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Still； he chose to plummet； because of what he saw beneath him。
He'd lost track of time inside the rogues' citadel； but it was plain that the Call had gone forth around the black death of Narbondel； when most dark elves had gone home for the night。 With few drow about to contest them for possession of the streets； the undercreatures had erupted from their kennels to kill； loot； and destroy。 Pharaun couldn't make out individuals； but he could see the mobs as great surging； formless masses like the living jellies that infested certain caverns； and he could certainly see the fires they were setting。 He could smell the strange； foul smoke of burning stone； and he could hear the goblins shouting。
Perhaps the embattled moners looked to the noble Houses for succor。 If so； they waited in vain。 Sorcerous power flashed white and red from the windows and baileys of the stalactite castles as the nobles struggled with their own rebellious slave soldiers。 For the time being； at least； the drow were pinned down； unable to brace the marauders outside their own walls。
A house was growing larger and larger beneath Pharaun's boots。 He made himself lighter than air but still slammed down hard。 The impact knocked the wind and the sense out of him； and when his wits returned； he was bouncing upward again。
Restoring a portion of his weight； he achieved a more graceful landing； flattened himself against the roof； and peered about。 The goblins weren't running amok in his immediate vicinity—not yet—so he jumped down onto the street。 Glad the Bazaar was just three blocks away； he dashed in that direction。
He'd almost reached his destination when a motley assortment of scaly little kobolds； pigfaced ores； and shaggy； hulking bugbears surged from an alley。 So far； the revolt was going well for them。 They'd manage to lay their hands on spears； swords； and axes； and bloody them； too。
Pharaun ran even faster。 A javelin flew past him； but the thralls didn't chase him。 Evidently they were more interested in other prey。
When the wizard reached the marketplace； he cursed； for the riot had arrived there ahead of him。 Undercreatures were looting and burning the stalls； creating patches of dazzling glare。 Some of the merchants had fled。 Others attempted to defend their wares； unsuccessfully if they relied on goblin underlings for assistance。
Pharaun skirted the edge of the Bazaar； witnessing scenes of carnage as he skulked along。 Laughing； a goblin flogged his master's corpse with a scourge。 A bugbear used her manacles to strangle a merchant。 Trapped in a blazing stone pen； riding lizards hissed and scuttled back and forth in fear。
The first stall Pharaun had hoped to find intact was burning merrily； and the second was crawling with gnolls； growling； whining； and barking as they pawed through the vendor's goods。 The Master of Sorcere knew of only one more possibility on the perimeter of the Bazaar。 Should that one be lost to him as well； he would either have to venture deeper into the burning； oreinfested maze of stalls or conceive another plan。
Warty； bearded ogres overturned a twelvewheeled wagon； dumping out the dark elves who'd been making a stand inside。 A walking mushroom； taller than any of the brutes； and； with its slender； fluted stem； far more graceful； swung wide to avoid the little massacre。
Pharaun slipped around the slaughter as well。 A few more strides brought him to a scene that； after the carnage he'd just witnessed； seemed almost unreal。 The westernmost portion of the marketplace was quiet。 Some of the merchants had armed themselves and taken up positions outside their tents and kiosks； but they seemed calm and unafraid。
Over the course of an adventurous life； Pharaun had witnessed the same phenomenon before。 Under the proper circumstances； it was possible for folk to remain essentially oblivious to a pitched battle raging just a few yards away。
The wizard ran on。 Ahead； a luminous green circle scribed on the ground surrounded a modious stall built of hardened fungus。 A heavyset male stood in the doorway with an arbalest in his hand and a toad； his familiar； squatting on his shoulder。 He wore a nightshirt； and his feet were bare。 The merchant scowled when he spotted Pharaun。
〃Stay back；〃 he said； his throaty voice even deeper than Ryld's。
Pharaun halted； took a breath； and wound up coughing； thanks to the smoke fouling the air。
〃My dear master Blundyth； is that any way to greet a faithful customer？〃
〃It's the way to greet the madman who attacked a patrol only yesterday。〃
That was right； Pharaun thought； it had been only yesterday。 So much had happened since； it felt like a year。
