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The high priestess's eyes narrowed； and she straightened proudly。 She obviously didn't care to be the subject of the wizard's humor。 Seemingly ignorant of the smoldering glare Quenthel fixed on him； Pharaun made a grand gesture indicating the formless dark ahead of them。
〃Our path leads now into the shadow of our own Underdark；〃 he said。 〃I suggest we redouble our efforts and finish our march quickly； as there may be more nightwalkers about。〃
〃That's a damned cheerful thought；〃 grumbled Ryld。 〃How much farther now？〃
〃Not more than an hour； perhaps two；〃 Pharaun answered。
The wizard waited while the dark elves stood and fell in behind him again。 Ryld and Valas； the two who had borne the virulence of the nightwalker's dread gaze； seemed gray with weariness； hardly able to keep their feet。
〃e；〃 said Pharaun。 〃Mantol…Derith is no Menzoberranzan； but it will be the most civilized place we've seen in days； and no one is likely to want to kill us。
〃Not right away； at least。〃
Nothing more troubled them for the rest of the shadow walk； and they emerged from the Fringe not long after the nightwalker's attack； returning to the mundane world on the floor of a narrow； subterranean gorge。 The walls were marked with various trail signs and messages from previous travelers who had stopped there。 It was obviously a monly used campsite near the trade cavern。 The pany rested there for hours； warming up from the insidious chill of the Shadow Fringe。 After resting； they left the gorge and found their way out into a long； smooth…sided tunnel that bored for miles through the dark； broken by occasional open caverns along the way。
Valas led the pany； as he was familiar with their arrival point and the route they found themselves traveling。 After the burning skies of the daylit surface and the miserable gloom of the Plane of Shadow； the routine perils of the Underdark felt like old friends。 This was their world； the place where they belonged； even those of their number who had rarely journeyed outside their home cities。
After a march of about two miles； Valas called a brief halt and knelt down to sketch a crude map in the dust of the passage floor。
〃Mantol…Derith lies not more than half a mile ahead。 Remember； this is a place of trade and association with other races。 We do not rule Mantol…Derith…no one does…and so it would be prudent to avoid giving offense to anyone you encounter there； unless you're looking for a fight that may waste our time and resources。
〃Also； I have been considering how best to find our way from the trade cavern to the holdings of House Jaelre in the Labyrinth。 From here our path must traverse the dominion of Gracklstugh； city of the gray dwarves。〃
〃Under no circumstances will we approach Gracklstugh；〃 Quenthel said at once。 〃The gray dwarves destroyed Ched Nasad。 I see no reason to present myself at their doorstep for slaughter。〃
〃We have few other options； Mistress；〃 Valas said。 〃We are northeast of the duergar realm； and the Labyrinth lies several days southwest of the city。 We cannot skirt the city to the south because the Darklake is in the way； and the duergar patrol its waters。 Skirting the city to the north would take us at least two tendays of difficult travel through tunnels I do not know well at all。〃
〃Why did we bother to e this way； then？〃 Jeggred muttered。 〃We might as well have returned to Menzoberranzan。〃
〃Well； for one thing； Gracklstugh still lies between us and House Jaelre； whether we're in Mantol…Derith or Menzoberranzan；〃 Pharaun replied。 He tapped three points on Valas's crudely sketched map。 〃The gray dwarves must be addressed in either scenario。 The question is simply whether we dare to pass through Gracklstugh； or not。〃
〃Could you shadow walk us past the city？〃 Danifae asked。
Pharaun grimaced and said； 〃I have never traveled past Mantol…Derith in this direction； and shadow walking is best employed to reach a familiar destination。 At any rate； it wouldn't surprise me to find that the duergar have defended their realm against the passage of travelers on nearby planes。〃
〃Are we certain that the gray dwarves would object to our presence？〃 Ryld asked。 〃Merchants from Menzoberranzan journey to Gracklstugh often enough； and gray dwarf merchants bring their wares to Menzoberranzan's bazaar。 It's possible that Gracklstugh had nothing to do with the duergar mercenaries who attacked Ched Nasad。〃
〃I have heard nothing that suggests to me that we should risk entering Gracklstugh；〃 Quenthel said。 She made a curt gesture with her hand； silencing the debate。 〃I prefer not to gamble on the hospitality of the gray dwarves； not after the fall of Ched Nasad。 We will go around the city to the north； and trust that Master Hune can find us a way through。〃
Halisstra glanced at Ryld and Valas。 The scout chewed on his lip； worrying at the problem； while the weapons master simply lowered his eyes in resignation。
〃We are only a mile or two from this cavern known as Mantol…Derith？〃 Halisstra asked； pointing at the sketch。
〃Yes； my lady；〃 Valas replied。
〃And regardless of which course we choose； we must pass through the place？〃
The Bregan D'aerthe scout simply nodded again。
〃Then perhaps we should see what we can learn in the trade cavern before we make our decision；〃 Halisstra offered。 She could feel Quenthel's eyes on her； but she did not look at the Baenre。 〃There might be duergar merchants there who could shed some light on the question for us。 If not； well； we'll have to provision ourselves there anyway before striking out into the wilds of the Underdark。〃
〃A reasonable suggestion；〃 Pharaun remarked。 〃There are a dozen mercenary panies based in the City of Blades。 Is it not likely that the duergar we fought in Ched Nasad were hired by a drow House； and had no special allegiance to Gracklstugh？〃
〃They did Gracklstugh's work when they destroyed the city；〃 Quenthel said darkly。 She stood and set her hands on her hips； still staring at the sketch on the floor。 She thought for a moment； then angrily swept it out with her foot。 〃We w