nally the duergar fell off…balance and collapsed； un…moving； to the paved street。
〃e on；〃 Pharaun insisted； taking Danifae by the hand and leading her； still limping from her ordeal back in the collapsing House； up the stairs to the top of the landing。
A pair of gray dwarves started to follow the two of them then stopped about halfway up； aiming loaded crossbows。 Pharaun spun away and yanked his piwafwi's hood around him； using the cloak to shield both himself and Danifae。 Two bolts smacked into the center of his back； giving him a vicious sting。
He cried out from the pain； sinking down to one knee。 Angrily freeing his magical rapier； Pharaun turned back to face the pair of duergar； mentally directing the dancing weapon toward them。 The wizard managed to engage the first gray dwarf； but the second one scrambled past the enchanted weapon and clambered up the steps toward him。
A blur of fur and claws landed on the steps between the mage and his foe； and Jeggred sliced and gashed at the duergar； spraying gouts of blood in every direction。 The humanoid staggered back from the draegloth's onslaught； his arms held up defensively as he was cut down。 When the first gray dwarf saw the fate of his panion； he backed down the steps and fled into the swirling maelstrom of skirmishing below。
〃Stay here；〃 Jeggred said； bounding back down into the crowd。 〃I will get the others。〃
Pharaun considered whether to obey the draegloth or ignore the beast。 He would be much happier； he decided； if he could get up on top of the building； but he knew that Danifae was unable to follow him； should he choose to levitate there。 He decided to await the return of Quenthel's pet。
〃Back in here；〃 he said to Danifae； stepping into the deeper darkness of the entryway and pulling her in after him。
From there； they could watch the street below without being so exposed。
Danifae pressed against Pharaun； trying to remain out of sight； but the effect was very distracting。 The mage found himself pressing right back； while at the same time wondering how he could be so easily diverted during such a time。
It's not like you've never enjoyed the feel of the flesh before； he chided himself。
Still； he was glad that she lingered there； though whether her contact with him was purely happenstance or calculated； he wasn't sure。
The too of them did not have to wait long。 Jeggred reappeared after a code of moments； with Quenthel right behind him。 Jeggred cut a swath through the crowd with his oversized claws； while the drow protected the fiend's back。 As the duo forced their way through the throng more than a few fell before the draegloth's fierce strikes。 Finally； they reached the stairs and hurried up to the landing。
〃We're here；〃 Pharaun said； gesturing for Quenthel and Jeggred to join him。 〃We've got to get to the roof；〃 he said； pointing over their head；； 〃We can see much better from up there； and stay out of the fray；〃
Jeggred nodded and grabbed Danifae。 Together； they began to levitate upward； reaching a spot on the roof that overlooked the sea of clashing bodies below。 Pharaun and Quenthel followed quickly。 The four of them settled down atop the rounded surface and dropped low； wanting to avoid creating too large a profile against the backdrop of the city。 Pharaun did a careful inspection of the city streets one level up； trying to ascertain whether or not they'd been noticed from there。 It appeared that they had not。
〃Do you see them？〃 Quenthel asked no one in particular； and Pharaun returned his attention to the scene below。
The tittle still raged； but it was beginning to thin somewhat as the body count grew。
〃Nothing；〃 the Master of Sorcere replied； and Danifae also shook her head。
〃The warrior went running that way；〃 the battle captive said； pointing toward a side street on the opposite side of the square。 〃I think Malistra followed him。〃
〃Yes； I heard him；〃 Pharaun replied。 〃I tried to get there； but the surge was too much。 When the fighting dies down； we can try to reach them。〃
〃What about Valas？〃 Quenthel said。 〃What happened to him？〃
Pharaun replied； 〃I don't know； but he can disappear even when you're looking right at him； so I don't think he's in much danger。 He'll show upwhen we need him most。〃
By this time； the duergar were beginning to overwhelm the force of dark elves； and when reinforcements for the gray dwarves arrived； what was left of the drow turned and fled。 Pharaun watched； hoping the throng of duergar would give chase； but they seemed content to hold up and regroup。
