of the Underdark。 Others abandoned their home cities for different reasons…including； Halisstra supposed； the veneration of gods other than Lolth。 She found it hard to believe that anyone so weak as to have been run out of her home city could offer much help at all。
〃We'll solve our own problems；〃 she said。
Pharaun glanced up at Halisstra； cold humor dancing in his eyes。
〃I forgot that you now have some experience with the peculiar misfortune of being deprived of a home city；〃 he remarked。 〃And I applaud your celerity in including yourself in 'our' discussions and 'our' problems。 Your selflessness is laudable。〃
Halisstra shut her mouth； stung by the words。 There would be many hundreds； even thousands of survivors from Ched Nasad scattered in as many tunnels and bolt…holes in the black caverns and passages around the city。 Most of those would end their lives in the jaws of mindless monsters； or perhaps fall into wretched slavery as captives of drow from other cities； duergar； or even more horrible Underdark races like the mind flayers or the aboleths。 And a few might hope to find some kind of life for themselves through their own wits and resourcefulness。 It was not unknown for a House to take into its ranks a defeated enemy who had demonstrated her usefulness。 House Melarn was dead。 Wherever Halisstra journeyed next； she would be starting from square one。 The advantages of her birth； the wealth and power of her city； all that meant nothing anymore。
She considered her reply carefully； conscious of the acute interest of the other drow around her； and said； 〃Spare me your pity。〃 She spoke in a murderous hiss； putting iron in her voice that she did not feel。 〃Unless I miss my guess； Menzoberranzan doesn't stand so very far from Ched Nasad's fate； else you never would have e to seek our aid。 Our difficulties are your difficulties； are they not？〃
Her words had the desired effect。 The wizard looked away； while the other Menzoberranyr shifted nervously； studying each other's reactions。 Quenthel visibly flinched； her mouth tightening into a fierce scowl。
〃Enough； both of you；〃 she said； turning to Valas。 〃This outcast priest of Vhaeraun…why would he aid us in any way？ He is not likely to entertain an especially charitable attitude toward our cause。〃
Valas replied； 〃I couldn't say； Mistress。 All I can do is bring you to him。 What happens after that depends on you。〃
The ruined courtyard fell silent。 The sun was a double handspan into the sky； and blinding shafts of pure light sliced through the darkness of the ruined court from crumbling embrasures in the high walls。 The ruins were apparently not as desolate as Halisstra had thought。 She could hear the furtive sounds of small creatures scrabbling across sand and rubble； faint and small in the distance。
〃The Labyrinth lies only a hundred miles from the Darklake？〃 Quenthel asked。 The scout nodded once。 The priestess folded her arms and thought。 〃Then it's not very far from our homeward course； in any event。 Pharaun； do you mand any magic that might speed our travel？ Fighting our way home across the surface realms appeals to me no more than it does the weapons master。〃
The wizard leered and rose to his feet； preening under Quenthel's request for help。
〃Teleportation is risky；〃 he said。 〃First； the faerzress of the Underdark makes it dangerous to attempt transport spells。 More to the point； I have never visited the Labyrinth； and so have no idea where I would be going。 I would almost certainly fail。 I know a spell to transform myself or others into different shapes more suited for travel； though。 Perhaps if we were dragons or giant bats or something that would fly well by night。 。。。〃 The wizard tapped his chin； considering the problem。 〃Whomever we press into service as a mount would have to stay in that shape until I changed him back； of course； and we'd still be looking at a couple of tendays of travel。 Or 。。。 I know a spell of walking through shadows。 It's dangerous； and I couldn't take us straight to the Labyrinth； as I have never been there and the spell is best employed to reach places you know well。 I could take you to Mantol…Derith； though； which is hard by the shores of the Darklake。 It would shorten our journey considerably。〃
〃Why didn't you mention that before； when we were discussing months of marching across the surface？〃 said Jeggred； shaking his head in irritation。
〃If you recall； we had not yet decided where we were going；〃 Pharaun replied。 〃I intended to offer my services at the appropriate time。〃
