ell he knew and hurl it at the airborne lich。 From his outstretched hands eight brilliant orbs of blinding white energy streaked out to blast through the lich's undead form； each detonating in a stone…shattering explosion that demolished great gaping pieces of the undead sorcerer。 The exploding meteors caused no small damage to Gromph's sanctum； blasting a pair of old bookshelves to flinders and snapping an arm from the spiderstone golem as if the device was a toy damaged by a petulant child。 Gromph cried out in triumph as pieces of Dyrr clattered to the floor。
Dust billowed from the hovering form of the lich； and his skull nodded down to his breastbone almost as if his animating magic was failing him； but the bony creature returned to itself with startling speed。 Dyrr looked up again as wicked green light grew strong in his eye sockets； and he laughed。
〃My old bones aren't the entirety of my being； Gromph；〃 he rasped。 〃You abuse them to no great effect。〃
He started to intone another spell； but the archmage struck again； seeking to dispel any enchantments or abjurations protecting the lich。 Dyrr's flying spell failed； and the lich sank down into blade…reach of the living statue waiting below。
The golem rushed forward。 The massive construct pounded at the lich with terrific blows of its three remaining arms； its gleaming black face pletely expressionless。 The conjury rang with the mighty impact of the blows。 Gromph bared his teeth in a savage grin。
〃You might not be tied to your moldering corpse； lich； but you'll have a difficult time casting spells when you've been dismembered and buried in a dozen different graves；〃 he called。 〃You were a fool to challenge me here！〃
Gromph prowled closer； looking for an opening to strike again with a spell。
Dyrr endured two； then three tremendous blows from the towering statue； staggering in his steps as bone cracked and split。 The demon…faced buckler darted and wheeled around him； laughing shrilly and blocking even more blows than that； parrying strike after strike from the stone construct。 The sorcerer retreated a step； found his footing； and spread his arms wide。 His gleaming black robes shimmered once； and exploded outward in a deadly spinning saw of razor…sharp blades that carved chunks of stone from Gromph's golem and diced tables； furnishings； and books with abandon。
Blades slashed through the archmage's own potent defensive enchantments； gashing him in a dozen places； though nowhere deep enough to kill。 Gromph threw himself flat to duck beneath the disk of flying razors； blinking blood from his eyes as his golem crumbled into worthless black rock。
Dyrr shouted in triumph and leaped forward at the archmage； swinging his adamantine staff with startling speed and swiftness。 Gromph yelped in surprise and rolled aside just in time to avoid a two…handed blow that split the marble flagstone right where he'd fallen。
〃That does not befit mages of our station！〃 Gromph howled； scrambling to his feet。
Dyrr didn't answer。 Instead the lich leaped after him； clearing off whole tabletops and bookshelves with great two…handed sweeps of his staff。
Gromph shouted a spell that ripped the lich's weapon from his grasp； hurling it across the room with such force that the adamantine rod stuck； quivering end first； in the chamber's wall like a javelin thrown by a giant。
As Dyrr floundered for balance； Gromph took a moment to craft a potent spell defense； a shimmering globe that would pletely negate the effects of all but the most powerful of spells。 So fortified； he hunted quickly through the various incantations locked in his mind； seeking the most efficacious to employ against the Lord of Agrach Dyrr。
〃Ah；〃 Dyrr remarked； studying the shimmering sphere。 〃An excellent defense； young Gromph； but not impervious to one of my skill。〃
The lich muttered a word of awful power and scuttled forward； his skeletal talons outstretched。 Seemingly unconcerned by Gromph's defensive spell the lich plunged his hand through the dancing globe of color and grasped the archmage by one arm。 Gromph shrieked in dismay as the power of the lich's spell struck full upon him； blasting his defensive globe to motes of winking light and locking his every muscle into an absolute rigidity。
〃Gromph Baenre； thou art encysted；〃 Dyrr intoned； his naked teeth gleamed against the great and terrible blackness within his skull。
