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aid on the Braeryn that she had engineered； that brutal attempt to flush her brother out of hiding； that had inspired the thralls to revolt。 In a mad； dark way； the possibility pleased her； but she decided not to share her hypothesis。 Few would see the humor。
Most of her thinking； however； was given over to practical considerations。 She thought her hunting party could help put down the undercreatures； but only if it could bine forces with a bona fide army。 Otherwise； the larger mobs would overwhelm it。
In those first minutes of slaughter and destruction； she watched for some noble clan to ride forth from their castle and drive the goblins before them。 To her consternation； none did； at least not in her immediate vicinity。 Her little troop was on its own。
Life then became an infuriating business of running and hiding from ores of all things； of watching beasts no better than rothe destroy beauty and sophistication they couldn't even perceive。 Occasionally； she and her panions 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 Menzoberranzan； 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 otherwise displeased Matron Mother Miz'ri。
It occurred to Greyanna that if the merchants perished； they'd contribute 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 constructive and less frustrating than simply skulking about； and so Greyanna instructed 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 themselves 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 resembling 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。 Discerning the true threat； she halfstepped 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〃
Once the procession was under way； Aunrae； striding along at Greyanna'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 martial 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 stalagmite 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 surrounded by a web like iron fence。 The barrier was a potent magical defense； and； as the Baenre had just discovered； of no use whatsoever if one's foe was already inside the pound。
Triel floated down from the battlements above to take a hand in the last of the fighting。 Jeggred； who'd stood beside her since the battle menced； drifted down as well。 Both mother and demi demon son wore a copious spattering of blood； none of it their own。
In truth； Triel could have left the task of clearing the yard to her warriors； but she was enjoying herself。 Partly； it was simple drow bloodlust； but she'd also found a directness； a simplicity； in slaughtering goblins that was sadly lacking in the plex task of ruling the city。 For the first time since ascending to her mother's throne； she felt she knew what she was doing。
Half a dozen minotaurs； formidable brutes she had often employed as her own personal guards； chanted； 〃Freedom〃 as they swung their axes or crouched to gore an enemy with their horns。 Triel read the last line of runes from a scroll that； when the rebellion menced； had contained seven spells。
Dazzling flame blazed up from the ground beneath the minotaurs' hooves。 Four of the huge beasts fell down screaming and thrashing。 The other two leaped clear of the conflagration。 They didn't escape harm entirely。 The fire burned away patches of their shaggy fur and seared the flesh beneath； but the injuries didn't slow them down。 They bellowed and charged。
A minotaur towered over a drow of normal stature； and made Triel look like a tiny sprite。 Still； she smiled as she stepped forward to meet the foe。 One of the slaves focused on her and the other； on Jeggred。
The matron mother knew a minotaur liked to overwhelm an opponent with the momentum of its initial rush。 She waited until the creature was nearly on top of her； then sidestepped。 He was lumbering too fast to stop or pensate； and she smashed his knee with her mace as he plunged by。
The slave fell on his face； and she robbed him of the use of his limbs with a bonebreaking strike to the spine。 Meanwhile； Jeggred simultaneously chewed on his own opponent's neck and ripped at the brute's torso； hooking the guts out。
After that； Triel and the draegloth killed several gnolls before runnin