tunnel must have swept past…he was thrown against the bottom of the sphere。 It was rising rapidly； like a bubble； then it burst up through the water； bobbing on the surface of a large lake。
He'd done it！ He'd reached Donigarten！
Righting himself； Gromph attempted to continue as he had before； by rolling the sphere across the surface of the lake。 But the sphere only spun in place。 Realizing that he'd made a potentially fatal error； Gromph cursed。 Unless Kyorli made it back to Menzoberranzan in time and swam out into the lake to help him； he would be at the mercy of the current。 Gromph sent out a silent call but heard no answering voice。 With a heavy sigh； he braced himself inside the rocking sphere； waiting to see where the current would carry him。
He'd surfaced near the northeastern tip of the island that lay at the center of the lake。 Herds of rothe milled aimlessly on its banks。 Behind the island； Gromph could make out the glowing spire of Narbondel。 Someone had been casting magical fire into the enormous； natural rock pillar in Gromph's absence to mark the start of Menzoberranzan's 〃day；〃 but for how long？ Had he been gone for a month； a year？
As the sphere drifted closer to the island； Gromph once again tried to contact Kyorli but without success。 Had the rat simply not had enough time yet to reach the city？ Or was something else delaying her？ When the lichdrow had imprisoned Gromph； an army of duergar； augmented by tanarukks； had been marching toward the city。 Did Gracklstugh's forces block the approaches to Menzoberranzan？ Even if they did； surely a rat could slip through their lines。
Gromph tried again。
Kyorli！ Are you there？
From somewhere close at hand came a faint tickle of thought…Kyorli； swimming in the lake？ Gromph reached out to it； but it was gone。
Something nudged the sphere； rocking it gently。
Kyorli？
Gromph opened his eyes in time to see a hand break the surface of the lake beside him。 Enormous purplish fingers wrapped around the sphere； then pulled it underwater。 The fingers； coated in a thin layer of slime； smudged the outer surface of the sphere； but through the streaks； Gromph could see a bulbous face with four writhing tentacles where a nose and mouth should be。 The illithid's eyes were white and devoid of pupils； but Gromph could sense that it was staring at him as it sculled gently with its free hand； maintaining a position just below the surface of the lake。
Its voice forced itself into Gromph's mind； probing like an infestation of roots through soft； unresisting soil。
A mage； it observed。 How delicious！
Chapter Nine
Halisstra's first impulse； as the priestess blew her horn； was to thrust her sword into the woman； but something made her hesitate。
Ryld； however； was quicker to act。 He leaped to the still sizzling body of the troll； yanked his short sword from it； and sprinted toward the priestess。
The stranger was quicker； however。 Dropping the horn； she sang out a single note and brought her hands together。 As her fingers interlocked； branches whipped into place in front of her； weaving themselves together。 Ryld crashed headlong into the barrier and was hurled back by it； at the last moment turning his fall into a controlled roll。
As Ryld sprang to his feet； Halisstra heard another woman's voice sing out from the forest behind her。 She spun to face the new threat and saw someone moving through the forest。 In that same instant dozens of crescent…shaped blades appeared from out of nowhere and began flashing in a tight circle around her and Ryld。 The chest…high wall of spinning steel reminded her of the whir of the stirges' wings； overlaid by wet thwacks and snaps as rain…soaked branches and leaves were scythed down； leaving a ring of bare ground no more than four paces from where she and Ryld stood。
Ryld touched his brooch and sprang into the air； but his ankles were immediately caught by the bushes around him； animated by the first priestess's spell。 He slashed at them with his sword but the enchanted bush was growing； sprouting new branch