The archmage had one long glimpse at the triumphant lich standing over him； then he started to fall。 Gromph； unable to move； plummeted straight down through the floor； through the flickering rooms and chambers of Sorcere； through a vast distance into the yawning black rock below the tower； the city； the world。 For one terrible instant Gromph felt himself at the bottom of a measureless well； staring up through uncounted miles of darkness at the pinprick figure of his nemesis above。 The darkness fell in upon him and smothered him in its embrace。
In the archmage's chambers in Sorcere； the lich Dyrr stood； looking down at the spot in the floor where he had condemned Gromph Baenre。 Had he been a living mage Dyrr might have panted for breath； trembled with fatigue； or perhaps even collapsed from mortal wounds sustained in the fierce duel； but the dark magic binding his undead sinews and bones together was not subject to the weaknesses of the living。
〃Bide there a time； young Gromph；〃 he said to the empty place。 〃I may find a use for you yet； perhaps in a century or two。〃
He made a curt gesture and vanished from the conjury。
The great peals of a thunderclap echoed through the black stone passageways； a rumbling so deep and visceral that Halisstra could feel it more than hear it。 She crouched in the shadow of a great stone arch and risked a quick glance across the great hall。 On the far side； below the drow party； a handful of hulking monsters picked themselves up off the floor and sought cover。 Several more lay still in the rubble and wreckage of the lower portion of the hall。
〃That broke their rush；〃 Halisstra called out to her panions。 〃They're regrouping； though。〃
〃Determined bastards；〃 Pharaun said。
The wizard sheltered behind a towering pillar of stone； grimacing with fatigue。 Over the previous day and a half the pany had marched at least thirty miles through the endless corridors of the Labyrinth； pursued at every turn by seemingly endless hordes of minotaurs and baphomet demons。 On two occasions the dark elves had narrowly avoided fiendishly clever efforts to trap them by closing off the tunnels they were fleeing through。
〃I have few spells of that sort left；〃 Pharaun said。 〃We need to find a place where I can rest and ready more spells。〃
〃You'll rest when we all do； wizard；〃 Quenthel growled。 The Baenre and her whip were splattered with gore； and her armor showed more than one ugly rent where a deadly blow had barely been turned。 〃We're close to the Jaelre。 We must be。 Let's move again before the minotaurs organize another charge。〃
The other drow exchanged looks； but they pushed themselves to their feet and followed Quenthel and Valas into another passage。 This ran for perhaps four hundred yards before opening into another great hall； this one featuring tall； fluted columns and a floor paved with well…fitted flagstones。 Graceful； winding staircases rose up along the cavern walls to meet long； sheltered galleries where dim faerie fire burned； illuminating chambers that might once have been workshops； merchant houses； or simply the modest homes of soldiers and artisans。
〃Drow work again；〃 Ryld observed。 〃And again； abandoned。 You're certain this is the place； Valas？〃
The scout nodded wearily； his right hand clamped over a shallow but bloody wound on his left shoulder。
〃I have been in this very cavern before；〃 he replied。 〃These are Jaelre dwellings。 Up there a number of armorers lived； and over on that wall was an inn I stayed at。 The palace of the Jaelre nobles lies just through the next passage。〃
Quenthel leaped up a short； curving stairway and glanced into some kind of shop； its windows dark and empty。 She swore and moved past several others； looking into each in turn before descending back to the floor of the main hall。
〃If these are the Jaelre dwellings； then where in all the screaming hells are the Jaelre？〃 she demanded。 〃Did the accursed minotaurs slay them all？〃
〃I doubt it；〃 Halisstra said。 〃No battle was fought here…we would have seen the signs。 Even if the minotaurs had carried off all the bodies over the years； there would be scorch marks； broken flagstones； the remnants of ruined weapons。 I think the Jaelre left this place of their own accord。〃
〃How long ago was it that you were here； Valas？〃 asked Ryld。
〃Almost fifty years；〃 the scout said。 〃Not that long ago； really。 The Jaelre skirmished frequently with the minotaurs back then； and these caverns were guarded by both physical and magical defenses。〃 He studied the great chamber carefully。 〃Let me proceed ahead a little ways。 I will see if I can find anything in the palace that might illuminate this riddle。〃
〃Sh