〃My past indiscretions no longer matter；〃 the Mizzrym said。 〃Do you have any notion what's going on？〃
〃You mean the smoke and motion over yonder？〃 Blundyth nodded to the east。 〃I guess a merchant's eliminating the petition。 It's nothing to do with me； though I'm ready if trouble spills this way。〃
〃Would that were true；〃 said Pharaun。 〃Alas； none of us is truly ready for tonight。 Have you glanced up over the roof of your shop？〃
He pointed to the orange light presently flickering in the east。
〃The nobles are up to something；〃 Blundyth said。 〃Maybe some of the Houses have joined forces to wipe out a mon rival。 Again； it's nothing to do with me。〃
〃You're mistaken。 All across the city； the undercreatures are rebelling。〃
Blundyth snorted； 〃You are mad。〃
〃Don't you or your neighbors own thralls？〃
〃Of course。 They're off somewhere。〃
〃Indeed。 Off preparing to cut your throats。〃
〃Just go away； Master Mizzrym。〃 Blundyth shifted his grip on the staff and added； 〃We always got along。 Don't make me hurt you。〃
〃The ores pose a considerable threat。 I know how to oppose it； but I need your help。 I still have credit here； don't I？〃
〃I don't sell to outlaws。 I don't want any trouble with the priestesses。〃
Pharaun looked into the merchant's eyes and saw that he'd never convince him。
〃Too bad。 You'll regret this decision。 In just a few minutes； most likely； but by then it will be too late。〃
The master turned and strode away； but once he was out of Blundyth's sight； he circled back around。 Creeping through the cramped spaces between the booths； he approached the burly draw's stall from the side。 As he skulked along； he listened to hear if the undercreatures were ing closer； but he couldn't tell。 He suspected that one of the cursed sound baffles was muffling the noise。
At any rate； he reached the dimpled fungal structure without any ores attacking him。 He swept his hands through a mystic pass and whispered an incantation。 The protective circle ot light winked out of existence。
Pharaun ran to the stall； floated upward； and swung himself onto the roof。 The petrified fungus supported him like stone。 Blundyth cursed and came stalking around the side of the stand； his crossbow at the ready。 Pharaun thought he'd better make sure the merchant didn't get a chance to use it。
The wizard jumped off the roof onto Blundyth's back。 He knew he hadn't executed the move as nimbly as poor Ryld would have； but it worked。 It slammed the merchant to his knees。 The toad hopped away。
Clinging to his victim； the master drove his dirk repeatedly into the big male's side。 Sometimes the blade plunged deep； and sometimes it caught on a rib。 Blundyth flailed and bucked for a while； couldn't break free； then tried to aim the arbalest back over his shoulder。 Pharaun ducked away from it。 Finally the merchant fell sideways； pinning his attacker's knife and hand beneath him。 Pharaun dragged his hand free； but didn't bother with the dirk。 He was about to procure a set of vastly superior weapons。 He wiped his bloody fingers on Blundyth's clothing； then rose and headed for the entrance to the stall。
Blundyth's neighbors watched him； but didn't interfere。 As the dead male might have observed； his murder was nothing to do with them。
The wizard's supply shop was as wellstocked as usual。 Jars； bottles； and boxes stood on limestone shelves； and a greenish mirror glowed on a wooden stand in the corner。 The air smelled of spices； herbs； bitter incense； and decay。
Blundyth's piwafwi lay carelessly draped across a chest； and it was the first item Pharaun appropriated。 The cloak fit him like a tent； but it had the customary row upon row of hidden pockets。 Next he examined the vials and drawers； finding the magical ponents that corresponded to the spells he had prepared。 With every one he filched； he felt a little better； almost like a cripple regaining the use of his legs。
As he worked his way across the room； he spotted a pair of boots sitting atop a little cupboard。 They were plainly special in some way； for the maker had tooled runes into the leather。 Without his silver ring； Pharaun lacked the ability to instantly discern what virtues they possessed； but playing a hunch； he decided to take the time to try them on。
The boots squirmed； molding themselves to his feet； then quivered against his flesh like an animal eager to run。 He took an experimental step； and the magical footwear kicked off on its own； augmenting the strength of his legs and propelling him all the way across the shop in a single bound。
Not bad； he thought。 Not as good as a flying carpet； but helpful nonetheless。
He took a few more stride