Darkvision

Ususi checked the fragment, then started searching the obelisk for matching symbols. The tablet chip, which Ususi thought of as a reference list, was something she'd unearthed about six months earlier in a crumbling spire in southern Mulhorand. Since then, it had proved invaluable. The wizard located the runes she sought, the ones matching those on her list. She pressed each one on the obelisk, hoping the order was correct. The ground shuddered and the dust of centuries rained down from the ceiling. The inscribed runes she'd activated lit up with brilliant blue light. Ususi stepped back, poised to flee in case she'd guessed incorrectly. Another shudder accompanied a familiar grating sound of stone on stone, and the obelisk slowly slid upward. A hiss of equalizing air blew a spray of milky dust in all directions.

When it settled, a smooth-sided shaft angling steeply into the earth was revealed. A narrow stairway was chiseled into the side of the shaft, descending in tight loops out of the reach of Ususi's light.

Demonic sculptures squatted at the head of the stair, one on each side of the shaft, their claws raised threateningly but immovably. Ususi stood her ground for a hundred heartbeats, waiting to see if any summoned guardians or ancient counter-measures against intrusion would be deployed. Time trickled past and, as far as she could sense, her way remained clear. After another similar span of time, she stuffed the pale purple shard back into her pack, handed the pack to her uskura, and started down the newly revealed stairs.

CHAPTER THREE

Warian Datharathi studied his hand. With just three cards, his choices were few-a three of silver, an eight of silver, and a Bahamut.

A six of silver he'd just revealed lay on the table; a three of black and a four of white, which his two remaining opponents had simultaneously played, lay next to his card. The hand had gone around the table once, and one card lay before each player. Everyone would have two more chances to lay down a card, until each showed three cards. Shem said, "I'll take this," and pulled a couple of coins from the pile at the center of the table. Warian frowned. He'd forfeited the activation of his first card by playing a higher value card than either of his opponents. Shem, who'd played the lowest card, a three-point black dragon, was able to take money out of the stakes.

Black dragons were thieves in cards as well as in life. Warian's turn again. Warian slapped his eight of silver down on the table. Since he got to play first this time, his card was automatically the lowest value; its ability activated. Everyone with a good dragon in their flight got to draw another card. He gri

The stakes stood at one hundred sixty gold. That amount would go a long way toward seeing him to the next town along the trade road-maybe all the way to the city of Delzimmer, which bordered Eastern Shaar. He wouldn't mind leaving Crinti-controlled Dambrath behind. "I asked you a question," Bui's voice blared. More laughter, less restrained this time, chased the heels of the woman's taunt. Studiously ignoring the provocation, Warian merely looked at Shem and Yasha, saying, "Let's finish this hand and call it. What do you say?" Shem nodded, but Yasha the Weasel folded his cards and put them down. "No," said Yasha. "Why don't you answer Bui's question first? I can't concentrate with her yelling." Yasha smiled a knowing smile. Warian tensed. He had one chance to deflect the gathering attention onto Bui. If he could make her look a fool, perhaps the rest would just laugh her down. "She's loud, isn't she?" Warian asked. "Not so loud as when she lost her stake to me a little while ago. But…" "Hey!" boomed Bui, closer now.

Too close. "Guess she had enough copper wedges in her pockets to pickle herself in ale. By what I can smell," continued Warian, "she forgot how to find the outhouse to let it back out." While he spoke, he scooped his stake into an open pouch, wistfully eyeing the unclaimed pot. "She must be smelling herself." A few patrons laughed … but not enough. Warian understood he'd miscalculated. "Why, I'll.

..!" The sound of something breaking heralded Bui's furious approach.

That woman must have some orc blood in her, Warian mused ruefully.

That, or she was a berserker from the north. Either way, time to run.

Warian put his cards down on the table, stood, and whirled. He'd left his sword up in his room, peace-tied in its sheath. It looked like he'd be kissing that, and whatever else he'd left up there, good-bye.

Rough hands grabbed him from behind before he could make good his escape. Yasha's voice purred in his ear. "Stand still, outlander.

This'll go easier if you don't make a fuss." Yasha's laugh revealed his words for the lies they were. Catcalls and more laughter answered from the room at large. Just over a dozen customers patronized the i