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In that same instant； Ryld fired。 The bolt whizzed toward its target but glanced off a branch just before striking the troll。 Instead of burying itself in the monster's eye； as Ryld had intended； the bolt sliced a furrow across the top of the troll's head。 A heartbeat later； the graze mended itself。
The troll； having scented Halisstra； raked the air in front of it with long sweeps of its clawed hands。 It must have e unfortably close； for an instant later Halisstra became visible； her long sword slashing forward in an attack。 Stupidly； the troll parried with its hand； and two of its fingers went flying。 They lay on the forest floor； wriggling in the slush。
The creature struck with its other hand； raking it across Halisstra's chest。 The magical chain mail stopped the claws from penetrating； but the force of the blow sent Halisstra stumbling backward。 She slipped on the slushy ground and went down。 Sensing an easy kill； the troll lunged； and only at the last moment did Halisstra manage to bring her shield up。 The troll's teeth sank into the edge of the shield； crumpling it。 Then the troll shook its head； wrenching the shield from Halisstra's arm。 Pinned to the ground by the weight of the monster kneeling on her； she was unable to bring her sword into play。
Negating his levitation magic； Ryld plunged down through the branches。 He landed perfectly braced in a ready posture； drawing Splitter in one smooth motion from the scabbard at his back。 Putting all the force of his will into the blow； he swung the greatsword with both hands and felt it slice cleanly into the troll's neck； cleaving it instantly。 The head flew into the air； eyes blinking stupidly； then it landed and rolled away。 The headless body reared to its feet and spun around as Ryld opened its stomach with a second sword swing； spilling foul…smelling entrails。
The headless； disemboweled troll finally stumbled away into the forest。
Halisstra lay on her back on the wet ground； gasping； rain spattering her face。 Worried that she might be in immediate need of healing magic； Ryld reached down to help her…
…and was slammed to the ground by an attack he should have anticipated。 Rolling quickly away； he saw that the troll was back。 The creature stumbled toward him； one hand holding its head on the stump of its severed neck； the other attempting to rake Ryld with its claws。 Even as Ryld flipped himself up off the ground and back onto his feet； dancing out of the reach of those claws； he saw flaps of sinew burst out of the ropy muscles of the troll's neck and quest up like sentient worms to hook themselves into the head。 Swifter almost than the eye could follow； they stitched the head back onto the body； while the entrails that had spilled from the troll's slashed belly sucked back into the stomach wound。 Already the fingers that Halisstra's blow had sliced off earlier were starting to grow back。 Knobs of pinkish…gray flesh pulsed outward from the severed digits。
Leaping forward； Ryld slashed at the troll's neck a second time； but the monster； unlike him； anticipated the attack。 It ducked…startlingly fast…then lunged forward and wrapped a rubbery hand around Ryld's own。 Ryld heard a bone in his hand crack and gasped at the incredible strength of the troll。 Even with a hand that was missing two fingers； its fist was crushing his。 The troll jerked Splitter out of Ryld's hand and cast it away。
Halisstra had struggled to her feet and was slashing at the troll's broad back； her sword making strange； flutelike noises as she swung it。 The monster grunted with each stroke like a slave under the lash but otherwise ignored the deep cuts in its back。 Whirling； it backhanded her away with a blow that sent her staggering。 Ryld drew his short sword and thrust at the spot where the troll's heart should have been； but even though the blade buried itself to the hilt in the thing's rubbery chest the monster was not slowed。
A hand whipped out with the speed of one of Quenthel's whip vipers and wrapped itself around Ryld's neck。 Powerful fingers tightened against flesh； choking off his breathing。 Ryld felt a rush of magical energy flowing into his body from the dragon…shaped ring on his finger； as the ring hardened his flesh against the troll's claws…but too late。 His windpipe had already squeezed shut。 Abandoning his sword； still hilt…deep in the monster's chest； he drove stiffened fingers into what would have； on a drow； been a crippling pressure point…then he winced。 He might as well have driven his fingers into solid stone。
