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〃So none of what I sought was ever here for the finding。〃 Pharaun laughed and said； 〃My sister Sabal once told me that a clever drow's wits can lead him into follies no dunce would dare to undertake 。 。 。 but that's blood down the gutter。 What of you？ What in the wide world prompted a creature such as yourself to throw in with a band of Menzoberranyr malcontents？〃
〃You seek information you can use against me。〃
〃Well； partly 。。。〃 Pharaun had to pause for a second when a wave of psionic force from one of the larger pools dizzied him and threatened to wash his own thoughts away。 〃In the unlikely event I'm ever afforded the chance。 Mostly； though； I'm just curious。 You're a mage。 Surely we share that trait even if little else。〃
Syrzan shrugged； the narrow shoulders beneath its faded robes hitching higher than would a drow's。
〃Well；〃 the alhoon said； 〃I suppose it can do no harm to enlighten you； and it's been a long while since I've had the opportunity to converse with a colleague of genuine ability。 Not that you're my equal—no elf or dwarf could ever be—but you're several cuts above any of Houndaer's allies。〃
〃Your kind words overwhelm me。〃
The two wizards stepped onto a bridge； a crooked limestone span arching over one of the briny pools。
〃Dark elves will abide a lich；〃 the alhoon said； a brooding note entering its musical and almost certainly artificial voice。 〃Illithids won't。 By and large； they hate the idea of sorcery； a foreign discipline as potent as the psionic skills that constitute our birthright。 Still； they'll tolerate a limited number of mortal mages； those of us drawn to wizardry despite the stigma； for the advantages we bring。 But the thought of undying wizards enduring for millennia； amassing arcane power the while； terrifies them。〃
〃So on the day you achieved your immortality；〃 Pharaun said； 〃you forsook your homeland forever； or at least until the day when you could conquer it。〃
The two mages stopped at the highest point on the bridge and looked out over an expanse of warm； briny fluid。 Pharaun noticed that the stuff rippled and flowed sluggishly； as if it was thicker than water。
〃Indeed；〃 Syrzan said。 〃I hoped to manage my departure circumspectly； but somehow the folk of Oryndoll sensed my metamorphosis。 For decades； they hunted me like an animal； and I existed like one in the wilds of the Underdark。 Those times were hard。 Even the undead crave the forts of civilization。 Finally Oryndoll fot me or gave up on me。 That was an improvement； but still I had no home。〃
〃I've heard；〃 said Pharaun； 〃that one or two secret enclaves of illithiliches exist。 Didn't you search for one？〃
〃I searched for ninety years and found one；〃 Syrzan replied； sounding slightly miffed that its prisoner had jumped ahead in the story。 〃For a time； I dwelled therein but I quarreled with the eldest alhoons； who considered themselves the leaders of the rest。 I conducted certain investigations they had； in their ignorance and timidity； forbidden。〃
The Master of Sorcere laughed and said； 〃If you can't find it in your heart—assuming an illithilich retains the an—to consider us equals； you must at least concede we're kindred spirits。 You weren't angling for the Sarthos demon； were you？〃
〃No；〃 said Syrzan curtly。 〃Suffice it to say that if not for some bad luck； I would have usurped the place of the eldest lich of all； but as matters fell out； I had to flee into the wilderness； a solitary wanderer once more。〃
〃Surely you found someone to enslave。〃
Pharaun noticed the air in the dream cavern had grown cooler。 Perhaps it was responding to its maker's somber reflections。
〃I found small encampments；〃 Syrzan said。 〃A family of goblins here； a dozen troglodytes there。 I used them； used them up； each in its turn； but no little hole infested with a handful of brutes could give me what I truly craved。 I yearned for a teeming city； full of splendors and luxuries； over which I would rule； and from which I could conquer an empire。 But the taking of such exceeded even my powers。〃
〃Or mine；〃 Pharaun said； 〃hard as that is to credit。 So； lusting for what you couldn't have； you spied on the cities of the Underdark； didn't you； or one of them； anyway。 You kept your eye on Menzoberranzan。〃
〃Yes；〃 Syrzan said； 〃I've watched your people for a long while。 I discovered the cabal of renegade males some forty years ago。 More recently； I observed the priestesses' debility； no mere dark elves could hide such an enormous change from an observer with my talents。 I remembered the wouldbe rebels and arranged for them to make the same discovery； then I emerged from the shadows and offered them my services。〃
