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Danifae put her hand down； let it rest on her hip。
〃You shouldn't have been able to do that；〃 the voice said； quieter but closer。
Danifae followed that echo back to its source and saw another drow…shaped shadow at the edge of the gloom。
〃No need for faerie fire；〃 he said and stepped close enough for Danifae to see him。
〃Zinnirit；〃 she said； pasting a broad grin on her face。 〃How lovely it is to see you； my old friend。〃
The aged drow moved a few steps closer to her but still kept a respectful…no； suspicious…distance from Danifae。
〃You were taken to Ched Nasad；〃 the wizard said。 〃I heard that Ched Nasad fell apart。〃
〃It did；〃 Danifae answered。
〃I honor Lolth as much as any drow；〃 the wizard said； 〃but you can keep buildings made of web； thank you very much。〃
〃That wasn't the problem；〃 Danifae replied。 〃Of course； you don't give the south end of a northbound rothe what happened to Ched Nasad。〃
〃You know me too well still；〃 he said。
〃As you know me。〃
〃It isn't easy； you know；〃 the old wizard said； taking a few steps closer。 〃What you want done。 It's not something you simply 。 。 。 dispel。〃
Zinnirit looked different。 Danifae was amazed at how stooped he was； how thin； how wizened。 He looked like a human； or a goblin。 He looked bad。
〃You've adopted the fashions of your new home； I see；〃 Danifae remarked； nodding at the wizard's outlandish dress。
〃Yes； I have；〃 he replied。 〃Good for business； you know。 Doesn't frighten the neighbors as much as the old spiky armor。〃
〃You know why I'm here；〃 said Danifae； 〃and I know you knew I was ing。 Were the zombies meant to scare me？〃
〃Another bit of showmanship； actually；〃 the mage explained。 〃Drow and lesser races alike are attracted to the odd bit of necromancy。 Makes me seem more serious； I suppose。〃
〃You knew I was in Sschindylryn the second I stepped through the gate；〃 she said。
〃I did； yes。〃
〃Then let's get on with it。〃
〃Things have changed； my dear Danifae；〃 Zinnirit said。 〃I am no longer your mother's House mage； subject to the whims of her spoiled daughters。〃
〃You expect me to pay？〃 she asked。
〃You expect something for nothing？〃
Danifae let one of her eyebrows twitch in response。 That barely perceptible gesture made the old wizard look away。 She took a deep breath and concentrated on that corner of her mind in which the Binding hid。
〃I know why you've e；〃 Zinnirit pressed。 〃It's always there； isn't it？〃
Seeing no reason to lie； Danifae said； 〃It is。 It's been there every second since I fell into the hands of House Melarn。〃
〃It's an insidious enchantment that binds you 。 。 。〃 said the old drow； 〃binds you in a way that only a drow could imagine。 While the Binding is in effect； you will never be free。 If your mistress 。 。 。 ？〃
〃Halisstra Melarn。〃
〃If Halisstra Melarn dies； so goes Danifae；〃 he continued。 〃If she calls for you； you'll go to her。 No question； no hesitation； no choice。 You can never…much as you might like to； even as a method of suicide…raise your hand to her。 The Binding won't let your body move in a way that would result in your mistress's death。〃
〃You understand well；〃 she whispered； 〃but not pletely。 In many ways； it's the Binding that fuels me。 That spell keeps me alive； keeps me vital； keeps me listening； watching； and learning。 That spell； and my desire to break its hold； is what I live for。〃
Danifae saw fear flash across the old wizard's eyes。
〃You weren't the only member of our House to be brought to Ched Nasad；〃 he said。 〃After that last raid…the one that destroyed the redoubt； that destroyed the family…others were taken by Ched Nasad's Houses； and the rest were scattered over a wide swath of the Underdark。 Those who lived； anyway； and that was precious few。〃
〃Zinnirit Yauntyrr made it to Sschindylryn；〃 she continued for him； 〃and did quite well here。 That never surprised me。 You were a talented spellcaster。 No one could teleport like you。 You were the master。 And teleporting isn't all you're good at。
〃You're ready；〃 she said。 〃I know you。〃
〃What will you do when you're free？〃 he asked。
Danifae smiled at him and stepped closer。 They could touch each other if either lifted an arm。
〃All right；〃 the old mage breathed。 〃I don't need to know； do I？〃
Danifae offered no response。 She stood waiting。
〃I will have to touch you；〃 the wizard said。
Danifae nodded and stepped closer still…close enough that she could smell the old man's breath： cinnamon and pipeweed。
〃It will hurt；〃 he said even as his hand was reaching up to her。 He placed the tips of his first and second fingers on her forehead。 His touch was dry and cool。 Strange words poured from his mouth。 It might have been Draconic he was speaking but a dialect she couldn't quite pin down。 After a full minute he stopped and lowered his hand。 His red…orange eyes locked on hers。 Danifae did not pull away； much as she wanted to。
〃Tell me；〃 he whispered； 〃that you want to be through with it。〃〃I want it gone；〃 she said。 Her voice seemed too loud； too sharp to her own ears。 〃I want to be free of the Binding。〃
No sooner had that last syllable left her lips than her chest tightened； then her legs； her arms； her feet； her hands； her neck； her jaw； her fingers and toes…each one。 Every muscle in her body cramped and seemed to rip into shreds under her skin。 She might have screamed； but her throat was clamped shut。 Her lungs tried to force what air was left in them up and out through her closed throat； past her clenched jaws； between her grinding teeth。 She went blind with pain。
It was over。
Her body loosened so quickly and so pletely that she collapsed。 Vomit poured from her； and her vision was a swirling blur。 Her eyes watered； her nose ran； and she came within half a second of wetting herself。
That was over too。
Danifae was shaking as she stood。 She mastered the barrage of emotions that assaulted her…everything from humiliation to homicidal rage…with a single thought：
I'm free。
She wiped her