Halisstra charged back into the fray and managed to slice one of the troll's feet from its ankle。 It stumbled but quickly found its footing； balancing on the stump。 Halisstra was rewarded with a rake of claws that snagged her chain mail； tearing a link from it。
Ryld； unable to breathe； shouted at her the only way he could。
Flee！ I am finished！
〃No！〃 she gasped。 〃I won't leave you。〃
She lunged forward； attacking the troll with a furious barrage of blows。 Ryld； observing with the eye of a master； saw that Halisstra had opened her stance； inadvertently exposing herself to what would be a fatal rake of the monster's claws。
Though Ryld should have been watching with the detachment of someone who knows he is about to die and can do nothing about it； he felt a strange emotion fill him in that impossibly long moment that stretched between two fading heartbeats； a deep sadness and a sense of infinite loss。 Not only because Halisstra was about to die； but because her death would mean the end of something Ryld had only just discovered： true friendship…perhaps even love。 The kind that would cause a person to willingly sacrifice herself in a hopeless attempt to save another。 As their eyes met； Ryld realized that he would have done the same for Halisstra…and he saw that she knew it。 He also saw something he'd never seen in the eyes of a drow： trust。
At that moment a drow female burst out of the forest； her silver…white hair plastered against her face by the rain。 She was naked； save for a heavy silver chain around her waist that was hung with a large silver disk and a curved hunter's horn。 She moved at a full…out sprint； holding above her head a sword whose blade glowed with leaping silver flames。 With a piercing； high…pitched shout that sounded like a single note in a song； strong and true； she slashed down with her sword。
The blade bit deep into the troll's shoulder； then flared。 Silver fire spread instantly across the troll's body； blinding Ryld。 He winced； expecting to be burned himself； but the wave of heat he'd been anticipating never came。 The flames seemed to emit song rather than heat； dancing to their own rhythm as they licked over the troll's rubbery skin。
Bellowing； its flesh blackening under the magical fire； the troll sagged to its knees。 Ryld； suddenly able to breathe again as the massive hand fell away from his neck； gasped in a lungful of air。 Though fouled by the stench of burning flesh； it had never tasted so sweet。 He watched； dumbfounded； as the troll's body crumpled in on itself； the magical； silvery flames destroying it in a matter of heartbeats。
〃I thank you； my lady；〃 he told the drow…obviously a mage or a cleric； and a powerful one。 He bowed deeply before her。 〃You have saved both our 。 。 。〃
His voice trailed off as he saw the look on the woman's face。 She was staring at Halisstra with a look of surprise…and bitter anger。 Ryld finally recognized the symbol on the silver disk that hung from the chain at her waist。 It was a sword； set against a haloed circle。 The symbol of Eilistraee。
〃That's Seyll's armor；〃 the cleric said； eyes blazing as she stared at the chain mail Halisstra was wearing。 〃You're the one who killed her。〃
The stranger wrenched the horn from her belt and blew a single； prolonged note。 An instant later； the horns of her fellow hunters answered。
Chapter Seven
Nimor leaned over the map of Menzoberranzan that had been laid on the floor of the mine； its corners weighted with jagged； fist…sized chunks of silver。 He gestured with his rapier。
〃The spider we hope to slay has two heads；〃 the drow told the five others…three duergar and two demons…that had gathered around the map。 〃Cut off either； and the body dies。〃 The point of his blade pricked the southern edge of the city。 〃One head is here： Qu'ellarz'orl； the plateau where the First House stands。〃 He moved the rapier； pointing to a spot on the northern edge of the city where a smaller cavern bulged off the main one。 〃The other is Tier Breche； the cavern that houses three of the most important institutions in Menzoberranzan： Sorcere； Melee…Magthere； and； most importantly of all； the great temple of Lolth； Arach…Tinilith。〃
〃Tough stones to crack； both one of them；〃 said Horgar； who stood immediately to Nimor's left。
The gray dwarf prince came barely to the draw's waist but had wider shoulders than the slender Nimor。 He scowled down at the map； absently rubbing his bald head with stubby fingers。 His two guards…duergar like himself； one of them with a scar that stretched from chin to ear along the cheekbone…kept a wary ey