That's when everything went wrong。
Five or six crossbow bolts snapped against the roof next to the wizard； and a couple of them actually struck him in the back。 Only the enchantments of his piwafwi protected him； but he was getting damned tired of being hit。 Danifae was not so lucky。 One of the bolts speared her through the calf； and she growled in pain as Pharaun leaped up to shield her with his own body。
A burst of flame and light exploded only a few feet to the wizard's right。 Fire swept over the surface of the roof where they crouched as a second and a third burst landed near the first。 The wizard flinched； then turned to see where the new attack was ing from。 What he saw made his heart sink。 The attackers； whom Pharaun could see were more gray dwarves； were perched atop a web street one level above them and near the back line of the roof。 They hurled more firepots in the drow's direction； and Jeggred roared in anger； hit by one of the incendiary pots。
〃Damn it； Pharaun； you've led us into a crossfire！〃 Quenthel snarled at the mage。 〃We've got to get off this roof。 Jeggred； shield me。〃
Quenthel turned to peer over the side； and Jeggred positioned himself to shield the three drow with his body as best he could。 Part of his fur was smoking； but the draegloth didn't seem to notice。
〃We can not stand here；〃 he said。
〃I know；〃 Pharaun responded； examining the bolt wound in Danifae's leg more carefully。
It had struck the same leg that was already injured but didn't appear bad； having missed the bone and penetrated only the fleshy part of her calf。 He snapped off what he could； and the battle captive gave a slight jerk。
Quenthel made a disgusted sound； pulling back from the edge。
〃All of this motion has attracted their attention below us；〃 Quenthel said in a harsh tone。 〃We can't go that way。〃
〃Then we'll go over the other side；〃 the wizard replied。
He shoved what was left of the bolt through Danifae's leg and out。 She hissed from the sudden pain； but bit her lip and stifled any more sounds。 More crossbow bolts and firepots were smacking down against the stone around them。
〃Is it poisoned？〃 Pharaun asked the high priestess。
In answer； one of the viper heads on Quenthel's whip rose up and hissed； 〃No。〃
More of the firepots slammed down nearby； adding to the roar of the fire； which was hot and spreading across the rock surface of the building。
〃We'll be roasted rothé meat in a moment；〃 the mage said。 〃Heal her so we can go！〃
〃Forget her；〃 Quenthel replied。 〃e on。〃
The Mistress of the Academy stood and moved toward the back of the building； still skulking behind the draegloth。
Pharaun looked back down at Danifae； shrugged； and began to stand。 The female reached up and grabbed him by the piwafwi； a determined look on her face。
〃Don't leave me here；〃 she said。 〃I can walk。 Just help me up。〃
Another pair of explosions erupted near her head； and she flinched forward as Pharaun took hold of her by the hand and hauled her to her feet。
〃You won't regret it；〃 she said； giving the wizard a brief but obvious look。 'Til be worth it。〃
Limping； blood flowing from the puncture； Danifae began to follow Quenthel and the draegloth。
〃Jeggred！〃 she called。 〃Carry me！〃
Pharaun realized his mouth was hanging open； and he snapped it shut。 As he trotted after the battle captive； he saw Quenthel and the draegloth freeze； and he swept his gaze to where they were looking； at the back side of the building。 Rising up from behind the roofline was an immense； chitinous leg of something all too familiar。 The leg sought footing upon the rooftop； and two more appeared； followed； by the head of a spider of massive size。
〃Lolth preserve us；〃 Quenthel breathed。 〃Where did that e from？〃
The immense spider pulled itself into full view； scrambling ponderously over the back edge of the building； each step making the entire structure shake violently。
〃Oh； no；〃 Danifae said。 〃They didn't。 。 。〃
〃They； who？〃 Pharaun asked； involuntarily backing up a step。
Even Jeggred seemed anxious； watching the enormous arachnid； black and shiny； heave itself fully atop the building。 Its mandibles clicked as it peered about； its multilensed eyes glistening in the firelight。
〃And what did they do？〃 the wizard added。
〃The matron mothers；〃 Danifae replied。 〃They summoned a guardian spider。 The fools。〃
Quenthel sucked in her breath。
〃Indeed；〃 the high priestess agreed。 〃We must flee。〃