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The Archmage frowned。 Evidently the imperious bitch had figured out what was going on and had in a sense responded appropriately。 But it shouldn't matter。 He'd withstood contact with the ultimate essence of evil； but he was the greatest wizard in the world and had taken precautions。 Quenthel enjoyed neither advantage。
In time； a sublime cruelty twisted her features。 Gromph exclaimed in triumph； for the netherspirit plainly had her in its grasp。 Evidently she wasn't going to drop dead of an aneurysm or mit suicide； but no matter： she was doomed。 Her personality erased； consumed by the pulsion to degrade and destroy； she was bound to provoke someone into killing her。
Then she broke the skinny white wand in two； unleashing a magic that thrust the netherspirit out of her。 Gromph； for all his knowledge； had never seen anything quite like it。 Taking on just a hint of palpable form； his agent fled the scene。
The Baenre wizard bolted up in his chair and threw his goblet； smashing it against the wall。 He cursed foully； and the malignancy in his words； hammering through the black lotusscented air； made the greenish flames of the everlasting candles gutter。
Struggling for posure； he told himself it didn't matter。 He'd get her eventually。 He'd throw entity after entity at her until 。 。 。
But what had happened to the netherspirit？ Constrained by Gromph's mand； it should have kept attacking until either it toppled the pillars of Quenthel's reason or she destroyed it。 Instead； it had run away。
The mistress's unfamiliar magic had broken the binding—so much was clear—but where had the creature gone？ Back to its own world？ Probably； but something—a slight acceleration of his heartbeat or a subtle prickling on the back of his neck； perhaps—made Gromph want to check。
The casement responded to his will。 Framed in that rectangular space； the netherspirit； still visible； perhaps as tangible as smoke； half flew； half bounded down one of the labyrinthine corridors of Sorcere。 A defensive ward activated； piercing the intruder with crisscrossing shafts of yellow light； but it tore itself free and charged on。 A bluegowned master peered out the door of his sanctum； spotted the wraith； started to conjure； and the intruder stopped him with a sweep of a shadowy paw。 The blow didn't rock the wizard backward or leave a mark； but he fell like a block of stone。
Gromph surmised his erstwhile agent was ing after him。 Either it was angry over its forced servitude； or Quenthel had done more than merely dissolve his control。 She'd wrested it away from him and turned the entity into her own assassin。
Either way； the spirit represented a threat； and unfortunately； Gromph himself didn't know its full capabilities。 Still； he had no real reason for concern。 His magic was more than a match for any such entity； especially in his stronghold。
He watched the netherspirit flow through the black marble door of his office like water through a sieve。 It scrambled over the white bone desk and headed straight for the hidden access to his sanctum。 Magic crackled purple and blue around it； but it burst through。 It hurtled up the shaft。
Gromph smiled。 He had the creature where he wanted it； for he'd created the passage with defense in mind。 Simply by focusing his will； he destroyed it。
The shaft wasn't made of matter。 Still； a metallic crashing and grinding sounded through the hole in the middle of the floor as the artificial space folded in on itself。 If the rebellious spirit screamed； its voice was lost among the din。
Gromph would have enjoyed hearing it squeal； but the important thing was that it was gone。 Most likely； the collapse had crushed it to nothing； but even if not； it had surely ejected it； maimed and disoriented； in some remote halfworld。 The crisis was over； and the archmage was left only with the annoyance of transporting himself in and out of his hideaway via spell until such time as he invested the six hours necessary to recreate the passage。
However； just to maintain the habit of caution that had balked a thousand enemies； he turned back to the window； then scowled。
The space still framed the spirit； and as far as Gromph could see； the shadowy thing was unharmed。 Darting and wheeling through curtains of pale phosphorescence； it was casting about in the bent spaces surrounding the stronghold。
Gromph didn't see how the creature could find him。 Nothing could locate a refuge hidden in a haze of scrambled time； not without the tenant in some way guiding it in。 Nonetheless； the wizard hurried into one of the protective golden pentacles adorning the marble floor。
An instant later； a different window burst inward； the casements flying from their hinges。 The spirit flowed through； in the process resuming the form it had worn before Gromph transformed it into the semblance of a kind of demon。 It somewhat resembled a wingless dragon with long； taurine horns sweeping from its head； which also possessed a single globular eye。 The Archmage couldn't actually see the orb—it was one with the inky shadow of the spirit's body—but he could feel its baleful regard。
Slightly anxious and uncertain； and all the angrier for it； Gromph shouted； 〃K'rarza'q〃
The netherspirit released a humid stink that somehow conveyed the essence of scornful laughter； then it bounded forward。
Very well； Gromph thought； have it your way。
He thrust the curved blade of his ritual dagger into his belly。
As he'd expected； the creature floundered in agony； but only for an instant。 Anguish erupted in the Archmage's own stomach。 He yanked the athame out of his flesh an instant before it would have dealt him an actual wound。
K'rarza'q lunged。 Ignoring the residual pain in his gut； Gromph recited a brief incantation and thrust out his arm。 The air rang like a bell； and a little red ball of fire shot from his hand。 It struck the creature and 。 。 。 nothing。 The missile winked out of existence。
The entity reached the edge of the pentacle。 A barrier of azure light sprang up and vanished with a tortured whine as the spirit drove though。 The creature dipped its head and jerked it upward； ramming the tip of one of its horns into Gromph's chest。
The spirit was entirely solid。 If not for the Robes of the Archmage and his other protections； the long blade of shadow stuff would surely have impaled Gromph。 As it was； it picked him up and tossed him across the room。 In midair； he strained to throw off the numbing shock and activate the powers of levitation in his House insignia。
The power woke with a sort of sickening pang； but wake it did。 He floated down as light as a wisp of spider silk； avoiding what might have been a boneshattering fall。
As soon as he got his feet under him； he snatched a polished wooden wand from its sheath on his left hip； pointed it； and murmured the trigger word。 A bubble of pungent brown acid swelled on the end； then hurtled at the spirit。 It plunged into the being's cyclopean mask； but apparently without inflicting any harm。
The spirit charged。 Gromph stood in place until his foe was nearly on top of him； then he spoke a single word。 A minor teleportation shifted him instantaneously to the other end of the circular room； behind his attacker's back。
K'rarza'q skidded to a halt and cast about in confusion。 Gromph had bought himself a second； no more。 He quickly dropped the wand of acid； snatched a spiralcut staff of polished carnelian from its place on a rack of wizard's tools； lifted it over his head； and began to chant。 The rod possessed special virtues against beings from other levels of reality。 Perhaps with it in his hand； he could finally drive a spell through his foe's defenses。
The netherspirit heard his voice； turned； and hurtled toward him。 This time it charged without moving its limbs； simply shifting over the distance with terrifying speed。 Preserving the cadence and intonation as only a master wizard could； Gromph picked up the pace of his incantation。 He very much wanted to finish before the creature closed with him again。
He succeeded； though only barely。 K'rarza'q was nearly within arm's reach when the magic blazed into existence。 A lance of dazzling glare plunged into the nether spirit’s eye。
The reeking creature dropped to the floor； its substance unraveling