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〃Tonight；〃 Pharaun announced； 〃this pany of boon panions drinks at my expense！〃
The taverner； a squat ore with a twisted； oozing mouth and a mangy scalp； stared for a heartbeat or two； scooped up the coins； and began dipnotping some foul…smelling brew from a filthy tub。 Cursing and threatening one another； the rest of the undercreatures shoved forward to get it。 The wizard noted that no one thanked him。
After looking around for another moment； Pharaun spotted another dark elf slouched in a corner； evidently one of the wretches who'd sunk so low the goblinoids accepted him as one of their own。
〃e here； my friend；〃 the wizard beckoned。
The outcast flinched。 〃Me？〃
〃Yes。 What's your name？〃
The fellow hesitated； then said； 〃Bruherd； once of House Duskryn。〃
〃Indeed； until your noble kin kicked you out。 We have much in mon； Bruherd； for I myself am outcast twice over。 Now e advise me on a matter of vital importance。〃
〃I'm； uh； all right where I am。〃
〃I know you don't mean to be unsociable；〃 said Pharaun； setting blue sparks dancing on his fingertips。
The Duskryn sighed； and； limping in a manner that betrayed some chronic pain； did as Pharaun had bade him。 He was gaunt； and half a dozen boils studded his neck and jaw。 He'd evidently parted with his piwafwi at some point during his decline； but he still wore a filthy robe that； the Mizzrym noted with mild surprise； had once been a wizard's。 With the aid of the silver ring； he could see that the dozens of pockets no longer held the slightest trace of magic。
〃They may kill me for this；〃 Bruherd said； subtly indicating the goblins。
〃They only tolerate me because they believe me cut off from my own race。〃
〃I'll pray for your welfare；〃 Pharaun said。 〃Meanwhile； what I need to know is this： Of all the libations laid up in our host's no doubt vast and well…stocked cellar； which is the least vile？〃
〃Vile？〃 Bruherd's lip twitched。 〃You get used to them。〃
〃One hopes not。〃
Pharaun handed the other drow a gold； hammer…shaped coin minted in some dwarf enclave。
〃Tell the barkeep you want the stuff that bubbles；〃 Bruherd advised。
'The stuff that bubbles。' Charming。 Clearly； I've fallen among connotnoisseurs。〃
〃It'll do；〃 said Ryld； still unobtrusively studying the crowd。 〃The imnotportant thing is that we toast our victory。〃
Pharaun waited a beat； then chuckled。 〃You're supposed to ask him what he's talking about；〃 he said to Bruherd； 〃thus affording us a graceful way to mence boasting of our triumph。〃
The lip twitched again。 〃I don't think much about victories or triumphs anymore。〃
Pharaun shook his head。 〃So much bitterness in the world！ It weighs on the heart。 Would it cheer you to learn I've avenged us in some small measure？〃
〃Us？〃 Bruherd grunted。
Across the room； a scuffle erupted between a shaggy hobgoblin and a wolf…faced gnoll。 As the batants rolled about the floor； somebody tossed them a knife； apparently just out of curiosity as to which would manage to grab it first。
〃Hark to the glad tidings；〃 said the Master of Sorcere。 〃I'm Pharaun Mizzrym； expelled first from the Seventh House and now Tier Breche； n