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his face as the creature…could it be the draegloth？…shifted in an effort to find some gap in his armor to exploit for the kill。 Ryld pushed up with the flat of his blade and both his feet and rolled the heavy creature off him。
When it hit the cold； spongy ground； it wriggled on its side in an effort to get to its feet。 The thing growled； and the sound was both higher in pitch and less intelligent than Jeggred's。 Ryld blinked blotches of purple from his eyes and whirled around and up to his feet； Splitter in front of him to guard against the inevitable next pounce。
If it was Jeggred； the draegloth was down on all fours and attacking him only with fangs and one set of claws。 Ryld batted away a rake from the thing with the flat of his blade but failed to slice off the paw。 It bit at him； but he stepped back； leaning away from the attack so that the creature's fangs snapped down on thin air。
Ryld blinked again； and his eyesight returned to nearly normal。 He wasn't fighting Danifae or Jeggred but some kind of furred surface animal。 Ryld had seen similar animals： cats。 The one that was trying to kill him was huge； ten feet from nose to tail。 Mottled gray fur rippled over rolling muscles。 Its tall； pointed ears twitched and moved independently of each other to track Ryld as it circled him； and the weapons master turned to keep the animal in sight at all times。 Steam puffed from its nostrils into the cold air。
Ryld felt a chill run through the undersides of his arms。 He had a strange feeling of relief that he was only being hunted…again…by a native surface animal。 Danifae hadn't taken her revenge after all； certainly not with Jeggred as her second。 The weapons master briefly entertained the idea that Halisstra was right about her former servant； but the reality of his situation intruded once again。
The animal leaped at him； and Ryld was ready for it。 He had Splitter up and to the side and had just tensed his arms in preparation for a downward slice across his chest to dig at the animal's head when the thing stopped。 The animal halted in midair for a heartbeat then fell。 It made a sound that was halfway between a growl and a whimper when it hit the ground； already scrambling to regain its feet。
The weapons master hopped back； bringing Splitter quickly in front of him to guard against…
〃Jeggred；〃 Ryld said。
The draegloth held the huge cat by its tail； his eyes glowing red in the darkness。 Even as the animal turned on him； Jeggred's lips pulled back over his teeth in a feral； hate…filled smile。
Halisstra stepped off the stairs onto what she assumed was the highest floor of the slowly crumbling structure and there she saw Danifae。 A gasp passed across her parted lips at the sight of her former servant。 Danifae had always been beautiful…that was part of what made her such a desirable possession…but though it hardly seemed possible； the girl had grown even more attractive。 The ample curves of her strong body made an alluring silhouette in the dark space； and her bright white hair framed her round； beautiful face in a way Halisstra had never seen on her normally pragmatic and simple battle…captive。
〃What's wrong？〃 Danifae asked； her voice quiet。 〃Do I look different？〃
Halisstra nodded and stepped away from the top of the stairs； careful to keep her back to the wall。
〃Yes； you do。 Freedom agrees with you； Danifae。〃
〃Yes； Halisstra；〃 Danifae replied。 Halisstra did not fail to miss the fact that Danifae had called her by name。 〃Freedom does agree with me；〃 she continued； 〃but there is much to discuss and precious little time。〃
Halisstra arced an eyebrow and let a hand slip to the hilt of the Crescent Blade。
〃You are in danger here；〃 Danifae warned； her eyes darting to Halisstra's weapon。 〃I was careless and was found out。〃
Halisstra's blood went cold； and she said； 〃Found out？〃
〃I was gone too long；〃 said Danifae。 〃I was questioned by the high priestess and the mage； and they 。 。 。 did things to me to make me tell them about you； about Ryld； and all of it。 All of it that I know。〃
Halisstra tried to take a deep breath but found her chest tight with anxiety。
〃Where are they？〃 Halisstra asked。
〃Far away；〃 replied Danifae； 〃and well prepared for their journey to the Abyss； but they sent Jeggred back with me。〃
Halisstra's blood ran even colder； and she said； 〃The draegloth？ Why？〃
〃To kill you both。〃
Halisstra looked madly around the ruin and found the crack in the wall she'd earlier seen Danifae standing in。 Though it meant turning her back on Danifae； Halisstra ran to the crack and began wildly scanning the dark swamp below for any sign of Ryld。 There was a pain in her chest she'd never felt before。 She couldn't see either the weapons master or the draegloth。
〃He's out there； I assure you；〃 said Danifae。
〃So you drew me here？〃 Halisstra asked； not turning from her fruitless search of the swamp below。 〃You drew us both into a trap？〃
〃Yes； I did；〃 said the former battle…captive； 〃but I can save you。 I can save you； but I can't save you both。〃
〃How can you stop a draegloth that has been sent to kill？〃 Halisstra asked。 She scowled； still scanning the swamp。 There were spaces where the trees were tall and thick enough to hide the surface all together。
Ryld must have gone in there； Halisstra thought； perhaps lured in by Jeggred。
〃I can't stop a draegloth；〃 Danifae admitted。 〃If Jeggred means to kill you both； he will； or Ryld will kill him； or I will kill him。 Either way； there will be deaths tonight。〃
Halisstra sighed； not sure what to do and afraid that Ryld was already dead。
〃I don't have to stop Jeggred；〃 Danifae continued； 〃or kill him。 Just go； and leave the rest to Ryld and me。 If the weapons master can best the draegloth； fine。 If not； I can convince Jeggred that I killed you。〃
〃Why would he trust you？〃 asked Halisstra。 〃He'll want to see my body 。。。 or part of it at least。 And what of Ryld？〃
〃Let me get you out of here；〃 the former battle…captive said。 〃Get enough distance between yourself and the draegloth whi