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You told her where it was？
The aboleth matriarch just stared at him…but the silence was answer enough。
Pharaun glanced quickly around the chamber and at last spotted the missing pieces of the puzzle。 There； clinging to the doorway； was a handful of sticky strands that looked like the remains of a broken web。 He also spotted； peeking out from the kelp on which Oothoon's belly rested； the neck of a wine bottle。 Not everything Jeggred had seen had been an illusion： Quenthel had used her wand…deliberately…to block him on the other side of the doorway。 Later； after she'd gotten the information she wanted from Oothoon； she'd dissolved the barrier with alcohol。
Together； Quenthel and Oothoon had played an elaborate and illusion…enhanced ruse on Jeggred…and Pharaun。 Oothoon had been waiting for her reward all the time。 The aboleth matriarch knew that Pharaun； as soon as he heard of Quenthel's 〃death；〃 would return…
Pharaun's hands rose to cast a spell； but before he could plete his incantation； the pearl Oothoon had been holding appeared just in front of him…the real him； not one of his mirror images…as if out of nowhere。 In the instant before it struck his chest； Pharaun realized what must have happened。 The aboleth matriarch had put it in her mouth and had spat it at him； masking the action with an illusion。
The pearl struck his chest and exploded in a rush of sound that drove the water from his lungs and made his ears ring。 Stunned； unable to gesture or speak； he hung limp and alone in the water； his mirror images dissipated by the force of the blast。 Though he was weak； dizzy； too stunned to move； a part of his mind was still able to note the irony of what had just happened。 He'd been about to stun Oothoon with a spell； only to have the aboleth lay him low with precisely the same form of magic。 What he'd mistaken for a 〃pearl〃 was none other than one of Quenthel's magical beads of power。
It looked as though Oothoon hadn't succumbed to his charm spell； after all。 Nor had the aboleth matriarch been fooled by his mirror images…an illusion Oothoon had obviously seen through； since she managed to pick the right Pharaun to spit the bead of power at。 She'd been teasing him with the truth； knowing he'd soon be as helpless as a flutter lizard in a web。
Launching herself out of the niche； Oothoon streaked toward the spot where Pharaun hung helpless； jaws open wide； she sucked Pharaun into her mouth。 Still stunned by the blast of the bead； Pharaun didn't even have the strength to scream as the jaws snapped shut。 Darkness enveloped him； and razor…sharp teeth sawed into his body。
Chapter Twenty…two
Halisstra stood near one of the trophy trees； the hilt of the songsword raised to her lips。 After she'd killed the phase spider two nights before； the priestesses had let her keep the broken sword； as well as Seyll's shield and chain mail。 They'd also given her back her House insignia…which Halisstra had tucked into a pocket； instead of pinning to her piwafwi…and her other enchanted rings and devices。 She also still had her magical lyre； though she felt as disinclined to use it as the other things from the Underdark she had set aside。 Instead she practiced on the songsword； fingers dancing as she tried to create a tune to suit the mood of the snow…dappled woods and the clouds drifting lazily overhead； as white and fine…spun as hair。
Ryld sat cross…legged on a log a short distance away； sharpening his shortsword。 His eyes were squinted against the morning sunlight even though he'd chosen a spot in deep shade。 He sat with his back against a large boulder； under a canopy of tree branches that hung no more than a handspan above him。 He was obviously still struggling with his unease of open spaces； of having nothing but the sky over his head。
After a while； the arrhythmic rasp 。 。 。 rasp rasp。 。 。 rasp of Ryld's sharpening stone grated on Halisstra's nerves； forcing her to lower the songsword。
〃Ryld；〃 she said in exasperation。 〃If you have to do that here； could you at least work in time with my music？〃
Startled； Ryld looked up。
〃Fine；〃 he said。 He crawled out from under the overhanging branches； stood； and shoved the shortsword back into its sheath。 Scowling at the forest； he asked； 〃How long do you intend for us to stay here？〃
〃A tenday； a month 。。。 a year； if need be；〃 Halisstra answered。 〃Until I learn everything I can about Eilistraee's worship。〃
〃A lifetime； you mean；〃 Ryld said sourly。
〃Perhaps；〃 Halisstra said with a shrug； then added； 〃There's no one forcing you to stay； you know。 You could go back to Menzoberranzan or try to find Quenthel and the others…or go to the Abyss itself； if you like。〃
Ryld gave her a stubborn look and said； 〃I want to stay with you。〃
Seeing the look in his eye…a human might have called it 〃love〃… Halisstra's temper cooled。
〃I'm glad；〃 she said。 〃And not just for my own sake but for yours； as well。 The Dark Maiden will embrace you； if you only let her。 Eilistraee can show you a joy you've never known。 We drow have been confined to the Underdark for too long； and it's time we took our rightful place in the sunlight…and held it； by the strength of our swords if need be。〃
Ryld didn't answer but instead stared up at the trophy tree。 Following his gaze； Halisstra saw that he was looking at a deep； sword…shaped niche in the trunk in which two heads rested； one on top of the other。 They were skeletal； with only a few clumps of black hair clinging to them； and the jawbone of the top skull had fallen away。 They were human； by the shape of them； though the mouth and jaw of the bottom skull protruded slightly； and the canine teeth were overly large。 The sight of them seemed to be making the hardened warrior uneasy； which was strange； since Ryld had undoubtedly seen far more gruesome sights in his career as a weapons master of Melee…Magthere。
Ryld wrenched his gaze away。
〃Why Eilistraee？〃 he asked。 〃Why not worship 。 。 。 Kiaransalee； or Selvetarm？ His faith； at least； I could have had some part in。 Or do you think Lolth's champion has suffered the same fate as his m