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oo bad the bugbear hadn't done the same。 It would have prevented the rot and the carrion smell。
〃No；〃 Ryld said； tossing the bugbear a shaved coin； paying the toll to pass in and out of the house。 〃We came to see Smylla Nathos。〃
The hulking goblinoids just looked at him； as did several others creanottures。 A scaly； naked little kobold tittered crazily。
Something was wrong； and the Master of Melee…Magthere didn't know what。 He felt a sudden tension and exhaled it away。 Looking nervous was a bad idea。
〃Isn't this Smylla's house？〃 he asked。
The shorter bugbear； who still loomed nearly as huge as an ogre； laughed and said； 〃No； not no more； but she still live here 。 。 。 kind of。〃
〃Can we see her？〃 said Ryld。
〃What for？〃 asked the bugbear with the severed goblin hand。
The weapons master hesitated。 He'd intended to say that he and Pharaun wished to consult Smylla in her professional capacity as a trader in information。 It was essentially the truth； though that didn't matter。 What did was that he hadn't expected it to provoke a hostile response。
Pharaun stepped up beside him。
〃Smylla sold our sister Iggra the secret of how to break into a merchant's strong room；〃 the wizard said in a creditably surly Orcish rasp。 〃How to get around all the traps。 。 。 。 Only she left one out； see？ It squirted acid on Sis and burned her to death。 Slow。 Almost got us too。 It's Smylla's fault； and we e to 'talk' to her about it。〃
The smaller bugbear nodded。 〃You ain't the only ones wantin' that kind of talk。 Us； too； but we can't get at the bitch。〃
Pharaun cocked his head。 〃How e？〃
〃A couple tendays ago；〃 said the bugbear with the severed hand necklace； 〃we decided we was tired of her bossing us and her lamps hurting our eyes。 We jumped her； hit her； but she chucked one of those stones that makes a flash of light。 It blinded us； and she run up to her room。〃 He nodded toward the head of a twisting staircase。 〃We can't get through the door。 She locked it with magic or somethin'。〃
Pharaun snorted。 〃Ain't no door my brother and me can't bust through。〃
The bugbears exchanged glances。 The smaller one； who； Ryld noticed； was missing several of his lower teeth； shrugged。
〃You can try；〃 the larger one said。 〃Only； Smylla belongs to us； too。 Hit her； bleed her； slice off a piece of her and eat it； but you can't keep her all to yourself。〃
〃It's a deal；〃 Pharaun said。
〃e on； then。〃
The bugbears led them through the crowded room and onto the stairs； where they still had to pick their way through lounging paupers。 Partway up； the brute wearing the decaying hand put it in his mouth and began slurping and sucking on it。
At the top of the steps were a small landing and a limestone door with a rounded top。 Two sentries； an ore and a canine…faced gnoll with sores on his muzzle； sat on the floor looking bored。
The disguised teachers made a show of examining the door。
〃Can you knock it down？〃 Pharaun whispered。
〃When the bugbears couldn't？ Don't count on it。 Can you open it with magic？〃
〃Probably。 It's magically sealed； so a counter spell should suffice； but I don't want our friends to obs