ways。 I will see if I can find anything in the palace that might illuminate this riddle。〃
〃Should we all go？〃 Ryld asked。
〃Best not。 There is only one entrance to the palace； and we could be trapped inside if the minotaurs return in numbers。 Remain outside； so that you can escape if you need to。 I will return in a few minutes。〃
The scout slipped off into the darkness； leaving the pany in the abandoned hall。
〃I think I agree with Mistress Melarn；〃 Ryld said。 〃It seems the Jaelre carried away everything of value and left this place。〃
〃A great deal of trouble for nothing； then；〃 Pharaun remarked。 〃If there's anything so disappointing as fruitless toil and hardship； I'm not sure what it is。〃
The pany stood in silence a moment； each occupied with his own thoughts。
Halisstra ached with exhaustion； her legs as weak as water。 She had avoided any serious injury； but on the other hand she had almost pletely exhausted her reservoir of magical strength over the past few hours； wielding her bae'qeshel songs to confuse the attacking hordes； strengthen her panions； and staunch the worst of her panions' wounds。
Jeggred； lurking at the rear of the band near the tunnel leading back to the previous room； broke the silence。
〃If the mercenary does not return soon； we will be fighting again；〃 the draegloth said。 〃I do not hear the minotaurs behind us any longer； which means they're probably circling around to e at us from another direction。〃
〃We've taught them not to e at us down long； straight tunnels； I suppose；〃 Ryld observed。 He studied the Jaelre cavern with a practiced eye。 〃Best not to let them catch us in the open like this。 They might overwhelm us with sheer numbers。〃
Danifae asked quietly； 〃What if this is a dead end？〃
〃It can't be；〃 Quenthel said。 〃Somewhere in these caverns we'll discover where it is the Jaelre have fled to； and we will follow。 I have e too far to return to Menzoberranzan empty…handed。〃
〃That's all very good；〃 Pharaun said。 〃However； I feel constrained to point out that we are exhausted and have almost used up our magical strength。 Blundering through these halls and corridors until the minotaurs manage to trap and kill us is sheer stupidity。 Why don't we lie low in one of those artisan homes…say； in that gallery over there…and rest until we're ready to continue？ I believe I can conceal our presence from our pursuers。〃
Quenthel's eyes flashed with fire as she said； 〃We will rest when I see fit。 Until then； we keep moving。〃
〃I do not believe you understand what I am saying…〃 Pharaun began； rising to his feet and speaking with short； clipped words。
〃I do not believe you understand what I am manding you to do！〃 Quenthel snapped。 She whirled on the wizard and stepped close； her whips writhing in agitation。 〃You will cease your incessant questioning of my leadership。〃
〃When you begin to lead intelligently； I will；〃 Pharaun retorted； his calm demeanor finally cracking。 〃Now； listen…〃
Jeggred rose with a feral snarl and grasped the wizard around the upper arms with his huge fighting claws； pulling him away from Quenthel and hurling him across the floor。
〃Show some respect！〃 the draegloth thundered。 〃You address High Priestess Quenthel Baenre； Mistress of Arach…Tinilith； Mistress of the Academy； Mistress of Tier Breche； First Sister of House Baenre of Menzoberranzan 。 。 。 you insolent dog！〃
Pharaun's eyes flashed as he leaped to his feet。 The facade of good humor fell from his face； leaving nothing but cold； perfect malice。
〃Never lay a hand on me again；〃 he said in a deadly hiss。
His hands crooked at his sides； ready to shape awful spells against the draegloth； while Jeggred crouched and made ready to spring。
Quenthel shifted the grip on her scourge and paced closer as the serpent heads curled and darted； striking at the air in their agitation。 Ryld set one hand on Splitter's hilt and watched all three； his face an expressionless mask。
〃This is madness；〃 Halisstra said as she backed away； pointing her crossbow at the floor。 〃We must cooperate if we want to get out of here alive。〃
Quenthel opened her mouth to speak； perhaps to issue the order that would send Jeggred charging at the wizard regardless of the consequences； but at that moment Valas returned； trotting up to the pany。 The scout came to a halt； taking in the situation with a glance。
〃What is going on here？〃 he asked carefully。
When no one answered； the Bregan D'aerthe looked at each of the pany in turn。
