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eer。〃
〃As I thought。 Consider this； then；〃 Triel said。 〃Whomever engineered Gromph's disappearance will most likely make short work of you if you presumed to call yourself Archmage of Menzoberranzan。 The day may e when you realize your ambition； cousin； but that day is not today。〃
Nauzhror did not hesitate to incline his head and reply； 〃Yes； Matron Mother。 I will do as you mand。〃
〃You are now acting House Wizard of House Baenre； Nauzhror。 If it turns out that my brother is no more； you will hold the position in earnest； but for now I have need of your spells and counsel。 Settle your affairs in Sorcere for the time being。 I will have your personal effects brought here。〃
Nauzhror genuflected and said； 〃I thank you for your confidence in my abilities； Matron Mother。〃
〃My confidence in your abilities extends exactly this far； cousin： Do not get killed；〃 said Triel。 〃As of this moment； any male with the least aptitude for wizardry in House Baenre is yours to train。 We need a cadre of skilled arcanists to equal those fielded by Del'Armgo or Xorlarrin。〃
〃Such a collection of talent cannot be produced overnight； Matron Mother。 It will be the work of years to match Xorlarrin's strength in wizardry。〃
〃Then it is a work best begun immediately。〃
Triel studied the corpulent wizard and found herself hoping against hope that her House's future did not rest in his oily hands。
〃There is one thing more； Nauzhror；〃 she said as the wizard stepped away。 〃Consider it your first duty as House Wizard。〃 Triel moved close and fixed her eyes on his； daring him to smile into her face。 〃You will find out what has happened to my brother。〃
Ryld barreled through a short； curving corridor； Jezz and Valas at his heels。 Danifae helped Quenthel to stagger along behind them。 The weapons master followed the corridor back to his right； and emerged into a large hall or ballroom of some kind。 The beholder mage drifted there； a hulking monstrosity in the form of a chitin…covered orb six feet across； its ten eyestalks writhing as it hurled spell after spell at Pharaun and Jeggred。 The wizard stood encased in a globe of magical energy； some kind of defensive spell that protected him while he dueled spell…for…spell with the monster。 Jeggred stood immobile； his face locked into a needle…fanged grimace as he struggled to throw off the influence of some baneful spell or another。
〃Persistent insects；〃 the beholder snarled as it caught sight of Ryld and the others。 〃Leave me be！〃
The creature floated back through an open archway； retreating to another portion of its lair。
Pharaun turned wearily to face the others。 One side of his clothing was spattered with smoking holes； where some kind of acid had burned him； and he trembled with fatigue。
〃Ah； I see my worthy panions have at last elected to join me；〃 he observed。 〃Excellent！ I was afraid you might miss the pleasure of hazarding life and limb against a murderous foe。〃
〃What's wrong with Jeggred？〃 Quenthel managed。
〃He's ensnared by a holding spell of some kind； and I expended all of my dispelling magic in my duel。 If you can free him； please do so。 I wouldn't want to be selfish； and keep the beholder all to myself。〃
〃Shut up； Pharaun；〃 Danifae rasped。 〃We have to finish the beholder； quick。 There's a pit fiend and a dozen more devils just behind us； and we're about to be caught between the two。〃
The wizard grimaced。 A dangerous light flickered in his eyes as he looked at Danifae； then at Jezz the Lame。
〃If your magical tome is this much trouble； perhaps we should keep it for ourselves；〃 the Master of Sorcere observed。
〃Tzirik will not share the results of his divinations with you if you betray us；〃 the Jaelre said simply。 〃Decide what is more important to you； spider…kisser； and do it quickly。〃
〃Stop it； Pharaun；〃 Ryld said。
He moved over to where Jeggred stood frozen； and laid Splitter alongside the draegloth to break the enchantment that held him。 The half…demon blinked his eyes and scowled； slowly straightening。
〃One problem at a time；〃 Ryld continued。 〃Do you have any magic that can keep the devils off our backs long enough for us to defeat the beholder？〃
The wizard answered； 〃No； they'd be among us in just a moment； and that would be a scene； wouldn't it？ The…wait a moment； I have an idea。 We won't keep out the devils。 In fact； we'll let them in。〃
Infernal power crackled and snapped in the room behind them。
〃That's the pit fiend destroying my wall；〃 Jezz said。 〃Explain quickly； Menzoberranyr。〃
Pharaun began chanting a spell； and weaving his hands in the arcane gestures necessary to shape and control his magic。
〃Do not resist；〃 he told the others。 〃Ah； there we go。 I've covered us all with a veil of illusion。 We're all devils now。〃
Ryld glanced down at himself and noted nothing different； but when he looked back up； he saw that he was standing in the middle of a pany of barbed devils。 He recoiled momentarily； and noticed the other devils flinching too。 Faintly； as though draped in a diaphanous gauze； he could see the natural forms of the other dark elves beneath their scaly exteriors。
〃I can see through this；〃 he warned。
〃Yes； but you're expecting it；〃 said the devil who stood where Pharaun had。 〃This should create no small amount of confusion for our foes； but we must move quickly。 We want the devils to e upon us while we're dealing with the beholder。〃
The wizard glided across the chamber； following the beholder； and the rest of the pany fell in behind him； hurrying after Pharaun as the howls of the pursuing devils rose in the corridor behind them。 They climbed a spiraling stair and found the beholder waiting for them in what seemed to be a large throne room。 The monster hesitated as the pany burst in； cloaked in their devilish guises。
〃The dark elves are not here；〃 the beholder rasped。 〃Search the rest of the tower。 They must be found！〃
〃I'm afraid you are mistaken；〃 Pharaun laughed； and he hurled a blast of lightning at the creature that charred a dinner plate sized patch of