〃Why？〃 Pharaun asked。 〃Your collaborators are drow； and you're； if you'll pardon my bluntness； a member of an inferior species。 Jumped up vermin； really。 You don't expect Houndaer and the boys to honor a pact with you once the prize is won？ Dark elves don't even keep faith with one another。〃
〃Fortunately； the prize won't be won for decades； and during those years； I'll be subtly working to impose my will on my associates。 Long before they assume the rulership of the city； I'll be ruling them。〃
〃I see。 The fools have given you your opening； and now that which you could never conquer from the outside you'll subjugate from within； extending the web of pulsion farther and farther； one assumes； until all Menzoberranyr are mindslaves marching to your drum。〃
〃Obviously； you understand the fundamentals of illithid society；〃 said Syrzan。 〃You probably also know that we prefer to dine on the brains of lesser sentients and that we share your own race's fondness for torture。 Still； some of your folk will fare all right。 I can't eat or flay everyone； can I？〃
〃Not unless you want to wind up a king of ghosts and silence。 And where； may I ask； do these stoneburning fire bombs e from？〃
〃Menzoberranzan isn't the only drow city possessed of ambitious males；〃 the illithilich said。
Pharaun was momentarily speechless。 Another drow city—
〃Now； it's your turn to satisfy my curiosity；〃 Syrzan said； interrupting the drow's reverie。
〃I live for the opportunity。〃
〃When Houndaer and the others explained our scheme； did you sincerely consider joining us？〃
Pharaun grinned and said； 〃For about a quarter of a second。〃
〃Why did you reject the idea？ You're no more faithful or less ambitious than any other drow。〃
〃Or illithid； I'll hazard。 Why then did I remain firm in my resolve to betray you to Gromph？〃 The slender dark elf spread his hands。 〃So many reasons。 For one； I'm a notable wizard； if I do say so myself； and in Menzoberranzan we mages have our own tacit hierarchy。 In recent years； I've channeled my aspirations into that。 Should I rise to the top； it will make me a personage nearly as exalted as a high priestess。〃
Syrzan flipped its tentacles； a gesture that conveyed impatience； and a flake of skin fell off。 Unlike the slimy hide of living mind flayers； the lich's flesh was cracked and dry。
〃The renegades are trying to place themselves above the females；〃 the undead creature said。
〃I understand that； but I doubt it'll work out the way they plan； or even the way you plan。〃
〃You believe the priestesses are too formidable； even divested of their spells？〃
〃Oh； they're powerful。 They may well extinguish this little cabal。 Yet for the moment； I'm more concerned about the undercreatures。 Do you realize how many goblins there are； how fervently they hated us even before you maddened them； or how dangerous your stoneconsuming fire is？ It could be that after they riot； we won't have a Menzoberranzan left for anyone to rule。〃
〃Nonsense。 The ores will have their hour； and your people will butcher them。〃
Pharaun sighed。 〃That's what folk keep telling me。 I wish your consensus forted me； but it doesn't。 That's one of the drawbacks of knowing yourself shrewder than everybody else。〃
〃I assure you； the ores cannot prevail。〃
〃At the very least； they'll destroy some of the lovely architecture the founders sculpted from the living rock； and they'll set a defiant example for future generations of thralls。 Your scheme will harm not merely the priestesses but Menzoberranzan itself； and I disapprove of that。 It's sloppy and inept。 Only a fool mars the very treasure he's striving to acquire。〃
A sneer in its tone； Syrzan said； 〃I wouldn't have taken you for a patriot。〃
〃Odd； isn't it？ I'll tell you something even stranger。 In my way； I'm also a devout child of Lolth。 Oh； it's never kept me from pursuing my own ends—even past the point of murdering a priestess or two—but though I strive for personal preeminence； I would never seek to topple the entire social order she established。 I certainly wouldn't conspire to place her chosen people and city under the rule of a lesser creature。〃
〃Even gods die； drow。 Perhaps Lolth is no more。 If Menzoberranzan is indeed the mortal realm she loves best； why else would she abandon you？〃
〃A test？ A punishment？ A whim？ Who can say？ But I doubt the Spider Queen is dead。 I saw her once； and I don't just mean the manifestation who visited Menzoberranzan during the Time of Troubles。 I've gazed upon the Dark Mother in the full majesty of her divinity； and I can't imagine that anything could ever lay her low。〃
〃You have looked upon the Spider Queen？〃
〃I though