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y tang of wet leaves that told him the Surface Realms were just above their heads； but the air around him already felt cleaner。 As they descended the twisting fissure that led ever downward through the stone； he felt his eyes adjusting to the darkness。 Gone was the itching glare of sunlight； allowing him to fully open his eyes and use his darkvision for the first time in too many days。
Behind Valas； Quenthel and the others followed in a line。 They'd fallen quiet instinctively as soon as they'd left the sunlight behind。 Even the upper Underdark could be a dangerous place for the unwary； and that particular tunnel was unknown territory。 Yet pared to Valas； they hardly moved in silence。 He could hear the scrape of armor against stone as someone behind him squeezed through a spot where the tunnel had narrowed； forcing them to turn sideways to slip through。 A moment later he heard the scuff of a boot and a faint intake of breath as one of the females missed her footing。 He turned and angrily started to sign Move more quietly to her； but dropped his hands when he realized it was Quenthel and not Danifae who had slipped。 Danifae had once again positioned herself near the back of the group； just ahead of Ryld…not because of the potential dangers ahead； Valas was sure； but； with Halisstra gone； to keep a wary eye on her panions。
What have you stopped for？ Quenthel signed from behind Pharaun。 Keep moving。
One of the vipers in the whip tucked into her belt gave a slight hiss。
Nodding his head； Valas led the way through the tunnel once more。 As before； Pharaun was close behind him； continually peering over Valas's shoulder as if he was searching for something。 Ryld； on the other hand； was constantly looking back the way they had e。 Whenever Valas caught his eye； the weapons master would signal that he thought someone was following them。 Valas had never seen him so jumpy before。
The first two times Ryld had done that； Valas had doubled back to check for himself； but there had been nothing： no sounds； no signs of pursuit。 Thereafter he ignored Ryld's anxious glances behind them。
Since Halisstra had been sent back to Menzoberranzan there were only six of them left。 Personally； Valas thought that was a foolish decision on Quenthel's part。 He doubted that Halisstra would make it without Lolth's magic to protect her。 But no doubt Quenthel thought the same。 She probably hoped to eliminate a rival priestess who might claim credit for discovering what had happened to Lolth…assuming that a return to the Demonweb Pits was even possible。
For the hundredth time since Quenthel had announced her plan to have Pharaun summon a demon； Valas wondered how that was going to help。 In all likelihood； the demon would turn on them and swallow them whole without guiding them a single step of the way。
He reminded himself that the lot of a mercenary was not to question how； but to do…and bow。 And so he led them on。 As he moved cautiously ahead into the unknown darkness。 Pharaun still crowding close behind him； Valas fingered one of the magical amulets pinned to his shirt…his lucky； double…headed coin…and hoped it would give him the edge he'd need when the demon eventually turned on them； as he was certain it would。
Halisstra stood on the bluff that overlooked the ruined temple； staring out at the horizon。 The others had descended into the Underdark some time before； and the sun was slowly sinking below the horizon； painting the clouds shades of pink and gold。 Though it made her eyes water to look at the sunset； Halisstra stared in fascination； watching the colors shift into ever darker shades of orange； then red； then purple； gazing as new patterns formed each time the sun's slanting rays struck the clouds at a different angle。 She was beginning to understand why the surface dwellers spoke in such rapturous tones about sunsets。
As the forest below darkened； her sight began to shift toward darkvision。 She could see birds flitting through the branches below and could hear the thrumming of numerous wings as a flock of birds moved through the trees toward the bluff。 She'd heard that surface…dwelling creatures followed the cycles of day and night； and it struck her that Ched Nasad's magic…controlled lighting and Menzoberranzan's famous pillar Narbondel…used for marking the passage of 〃day〃 and 〃night〃…must have been holdovers from a distant time when drow still dwelt upon the surface。 Had House Jaelre simply been following a call that other drow had not yet heard when they returned to the surface； forsaking the worship of Lolth？
The flock of birds had e closer； filling the treetops just below the bluff with strange whistling cries。 One of them rose above the treetops； its wings beating so quickly they were a blur。 Only when it was within a few paces of her did Halisstra recognize the 〃bird〃 for what it truly was。 The furry body； the eight legs； the long； needle…shaped proboscis…all added up to a creature she hadn't realized was also a danger on the surface。 Especially when there was not just one of the creatures flying toward her at the speed of an arrow； but dozens： an entire flock。
〃Lolth help me；〃 Halisstra whispered。 〃Stirges。〃
They were too close for a crossbow shot。 Whipping out Seyll's long sword； Halisstra braced herself to meet the threat。 Grimly； she realized her chain mail wouldn't be any help； the stirges' needle…thin noses would slip between its links。
As the first surge dived in to attack； Halisstra swung the long sword。 It was still awkward in her grip； heavier than the blade she'd been used to。 Even so； her blow connected； slicing the stirge cleanly
Then half a dozen of the creatures were on her。
For several frantic moments； Halisstra fended them off； killing two more with the sword and crumpling the proboscis of a third with a blow from the small steel shield she wore on her left arm。
She felt a piercing pain in her right shoulder as a stirge struck。 A moment later； another plunged its proboscis into the back of her left leg； just behind the knee。 The force of it caused her to stagger。 Only by ducking frantically was she able to