〃I cannot believe this。 Have you not had your fill of fighting in the last forty hours？ How can you even consider spending the last of your strength； your magic； your blood； slaughtering each other； when we've already fought our way across half of the damned Labyrinth？〃
〃We are in no mood to be harangued by you； mercenary；〃 said Quenthel。 〃Be silent。〃 She glared at Pharaun； and thrust her whip through her belt。 〃It serves no purpose to fight each other here。〃
〃Agreed；〃 said Pharaun…perhaps the tersest statement the loquacious mage had uttered in the time Halisstra had known him。 From some unsuspected well of discipline the wizard mastered his anger and straightened； relaxing his hands。 〃I will not be handled like a mon goblin； though。 That I will not bear。〃
〃And I will not be taunted and baited at every turn；〃 Quenthel replied。 She turned to Valas。 〃Master Hune； did you find anything in the palace？〃
The scout glanced nervously at Quenthel and Pharaun； as did Halisstra and Danifae。
〃In fact； I did；〃 he said。 〃In the main hall of the palace there is a large portal of some kind。 Unless I misread the signs； a large number of people passed through it。 I suspect House Jaelre lies somewhere on the other side； in some new abode。〃
〃Where does the portal lead？〃 Ryld asked。
Valas shrugged and said； 〃I have no idea； but there is certainly one way to find out。〃
〃Fine；〃 said Quenthel。 〃We will put your portal to the test at once； before the minotaurs and their demons return。 In a few minutes； anywhere will be better than here。〃
She let one long glare linger on Pharaun； who finally had the good sense to avert his eyes in what would have to suffice for a bow。
Halisstra let out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding。
〃Now this I did not expect；〃 remarked Pharaun。
The wizard sighed and sat down on a rock； allowing his pack to drop to the moss…covered ground。 The pany stood in the mouth of a low cavern looking up at a daylit forest； somewhere on the surface。 The Jaelre portal lay a few hundred yards behind them in a damp； winding cavern that led to a large； steep…sided sinkhole with lichen…covered boulders and trickling rills of cold water splashing down from the hillside above。
The day was heavily overcast…in fact； a light rain was falling…and the clouds； coupled with the gloom of the forest； helped to ameliorate the insufferable brightness of the sun。 It was not so harshly brilliant a day as they had seen in the cloudless desert of Anauroch a tenday past； but to eyes long accustomed to the utter lightlessness of the Underdark； the diffuse sunlight still seemed as harsh as the glare of a lightning stroke。
〃Should we keep moving？〃 Ryld asked。 He'd returned Splitter to its sheath； angled across his broad back； but he held a crossbow at the ready and squinted into the towering green trees。 〃It won't take the minotaurs long to figure out where we went。〃
〃It doesn't matter if they do；〃 Pharaun said。 〃The portal was keyed to function for drow alone。 It's nothing more than a wall of blank stone to our friends in the Labyrinth…a sensible precaution on the part of the Jaelre； I suppose； though had I been in their shoes I believe I would not have ruled out the possibility of attackers of my own race。〃
〃You're certain of that？〃 Quenthel asked。
The wizard nodded and replied； 〃I was careful to examine the portal before we stepped through。 Leaping blindly through portals is a bad habit； and should be reserved only for the gravest of situations； such as escaping imminent death in the destruction of a city。 And； before anyone asks； we can still retrace our steps if we wish。 The portal functions in both directions。〃
〃I am not in a hurry to return to the Labyrinth。 Better the sun…blasted surface than that；〃 Halisstra murmured。
She picked her way across the floor of the sinkhole； studying the forest overhead。 The air was cool； and she noted that the trees nearby were mostly needleleafs of some kind； trees that did not lose their foliage in the wintertime； if she remembered correctly。 A number of barren trees of a different sort stood in and among the evergreens； trees with slender white trunks and only a handful of ragged red and brown leaves clinging in an odd clump near the crown。 Dead？ she wondered。 Or merely bare of leaves for the winter months？ She'd read many accounts of the World Above； its peoples； its green plants and animals； its changing seasons； but there was a great difference between reading about something and experiencing it firsthand。
〃Where on the surface