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Valas…to Pharaun's eyes a 〃monster〃 rising from the lake…waved a webbed paw in a desperate attempt to fend off whatever magical attack was about to be launched at him。 Shaking his head； he pointed to the kukris sheathed at his hip。
Pharaun； oblivious； touched his forefingers to his eyes and flicked them downward； releasing his spell。 Valas felt a wash of magical energy tingle through his skin； and he flinched。 Flexing his claws still deeper into the crevices to which he clung； he waited for death to take him。
Above him； Pharaun's eyes widened。
Lifting a hand； he signed rapidly； Valas！ It is you。 What happened？
Sighing water in a trickle over his chin； Valas realized he had been reprieved。 Pharaun had recognized him by his kukris； after all…the spell had just been one that allowed him to see through the misshapen form Valas wore； to confirm the mercenary's identity。 He signed one brief word…Wait…and inhaled once again from his bag。
Valas climbed up to where Pharaun crouched； and heaved himself over the edge into the tunnel。 Slipping into the river； he grabbed a rock to hold himself against the current that threatened to carry him over the waterfall。
Quenthel； Danifae； and the hulking Jeggred were all still waiting by the river's edge。 The vipers in Quenthel's whip lifted their heads and quivered in alarm as they saw Valas； and Jeggred sniffed the air and bared his teeth； but Pharaun told them that the drow…thing was； in fact； their panion。 Danifae stared at Valas with an expression of open disgust； her perfect lips slightly curled； then she turned away。
〃Well？〃 Quenthel demanded。 〃Did you find the ship of chaos？〃
Valas shook his head。 Using the silent speech； he told his story； ducking his head underwater each time he needed to breathe。 Pharaun listened closely； looking grim as Valas told of his capture； then giving a congratulatory nod as the mercenary described his escape。 Quenthel's expression； however； had not changed。 Her lips remained tight； while her eyes blazed。
She turned on Pharaun； the vipers in her whip writhing； and said； 〃Your demon was lying。 The ship isn't here。〃
Pharaun raised an eyebrow and asked； 〃My demon？〃
〃We're no farther ahead than when we started；〃 Quenthel said。 〃You should have kept questioning Belshazu about gates。 This rothe…dung story about a ship of chaos was obviously just a lie to throw us off the track。〃
〃Off the track of what？〃 Pharaun asked； glaring back。 〃The only gate around here is the one in your imagination。 And it was your bright idea to have me summon a demon in the first place。〃
Valas didn't like the look in the mage's eyes。 Once again； Pharaun and Quenthel were on the verge of ing to blows。 The Master of Sorcere let a hand drift behind his back and had his fingers flexed； ready to cast a spell。 Jeggred crouched behind his aunt； clearly ready to spring at Pharaun's throat if any suspicious move was made。 Danifae； meanwhile； folded her arms across her chest and stared defiantly at Pharaun…while simultaneously edging out of the path of whatever spell he was about to cast。
Valas； sick of their endless bickering and ready to die anyway； having delivered his report； slammed the flat of his dagger against the stone floor of the tunnel。 Sparks exploded out from the blade like ripples from a rock hurled into a pond； crackling against both Pharaun's and Quenthel's feet。 Each jumped back…Quenthel immediately drawing her whip。
〃Insolent male；〃 she sneered。
The vipers spat； their fangs dripping venom。
Valas could see she was itching to use the whip against him。
Please do； he signed。 It is the swiftest way。
Quenthel frowned； confused by his reply； but Pharaun's mind proved the quicker again。
〃There is no need for that； valued mercenary；〃 the wizard said。 〃I can restore you to your proper； air…breathing； drow form。〃
Valas blinked； all thoughts of the viper whip driven from his mind。
You can？ the scout signed。 But you don't have healing magic。
〃That's true； but I can…〃
Quenthel spun…an awkward movement； forced to crouch as she was by the low ceiling…and said to the mage； 〃You can do nothing。 You will do nothing。 Valas will return to the lake and continue to search for the ship。〃
〃He'll only be captured if you send him back；〃 Pharaun objected。 〃He has no way to protect himself。 The aboleth will eat him this time。〃
He paused； and a thoughtful look crossed his face。
〃Just as；〃 the Master of Sorcere went on； 〃they have eaten others who dared trespass in their waters。 Including； perhaps； any manes who survived after the shipwreck。 And if they did eat any of these petty demons and thus acquired their memories。 。 。 。〃
Quenthel at last understood。
〃The aboleth would know where the ship of chaos sank；〃 she finished for him even as her vipers writhed in anticipation。
Pharaun turned back to Valas and asked； 〃What is the name of the city's matriarch？〃
Using sign； Valas spelled the name out phonetically。 O…o…t…h…o…o…n。
Pharaun nodded； then stared out over the lake。 It was clear to Valas what the mage was thinking。 Pharaun intended to meet with Zanhoriloch's matriarch himself； to ask her for information。 Pharaun had powerful spells； including one he seemed confident would shield him against the aboleth's mind magic。 The scout was certain the mage could handle the situation； but then Valas had thought the same of himself。
Then came a surprise。
〃I will go； too；〃 Danifae said。
Quenthel started to object； then gave the Melarn battle…captive a long； pondering look。 After one glance at the uncertain motions of the vipers in the high priestess's whip； Valas could guess the questions that must have been ing to Quenthel's mind。
Was Danifae offering to keep an eye on Pharaun to ensure that he remained loyal to Quenthel； in the hope of regaining her superior's favor？ Or did she have some ulterior； even more selfish motive in mind？ In the end it seemed not to matter； for Quenthel nodded。
Valas ducked his head for another breath； then he reached out and tapped on th