It touched a finger to Pharaun's brow； and they were elsewhere。
C h a p t e r
N I N E T E E N
The Underdark was boundless； its mysteries infinite； and despite centuries of following wherever his curiosity led； Pharaun had never seen an illithid city。 Save for a dearth of inhabitants； he thought he'd just stepped into one。
Artisans had carved the walls and columns of the vault into spongiform masses like brain tissue； then covered the convolutions with lines of graven runes。 Pools of warm fluid dotted the floor。 Redolent of salt； the ponds crawled and throbbed with a mental force that even a nonpsionic intelligence dimly sensed as a whisper of alien； inprehensible thought at the back of the mind。
Pharaun recognized that the cavern was in some sense an illusion； but that didn't make it any less interesting。 He would have liked nothing better than to explore every nook and cranny。 It was an inclination rooted in a profound sense of wellbeing； a blithe unconcern no more genuine than the landscape； but seductive all the same。 He would have to fight it。
He turned； saw Syrzan standing a few feet away； and cast darts of force； a spell requiring only words of power and a flourish of the hands。 Halfway to their target； the streaking shafts of azure radiance stopped dead in the air； fell to the ground； and turned into limbless things like leeches or tadpoles； which； squealing telepathically； slithered toward the nearest pool。
〃Your spells won't work here；〃 said Syrzan in the Prophet's rich； pelling tones。
〃I suspected as much； but I had to try。 Are we inside your mind？〃
〃More or less。〃
Syrzan strolled closer。 Off to the side； liquid splashed and plopped as the tadpoles wallowed。
〃We're conversing in my special haven；〃 the undead mind flayer said； 〃but we're also still in the heretic's chapel。 In that reality I'm rebuking Houndaer for fetching you after I told him it was dangerous； and you're insensible。〃
〃Fascinating；〃 Pharaun said； 〃and I suppose you spirited me into the dream for a private teteatete。〃
〃Essentially；〃 the alhoon said。 Even in this phantasmal domain； it smelled faintly of decaying fish。 〃This is actually a form of mindreading。 You won't be able to lie。〃
The Master of Sorcere chuckled。 〃Some people would say that so handicapped； I won't be able to speak at all。〃
The mages began stroll along side by side。 The atmosphere felt quite congenial。
〃How is it；〃 Syrzan asked； 〃that you came looking for my associates and me？〃
Pharaun explained。 He didn't see how it could do any harm。
When he was finished； the illithilich said； 〃You couldn't wield my particular sort of power。〃
〃I understand that now。 You enthrall the undercreatures through a deft bination of wizardry and mind flayer arts； and I lack the innate capacity to master the latter。 What's more； you conspirators know nothing about the priestesses' difficulties。〃 Pharaun cocked his head。 〃Or perhaps you do； Master Eich。〃
〃No；〃 said Syrzan； its mouth tentacles coiling and twisting。 〃Eike the others； I know what's happened but not why。〃
〃So none of what I sought was ever here for the finding。〃 Pharaun laughed and said； 〃My sister Sabal once told me that a clever drow's wits can lead him into follies no dunce would dare to undertake 。 。 。 but that's blood down the gutter。 What of you？ What in the wide world prompted a creature such as yourself to throw in with a band of Menzoberranyr malcontents？〃
〃You seek information you can use against me。〃
〃Well； partly 。。。〃 Pharaun had to pause for a second when a wave of psionic force from one of the larger pools dizzied him and threatened to wash his own thoughts away。 〃In the unlikely event I'm ever afforded the chance。 Mostly； though； I'm just curious。 You're a mage。 Surely we share that trait even if little else。〃
Syrzan shrugged； the narrow shoulders beneath its faded robes hitching higher than would a drow's。
〃Well；〃 the alhoon said； 〃I suppose it can do no harm to enlighten you； and it's been a long while since I've had the opportunity to converse with a colleague of genuine ability。 Not that you're my equal—no elf or dwarf could ever be—but you're several cuts above any of Houndaer's allies。〃
〃Your kind words overwhelm me。〃
The two wizards stepped onto a bridge； a crooked limestone span arching over one of the briny pools。
〃Dark elves will abide a lich；〃 the alhoon said； a brooding note entering its musical and almost certainly artificial voice。 〃Illithids won't。 By and large； they hate the idea of sorcery； a foreign discipline as potent as the psionic skills that constitute our birthright。 Still； they'll tolerate a limited number of mortal mages； those of us drawn to wizardry despite the stigma； for the advantages we bring。 But the thought of undying wizards enduring for millennia； amassing arcane power the while； terrifies them。〃
〃So on the day you achieved your immortality；〃 Pharaun said； 〃you forsook your homeland forever； or at least until the day when you could conquer it。〃
The two mages stopped at the highest point on the bridge and looked out over an expanse of warm； briny fluid。 Pharaun noticed that the stuff rippled and flowed sluggishly； as if it was thicker than water。
