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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 the mage's boot。
You said you had something other than healing magic that could help me； he reminded Pharaun。
Pharaun's lips parted in an 〃ah；〃 and he nodded。 He reached into a pocket of his piwafwi and pulled out a small brown cocoon。 Crumbling it between thumb and forefinger； he let the fragments drift down onto Valas's head。 Then； waving his hands over the flakes that stuck to the mercenary's wet scalp； he began a spell。
Kneeling； Pharaun leaned over Valas and shouted in his ear； 〃Exhale！ Quickly！〃
Valas did and an instant later felt a powerful wrench shudder through his body as the spell took effect。 His tail sucked back into his rear like a snail retreating into its shell and his fused fingers sprang apart； the webs disappearing。 Hair erupted on the top of his head； and the skin of his arms； legs； and chest tingled as the membrane that had been cloaking his body disappeared。
The scout was coughing violently； retching the last of the lake water from his lungs。 Even though it hurt； he didn't care。 Instead he was filled with relief。 Pharaun had restored him to drow form…his body was his own once more。
Except for one small detail。 Staring down at his hands； Valas saw that his scars were in all the wrong places。
〃What spell；〃 he wheezed as he climbed out of the river； 〃did you just cast？〃
Pharaun； still kneeling； was directing a second spell upon him； one that requited no arcane material ponent to cast。 Valas saw the mage's shoulders slump as he pleted it and knew it had cost Pharaun a piece of himself。
〃I polymorphed you；〃 Pharaun said when he was done。 〃I shaped your body into a pretty good likeness of its old self； if I do say so myself。 Until something dispels it； that is。 Be thankful that Ryld's not around； waving that greatsword of his。〃
Valas； still standing chest…deep in water； spread his fingers to admire their shape and nodded。
〃I am thankful；〃 he said aloud。
His eyes met Pharaun's； making it clear he was speaking not about the absence of the weapons master but of the presence of the mage。
Pharaun nodded； then gave Quenthel a bow that just bordered on insolence。
〃With your leave； Mistress； I will begin studying the spells I need。 Then I…then Danifae and I…will set out for Zanhoriloch and speak to this Oothoon。〃
Chapter Sixteen
Ryld shivered as he walked through the forest。 Night was falling； and with it came a chill in the air。 His piwafwi was still damp from the rain of the night before； and a full day of steady walking hadn't been enough to dry it。 Overhead； above the branches of the trees that crowded Ryld close on every side； the cloud cover was breaking up。 The sky was a mottled grayish purple； the color of an old bruise。
The air around him darkened as the last of the sunlight faded； but after a time； Ryld noticed it was getting brighter again。 His dark…vision was giving way to the pale gray light that filled the surface world at dusk and dawn…even though the dawn was still a long way off。 Confused； Ryld paused； and looked up through the lacework of branches。
The full moon was rising。
As it peeked above the treetops； filling the air around him with a silvery light； Ryld was suddenly no longer cold。 A flush warmed his cheeks； and he felt his blood quicken。 The hairs on his arms stood erect； as if he had just shivered； yet at the same time he felt hot with fever。
〃Lolth protect me；〃 he whispered in a strangled voice； glancing down nervously at the bite mark on his wrist。 〃That brat did infect me。〃
The moonlight continued to grow brighter； and with it； Ryld's anxiety rose。 Flashes of red swam before his eyes； and his pulse pounded in his ears。 Already he could feel his control slipping。 His clothing felt tight； constricting； heavy。 He pulled it away from his throat； barely able to contain the urge to tear it from his body。 He looked wildly at the forest that surrounded him； wanting to plunge into it and run and run and run。 。 。 。
Struggling to maintain control； he plunged a hand into the breast pocket of his piwafwi and pulled out the sprig of belladonna that Yarno's grandfather had given him。 It had dull green leaves and a single； bell…shaped flower。 Ryld ripped off a leaf； stuffed it into his mouth； and chewed。 A bitter taste filled his mouth； and his tongue went dry。 He followed it with another leaf； then another； then the flower 。 。 。 then he threw the bare twig away。
He waited。
The urge he'd felt a moment before…the urge to tear off his clothing and run away into the woods…disappeared。 Ryld felt lightheaded。 He tried to take a step； stumbled； and nearly fell。 At the last moment he grabbed a tree for balance。 All the while； the forest was being brighter； the moonlight flooding his vision。 Something was wrong with his eyes。
Pulling his short sword clumsily from its sheath； he stared into its polished surface and saw that his pupils had dilated to the point where the red of the iris had all but vanished。 Grimacing； he lowered his sword； stood a moment； then remembered he hadn't sheathed it。 He tried to shove the short sword into its sheath but missed； instead shoving it point…first into the ground as he stumbled。 Unable to catch himself again； he fell flat out onto the soggy ground beside it。 Above him； the trees seemed to have turned to pale gray shadows； wavering back and forth as though they were under water。
Lying there； watching the forest spiral in circles above him； Ryld wondered if he was going to die。 The belladonna had halted his transformation into a werewolf； but at what cost？ His heart was pounding at an alarming rate； and his skin felt dry and hot。 He tried to wet his lips； but even that effort was too much for him。 All he could do was lie on the forest floor； inhaling the smell of wet earth and rotting leaf with each halting breath。
His breath。 That was the one thing he still could control。
Ryld cast his mind back to his training at Melee…Magthere。 One of the tests initiates had been required to pass involve