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nd shrugged。
〃That's all right；〃 the swordsman replied。 〃Two out of three is good odds。〃
Pharaun slumped back and spent the next few minutes resting。 When he sat up and； heedless of the fresh blood that started from the corners of his mouth； he growled through the mask。 He banged the box encasing his hands twice against the floor； then looked at Ryld。
〃I understand；〃 the warrior said。 〃Make noise。 Bring someone。〃
Pharaun nodded。 The cage around his head clinked。
〃Ho！〃 Ryld shouted。 〃Somebody； e here！ I'm a Master of Melee…Magthere。 I know secrets about the defenses of the great Houses； secrets you must know for your plans to succeed。 I'll trade them for my freedom！〃
He continued in the same vein for several minutes； clashing his chains against the wall for emphasis。 Meanwhile Pharaun lay motionless； as if he were still unconscious。
Finally； eyes appeared at the little barred window in the door。
〃What？〃 the newer snarled。 It wasn't a voice Ryld had heard before。
〃I need to talk to you；〃 the weapons master said。
〃I heard；〃 said the other drow。 〃You have secrets。 The alhoon will rip them out of you； no bargain required。〃
〃Syrzan said it would take time to turn us into mind…slaves；〃 Ryld replied。 〃I have information you need before you unleash the under…creatures。 Their rebellion will do you no good if the weapons masters strike them all dead before they even get started。〃
〃How could the masters…of…arms do that？〃 asked the rogue。
〃A secret；〃 said Ryld； 〃that we brothers of the pyramid teach to a chosen few。〃
〃I don't believe you。〃
〃We've been studying war for millennia。 Do you think we impart all we know to every young dullard who enrolls in the Academy； or is it likely we hold greater； deadlier mysteries in reserve？〃
The rogue hesitated。
〃All right； tell me。 If there's anything to it； I'll set you free。〃
Ryld shrugged； rattling his fetters。 They were already rubbing his wrists raw。
〃Shout it through a closed door？〃 the weapons master asked。 〃Is that what you really want？〃
〃Wait。〃
The contempt in the prisoner's tone had reminded the rogue of a basic principle。 It was best to keep information to yourself； at least until you fignotured out how to reap a benefit from sharing it。 This rogue didn't want anyone overhearing what Ryld had to say。
The door clacked as a key turned in the lock。 It creaked open； and the renegade stepped through。 He was stocky； with a broken nose squashed across an angular face。 He'd decorated rather nondescript clothing with gaudy ornaments； including a silver fillet set with garnets。 His rapier hung from a baldric； the hilt of a dagger protruded from the top of either boot； and a hand crossbow dangled from his belt。
He stopped just inside the doorway； where he had every right to think himself safe。 The cell was large enough； and the prisoners' shackles short enough； that he was beyond their reach。 He swung the door shut behind him but didn't permit it to latch。
〃All right；〃 he said； 〃now you can tell me。〃
〃First；〃 said Ryld； 〃unchain me。〃
He thought he had to keep the renegade occupied for just a few more seconds； long enough for Pharaun to cast his spell。
The guard just laughed and said； 〃Don't be absurd。〃
〃Why not？〃
〃You know why not。〃
〃But you might just listen to the secrets and leave me imprisoned；〃 said Ryld； watching Pharaun from the corner of his eye。
To his dismay； the wizard wasn't conjuring。 He wasn't moving at all。 Had he passed out again？
〃You're caged；〃 said the renegade； 〃and I'm not。 Therefore； you will have to trust me； not the other way around。〃
Ryld scowled； meanwhile racking his brains for inspiration。 With Phanotraun inert； he was going to have to improvise a story to detain the rogue and pray the wizard would make a move before much longer。
〃All right； I suppose I have no choice。 Not far beyond Bauthwaf lies the entrance to a tunnel leading to the deepest reaches of the Underdark； where even our people do not…〃
〃What's this got to do with weapons masters killing slaves？〃 the guard demanded。
〃Listen； and you'll find out。 At the lower end of the passage is a mineral I've never seen anywhere else 。 。 。〃 At last Pharaun moved his feet。 Now； if only the renegade didn't notice。 〃When you crush the rock to powder 。。。〃
〃T T 1〃
Hey！
Evidently the guard's peripheral vision was almost as good as Ryld's； for he pivoted toward Pharaun； but not in time。 A disembodied hand made of pale yellow light appeared beside his shoulder and gave him a push。
The impetus sent him staggering closer to Ryld。 The weapons master grabbed him and smashed his head against the wall until it left a sticky mess on the stone； then he searched the corpse and found a ring of keys clipped to its belt。
He discovered the one that opened his own restraints； and Pharaun's。 The wizard flexed his fingers； restoring circulation； produced a silken handkerchief from his sleeve； and dabbed at the blood on the sides of his mouth。
〃I think I'll establish a new school of magic；〃 the wizard said。 〃Pedomancy…the sorcery of the feet。〃
〃Why did you wait so long to throw the spell？〃 Ryld asked。
〃I was looking for our friend's keys。 It wouldn't have done any good to attack him had he not been carrying the means to release us from our fetnotters。 His cape was hanging over them； and it took me a minute to spot them。〃
〃I was certain something had gone wrong。 Are you ready to get us out of here？〃
〃Momentarily；〃 Pharaun said as he pulled on his socks and boots。 〃I think everything's going splendidly； don't you？ We've acquired the knowlnotedge we came for； and now we'll escape； just as planned。〃
〃We didn't plan on having to do it without our gear。〃
〃Please； don't harp on the obvious。 It makes for a dreary conversation。 Where exactly are we； by the way？ Where's the nearest exit？〃
〃I don't know。 They gave me a knock on the head before they carried us here。 I think we're up inside the cavern ceiling。〃
〃So we won't encounter a window or balcony unless we descend a ways； but we might find a door opening on a tunnel。〃
Ryld scavenged the dead rogue's weapons and piwafwi。 The cloak was much too small for him； but would provide some protection nonetheless。 The