〃Indeed；〃 Syrzan said。 〃I hoped to manage my departure circumspectly； but somehow the folk of Oryndoll sensed my metamorphosis。 For decades； they hunted me like an animal； and I existed like one in the wilds of the Underdark。 Those times were hard。 Even the undead crave the forts of civilization。 Finally Oryndoll fot me or gave up on me。 That was an improvement； but still I had no home。〃
〃I've heard；〃 said Pharaun； 〃that one or two secret enclaves of illithiliches exist。 Didn't you search for one？〃
〃I searched for ninety years and found one；〃 Syrzan replied； sounding slightly miffed that its prisoner had jumped ahead in the story。 〃For a time； I dwelled therein but I quarreled with the eldest alhoons； who considered themselves the leaders of the rest。 I conducted certain investigations they had； in their ignorance and timidity； forbidden。〃
The Master of Sorcere laughed and said； 〃If you can't find it in your heart—assuming an illithilich retains the an—to consider us equals； you must at least concede we're kindred spirits。 You weren't angling for the Sarthos demon； were you？〃
〃No；〃 said Syrzan curtly。 〃Suffice it to say that if not for some bad luck； I would have usurped the place of the eldest lich of all； but as matters fell out； I had to flee into the wilderness； a solitary wanderer once more。〃
〃Surely you found someone to enslave。〃
Pharaun noticed the air in the dream cavern had grown cooler。 Perhaps it was responding to its maker's somber reflections。
〃I found small encampments；〃 Syrzan said。 〃A family of goblins here； a dozen troglodytes there。 I used them； used them up； each in its turn； but no little hole infested with a handful of brutes could give me what I truly craved。 I yearned for a teeming city； full of splendors and luxuries； over which I would rule； and from which I could conquer an empire。 But the taking of such exceeded even my powers。〃
〃Or mine；〃 Pharaun said； 〃hard as that is to credit。 So； lusting for what you couldn't have； you spied on the cities of the Underdark； didn't you； or one of them； anyway。 You kept your eye on Menzoberranzan。〃
〃Yes；〃 Syrzan said； 〃I've watched your people for a long while。 I discovered the cabal of renegade males some forty years ago。 More recently； I observed the priestesses' debility； no mere dark elves could hide such an enormous change from an observer with my talents。 I remembered the wouldbe rebels and arranged for them to make the same discovery； then I emerged from the shadows and offered them my services。〃
〃Why？〃 Pharaun asked。 〃Your collaborators are drow； and you're； if you'll pardon my bluntness； a member of an inferior species。 Jumped up vermin； really。 You don't expect Houndaer and the boys to honor a pact with you once the prize is won？ Dark elves don't even keep faith with one another。〃
〃Fortunately； the prize won't be won for decades； and during those years； I'll be subtly working to impose my will on my associates。 Long before they assume the rulership of the city； I'll be ruling them。〃
〃I see。 The fools have given you your opening； and now that which you could never conquer from the outside you'll subjugate from within； extending the web of pulsion farther and farther； one assumes； until all Menzoberranyr are mindslaves marching to your drum。〃
〃Obviously； you understand the fundamentals of illithid society；〃 said Syrzan。 〃You probably also know that we prefer to dine on the brains of lesser sentients and that we share your own race's fondness for torture。 Still； some of your folk will fare all right。 I can't eat or flay everyone； can I？〃
〃Not unless you want to wind up a king of ghosts and silence。 And where； may I ask； do these stoneburning fire bombs e from？〃
〃Menzoberranzan isn't the only drow city possessed of ambitious males；〃 the illithilich said。
Pharaun was momentarily speechless。 Another drow city—
〃Now； it's your turn to satisfy my curiosity；〃 Syrzan said； interrupting the drow's reverie。
〃I live for the opportunity。〃
〃When Houndaer and the others explained our scheme； did you sincerely consider joining us？〃
Pharaun grinned and said； 〃For about a quarter of a second。〃
〃Why did you reject the idea？ You're no more faithful or less ambitious than any other drow。〃
〃Or illithid； I'll hazard。 Why then did I remain firm in my resolve to betray you to Gromph？〃 The slender dark elf spread his hands。 〃So many reasons。 For one； I'm a notable wizard； if I do say so myself； and in Menzoberranzan we mages have our own tacit hierarchy。 In recent years； I've channeled my aspirations into that。 Should I rise to the top； it will make me a personage nearly as exalted as a high priestess。〃
Syrzan flipped its tentacles； a gesture that conveyed impatience； and a flake of skin fell off。 Unlike the slimy hide of living mind flayers； the lich's flesh was cracked and dry。
〃The renegades are trying to place themselves above the females；〃 the undead creature said。
〃I understand that； but I doubt it'll work out the way they plan； or even the way you plan。〃
〃You believe the priestesses are too formidable； even divested of their spells？〃
〃Oh； they'r