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ons slew a small group of goblinoids wandering on their own； but it meant nothing； would do nothing to arrest the dissolution of all that was finest in the world。
Where was the Spider Queen？ Perhaps she was bored with her toy Men…zoberranzan； magnificent though it was。 Perhaps she intended to break it to make space for a new one。
In time； Greyanna's dodging and backtracking brought her to a street she recognized； a double row of prosperous shops…to be precise； establishments owned by tradesmen under the patronage of House Mizzrym。 She herself had called hereabouts； collecting rents and fees； occasionally chastising a fool who was late paying on a loan or had othnoterwise displeased Matron Mother Miz'ri。
It occurred to Greyanna that if the merchants perished； they'd connottribute no more gold to Mizzrym coffers。 Whereas if she conducted them to safety； she might curry some favor with her mother。 Miz'ri had grown impatient with her continuing failure to kill Pharaun and had even hinted that another might carry the mantle of First Daughter with more grace。
At the very least； preserving Mizzrym assets would feel more construcnottive and less frustrating than simply skulking about； and so Greyanna innotstructed her followers to extract the frightened traders and artisans from their homes。
She loosed a crossbow bolt at the hobgoblins； and her soldiers did the same。 Her wizard conjured a cold； towering shadow like the silhouette of a mantis； which mangled several thralls in its oversized pincers before melting out of existence。 In all； at least a dozen brutes fell； but others shambled forth from the smoke and fiery glare to take their place。
Voices of torment； she thought； how many undercreatures were there in Menzoberranzan？
Until that day； Greyanna had never really noticed。 She guessed no one else had； either。
The hobgoblins charged。
The Mizzrym princess shouted； 〃Dark wall！〃
Three of her retainers； those closest to the onrushing thralls； stooped and touched the ground； conjuring a curtain of shadow between themnotselves and the undercreatures； then fell back。
One of the Mizzrym warriors herded the shopkeepers farther from the threat。 The rest； Greyanna included； scrambled to form a line at a narrow place three yards behind the intangible barrier。 The princess pulled a little silver vial from her belt pouch and guzzled the bitter； lukewarm contents down。 She shuddered and doubled over as her muscles cramped； and the disfort gave way to a tingling warmth。
Hobgoblins strode from the darkness。 They'd dwelled among dark elves too long for the trick to deter them more than a few seconds。
At least the blinding veil precluded their advancing in anything resemnotbling a coherent formation。 They screamed and charged in a gapped and formless wave； which looked murderous even so。
The first hobgoblin to lunge at Greyanna was particularly large and； in marked contrast to his fellows； hairless from the shoulders up。 A mistress or master had depilated the slave to prepare the canvas for a work of art； hundreds of tiny round burn scars arranged in a plex swirling pattern。
The thrall cut at Greyanna's head。 Under other circumstances； she would have retreated out of range； but that would break the line。 Wishing she'd brought a shield to the revel； she lifted her mace in a high parry。 The hobgoblin's broadsword rang against the stone haft of the war club and skipped off。
At once she riposted with a strike to the flank； and the undercreature whipped his targe around to block。 The blow bashed a dent in the round steel shield and knocked the hobgoblin reeling back； his slanted eyes wide with surprise。 He didn't know about the potion that had lent her an ogre's strength。
Greyanna struck to the side； slaying the slave who was menacing her neighbor； then her own bald adversary came edging back。 He hovered a second； then feinted to the flank and finished with a cut to the chest。 Disnotcerning the true threat； she half…stepped inside the arc of the attack and swung at his jaw。 The blow crunched home； and he toppled backward with a shattered； bloody chin and a broken neck。
She killed two more hobgoblins； then something prodded her shin； a thrust that failed to penetrate her boot。 She looked down； and it was a kobold； armed with a fireplace poker； who had apparently been scurrying about the feet of the larger slaves。 Greyanna killed the reptilian imp with a roundhouse kick。
She cast about for her next adversary。 She didn't seem to have one。 The fight was over； and the few surviving hobgoblins were running away。
〃Form up！〃 she shouted。 〃I want a column with the traders in the middle。 Fast！〃
Once the procession was under way； Aunrae； striding along at Greynotanna's side； asked； 〃May I know where we're going？ An ally's castle？〃
〃No；〃 Greyanna replied。 〃I suspect we couldn't get in。 We're going to hide our charges in Bauthwaf。〃
The column crept past corpses and burning stone； and as they made their way to the cavern wall； other moners came running out of their homes to join the procession。 Greyanna's first impulse was to turn away those without ties to House Mizzrym； but she thought better of it。 Many of the newers carried swords； and she could press the dolts into marnottial service if needed。
Occasionally someone collapsed； coughing feebly； poisoned by the stinging smoke。 The rest stepped over her and pressed on。
Someone gave a thin； high cry； as if at an unexpected pain。 Greyanna spun around。 The goblins weren't attacking。 Her client the canoe maker had simply seized his opportunity to knife another male in the back。
〃A petitor；〃 the craftsman explained。
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The labyrinthine fortress known as the Great Mound contained a number of magically sealed areas。 Unbelievably； the rebellious slave troops penetrated everywhere else。 The Baenre fought the goblinoids in the stanotlagmite towers； across the aerial bridges that connected them； and through the tunnels beneath them； even along the balconies and skywalks of the stalactite bastions； reclaiming their domain a bloody inch at a time。
The thralls made their final stand in the courtyard； a spacious area surnotrounded by a web like iron fence。