As she said it； the sword she was holding quivered slightly。 Then； seemingly of its own accord； it slid deeper into the stone。 Halisstra； still holding its hilt； followed it down； pushing it into the boulder until its hilt struck the stone with a dull clank。
〃By song and sword！〃 the other priestesses cried。
Then； as one； they broke into song； whirling their swords above their heads。 A moment later； they were dancing in a circle around the stone。
Halisstra； still gripping the sword tightly； felt Uluyara place a hand on hers。
〃e；〃 the high priestess said。 〃Join the dance。 When it is done； there is something I'd like to discuss with you。〃
Halisstra nodded and allowed herself to be led into the swirl of dancers。 On the way she plucked the songsword from the ground and waved it over her head。 As she moved gracefully among the other priestesses； sword flashing； she could feel Eilistraee looking down from the heavens。 Not just at the dance； but at her； personally。 Filled with wonder； Halisstra realized the goddess had something in mind for her； something momentous。 Would she be able to rise to the challenge？ She who； like the yochlol； had so treacherously betrayed and slain one of Eilistraee's priestesses？
As she danced； Halisstra could sense another set of eyes； watching her。 Not those of a goddess but of a mortal。 She searched the trees that fringed the crater； looking for a familiar patch of too…deep shadow； for the tiny flash of white that would mark the eyes that were observing her。 At last she found it； high among the branches； and knew that it was the spot where Ryld was levitating。
Seeing him…or rather； seeing the subtle signs that he was there…Halisstra felt a chill course through her blood。 Males were forbidden from observing the evensong ritual。 Spying on one so emotionally charged was to court disaster。 Any moment； one of the priestesses might spot the weapons master and punish his transgression by striking him blind； deaf； and dumb。 For all Halisstra knew； Eilistraee herself might punish him； smiting him with the cold fire that had killed the phase spider。
Those grim thoughts filled Halisstra's mind as she followed the dancing women in their circle； for a few moments losing track of Ryld as her back was turned to him。 Then； as she came around to the other side of the circle once more； she snuck a glance at the spot where he was…carefully； so as not to attract attention to him。
Ryld was gone。
Lost in thought as he approached the tiny cabin in which he and Halisstra had been quartered； Ryld didn't react； at first； to the faint； musky odor that came to his nostrils as the wind shifted。 Instead his thoughts were on the dance he'd been spying on and Halisstra's conversion； heart and soul； to a goddess who would condemn her to forever live in the World Above。 Only at the last instant…as a patch of shadow in the bushes to his right suddenly shifted…did he jerk back。 By the time he drew Splitter from the sheath on his back； a black wolf had leaped onto the trail in front of him； blocking it。 Instead of attacking； however； it cocked its head and gave Ryld a sly grin； tongue lolling from its mouth。 A ripple passed through its body； causing the wolf to stagger； and Ryld heard the sound of cracking cartilage as the animal became a dirt…smudged boy。
〃If the wind hadn't shifted； I'd have had you；〃 Yarno said。
Ryld grinned in acknowledgement and sheathed his sword。 Then； hearing female voices in the forest behind him； he frowned down at Yarno。
〃You shouldn't be here；〃 he told the boy。 〃If the priestesses find you within their sacred grove。 。 。 。〃
The boy's eyes narrowed； and he asked； 〃How many have you killed？〃
It took Ryld a moment to realize what the boy was asking。 The question was one he was often asked by the students at Melee…Magthere…and one he always declined to answer。 〃The proud spider gets caught in Its own web；〃 he would quote； reminding them that hidden prowess with weapons was a weapon in and of itself。 But Yarno was talking about the priestesses…which reminded Ryld of his promise to the boy。
〃They didn't kill Halisstra；〃 he told Yarno。
The boy scratched his ear。
〃You rescued her？〃 he asked。 〃Then why are you still…〃
Hearing footsteps approaching on the trail behind him； Ryld tried to shoo the boy away。
〃Go；〃 the weapons master said。 〃Hurry。 If they find you 。 。 。〃
Seeing Yarno tense； Ryld whirled around； drawing Splitter a second time。 Relief flooded through him as he saw it was only Halisstra…whichever of the priestesses she'd been talking with must have turned down a different trail。 She halted abruptly as she saw Yarno and frowned…and Ryld groaned as he realized what was happening。 Out of the corner of his eye he could see the boy shifting back into wolf form…the worst thing Yarno could have done in that moment。 If he'd stayed in human form； Ryld might have passed him off as a scattering； but。。。
〃Monster！〃 Halisstra gasped。
