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le of revelers he'd watched rise from their seats and draw their weapons； either to play at fencing or to settle a quarrel that had nothing at all to do with the hooded male defeating all ers at sava。 Indeed； within the confines of the Jewel Box； blades rasped from their scabbards with a certain regularity。 Superficially； this new quartet was no different； but somehow Ryld knew that they were。 Sure enough； they stalked straight toward him and his oblivious opponent through the fragrant haze of innotcense。 Other patrons； likewise sensing the swordsmen's intent； made haste to clear the way。
A blade with a glowing redness…an imprisoned spirit perhaps…oozing inside the adamantine； flicked in a horizontal sweep at the tabletop。 Ryld caught the weapon and pushed it away before it could upset the sava pieces or his neatly stacked winnings。 The long sword was as sharp as only an ennotchanted weapon could be； but he managed the grab without cutting his hand。 Finally startled from his reverie； the scrawny boy looked wildly about。
〃May we help you？〃 asked Ryld。
〃We've been listening to you；〃 said the owner of the long sword。
Though not so big as Ryld； he was nonetheless husky and tall for a drow male； and the points of his prominent ears seemed to reach above the top of his head like a bat's。 He was the best dressed and plainly the leader of the foursome； even though his broad； sullen face bore the mottled bruises of a beating。 The weapons master assumed that some noble female must have seen fit to give the male a pummeling。 His panions would think none the less of him for that。
Especially since； Ryld noted； two of them were hurt as well； moving a trifle stiffly or slightly favoring one leg。 Perhaps they were all kinsmen； and one of the priestesses in their House had gone on a regular tear。
〃You've been asking a lot of questions about runaways；〃 the swordsman continued in a threatening drawl。
〃Have I？〃 Ryld replied。
He reflected that it was too bad the three musicians had left the stage a few minutes back。 He doubted that anyone had managed to eavesdrop on his conversations while the longhorn was shrilling away。
The other male scowled and asked； 〃Why？〃
〃Just making conversation。 Do you know something about the rogues？〃
〃No； but I know that in the Jewel Box we don't like it when people are too curious。 We don't like them hunting runaways。 We don't like them lisnottening to every private thing we say and reporting back to the Mothers。〃
〃I'm not a spy。〃
Maybe he was； but he had no intention of confessing it to this fool。
〃Ha！〃 the swordsman scoffed。 〃If you were； you wouldn't admit it。〃
〃Be that as it may； I suggest you and your friends return to your table and let this boy and I finish our game。〃
The male with the red sword swelled like an inflated bladder on the verge of bursting。 〃You're trying to dismiss me like a servant？ Do you have any idea who I am？〃
〃Of course； Tathlyn Godeep。 I trained you。 Do you remember me？〃
Ryld pushed back his cowl； exposing his hitherto shadowed features。
Tathlyn and his friends goggled at their former teacher as if he had just