Ryld said； 〃You could have transported us from Menzoberranzan to Ched Nasad in the first place。 Why in the world did we walk？〃
〃Because I have good reason to fear the plane of shadow。 As a younger and more impulsive mage I learned…the hard way…that shadow walking confers no special protection against the attentions of those creatures that dwell in the dark realm。 In fact； I was very nearly devoured by something I would not care to meet again。〃 The wizard offered a wry grin and added； 〃Naturally； I now regard shadow walking as an option of last resort。 I only suggest it now because I deem it slightly less dangerous than tendays of travel across the surface world。〃
〃We will exercise all due caution；〃 Quenthel said。 〃Let's be about it； then。〃
〃Not so fast。 I must prepare the spell。 I will require about an hour to make ready。〃
〃Do so without delay；〃 Quenthel said。 She glanced around at the ruins； and shaded her eyes。 〃The sooner we are back below ground； the better。〃
While Pharaun retired to a dark； quiet chamber to study his grimoires and ready his spells； the rest of the party gathered their gear and prepared to leave。 They were woefully unprepared for a long journey on the surface； Halisstra and Danifae had no packs or supplies of any kind。 The Menzoberranyr had wisely recovered their packs before escaping Ched Nasad； but their long journey to the City of Shimmering Webs had depleted their stores。
While they waited for Pharaun； Halisstra studied the ruins in more detail。 She had something of a scholarly inclination； and deliberately taking an interest in the ancient city was as good a way as any of keeping her mind from dwelling on the last awful hours of her home city。 The others busied themselves with the small tasks of breaking camp； or waited patiently in the deepest shadows they could find。 Halisstra gathered the few things she had brought and set out from the ruined court。 Her eye fell on Danifae； who knelt quietly in the shade of a broken arch； calmly watching her leave。
Halisstra paused； and called； 〃e； Danifae。〃
She didn't like the idea of leaving her servant alone with the Menzoberranyr。 Danifae had served her well for years； but circumstances had changed。
The maidservant stood smoothly and followed。 Halisstra led her through the crumbling shell of the palace surrounding the courtyard； and they emerged onto a wide boulevard arrowing through the heart of the old city。 The air had warmed noticeably in the hour or more since sunrise； but it was still bitterly cold； and the brilliance of the day seemed almost enhanced by the crystal clarity of the skies。 Both women stood blinded for several long moments in the sunshine。
〃This is no good；〃 muttered Halisstra。 〃I'm squinting so hard I can't see my hand in front of my face。〃
Even when she managed to open her eyes； she could see little more than bright； painful spots。
〃Valas says it's possible to get used to daylight； with time；〃 Danifae offered。 〃I find that hard to believe； now that I have experienced it myself。 A good thing we mean to return to the Underdark soon。〃 Halisstra heard a small tearing sound from beside her； and Danifae pressed a strip of cloth into her hand。 〃Tie this over your eyes； Mistress。 Perhaps it will help。〃
Halisstra managed to arrange the dark cloth as a makeshift veil。 It did indeed help to abate the fierce glare of the sun。
〃That's better；〃 Halisstra said。
Danifae tore another small strip and bound it around her own eyes as her mistress examined the ruins。 It seemed to Halisstra that the palace they'd taken shelter in was one of the more prominent buildings； which only made sense。 Magical portals were not easy to make； and were often found in well…hidden or vigilantly guarded locations。 A colonnade stood along the front of the palace； and across the boulevard was another great building…a temple； or perhaps a court of some kind。 There was something familiar about the architecture of the buildings。
〃Netherese；〃 she said。 〃See the square column bases； and the pointed arches in the windows？〃
〃I thought Netherese cities floated in the air； and were pletely destroyed by some magical cataclysm；〃 Danifae replied。 〃How could anything like this still stand？〃
〃It could have been one of the successor states；〃 Halisstra said； 〃built after the great mythallars of the old Netherese cities failed。 They would share many of the same architectural features； but would have been more mundane； less magical。〃
〃There's writing up there；〃 Danifae said； pointing at the facade of a crumbled building。