In that same moment； Yarno leaped toward her。 Fortunately； Ryld was swifter。 Dropping Splitter； he caught the werewolf by his haunches and slammed him to the ground。
〃Stop；〃 Ryld grunted through gritted teeth。 Yarno wriggled in his arms； teeth bared in a threatening growl as he struggled to snap at Halisstra。 〃That's Mistress Melarn。 The one I came to rescue。〃
Halisstra； meanwhile； yanked her hunting horn from her belt and raised it to her lips。 Still hanging onto the struggling Yarno； Ryld twisted his body like an eel and lashed out with his feet； tripping her。
Halisstra fell； dropping the horn。 She scrambled for it。
〃Don't blow it！〃 Ryld exclaimed。
Halisstra glared at him as she recovered the horn and backed out of range of his feet。
〃Are you mad？〃 she asked as she climbed to her feet。 〃That's a shapeshifter。〃
Once again； she raised the horn to her lips。
〃He won't hurt you；〃 Ryld gritted。 To prove it； he released Yarno and sprang to his feet。 〃Go！〃 he ordered。 〃Flee！〃
Without waiting to see if Yarno obeyed； Ryld whirled toward Halisstra and grabbed her arm； forcing the horn away from her lips。
Yarno stood panting a moment； glancing between Ryld and Halisstra。 Then…with one final snarl at the priestess…he leaped away into the bushes。
Halisstra yanked her arm out of Ryld's grasp and glared at him。 Behind the glare was a hint of distrust。
〃You knew that boy was a 。。。 an animal。。。 thing。〃
〃Yarno is harmless；〃 Ryld said； returning Splitter to its sheath。
〃He's a monster。 Eilistraee has manded us to clear this wood of vermin like him。〃
Ryld winced。
〃He's a boy；〃 he sighed。 〃Just a boy。〃
Halisstra shook her head； not understanding。
〃Then why do you care if he lives or dies？〃 she asked。
Ryld opened his mouth； trying to find the words。
〃Because he 。 。 。〃 the weapons master fumbled； confused himself。 〃He reminds me of myself at that age。〃
〃How is that possible？ You're a drow； and he's 。。。〃 Halisstra paused； uncertain what to call the boy。
〃He's a 'werewolf；' 〃 Ryld said； supplying her with the word。 〃And hunted。 And frightened。 Just like I was； once。〃
For a heartbeat or two； Halisstra stared into his eyes； and Ryld thought she had understood。 Then she lifted her horn。
〃He may look like a boy； but he's a monster；〃 she said firmly。
〃And you're a First Daughter；〃 Ryld replied； grabbing Halisstra's hand。 〃Always one of the hunters…never one of the hunted。 You never had to survive in the Stenchstreets。〃
Halisstra paused； and Ryld realized she might not know exactly what the Stenchstreets was。
〃But you're a noble drow too；〃 she said。 〃Aren't you？〃
〃I have no House；〃 Ryld answered。 〃I never have。〃
He sighed； wondering what he was doing。 Was he really choosing to stand against Halisstra…the woman he loved…for the sake of a boy he'd only just met。 For a werewolf？ What kind of drow was he？
The kind who remembered what it was like to be a small boy and frightened。
Ryld let go of Halisstra's hand。
〃Summon the hunt then； if you must；〃 he told her。 〃But know that； if you do； I'm leaving。〃
Halisstra's mouth gaped。
〃You're asking me to choose between you；〃 she said； 〃and my sacred duty to the goddess。〃
〃I'm asking you to choose between what is wrong and what is right。〃
〃Strange words； ing from the mouth of a drow。〃 She stared off into the moonlit forest； hefting the horn in her hand。 Then； slowly； she lowered it。
Relieved； Ryld took Halisstra's hand and bowed low over it； brushing the back of it with his lips。
〃Thank you；〃 he said。
Halisstra yanked her hand free…and for a terrible moment Ryld thought he was going to be chastised…but instead Halisstra lifted his chin and kissed him fiercely。 She wrapped her arms around him； pulling him close。
Closing his eyes； Ryld felt her lips brush his ear…and heard a whisper so faint he was certain it hadn't been meant for him。
〃Eilistraee； forgive me。 I love him。〃
Then； taking him by the hand； she led him to the ancient ruin the priestesses had set aside as their shelter。
As soon as they were inside； she kissed him again。 Her lips pressed into his with a fierceness uncharacteristic of her。 They had kissed before； it was true； but not like that。 All she had permitted him； before that night； were brief； almost chaste brushes of his lips against hers。 Obedient male that he was； he had not dared ask for more。 Bur that kiss 。 。 。 that was the kind of kiss his fantasies had been filled with。 Eagerly； he returned it； barely keeping in check the hard； insistent heat that was threatening to overwhelm him。
〃I want you；〃 Halisstra said； breaking away from the kiss just long enough to gasp out the words。 〃I want to take you。 Here。 Now。〃
At these words； Ryld felt self…control slide pletely from his grasp。 Breathing rapidly…where had his warrior's training fled to？…he slid Splitter from his back and tossed the greatsword aside； then rapidly began shucking his armor。
Halisstra was stripping off her own armor and clothing； then