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left profile fell off her skull。
Certain the fight was over； Faeryl relaxed； and that was nearly the end of her。 Transformed； Umrae could evidently endure more damage than almost any creature with warm flesh and a beating heart。 She opened her mouth； exposing long； thin fangs； and what was left of her head shot fornotward over the top of the cape。 The ambassador only barely managed to fling herself back out of the way in time。
The piwafwi was stretched taut between the two batants； as if they were playing tug…of…war。 Both yanked on it simultaneously； and Faeryl was the luckier。 The cloak tore free of Umrae's grasp； but despite the garment's reinforcing enchantments； it returned to the ambassador with long rips the ghoul's claws had cut。 A few more such rendings and it would be useless。 The cape's sudden release also sent Faeryl stumbling backward。 With another beat of her festering wings； Umrae hopped and closed the disnottance。 Her clawed hands shot forward。
Crying out in desperation； Faeryl managed to plant her feet and arrest her helpless stagger。 She lashed out with the hammer and clipped one of Umrae's hands。 The imitation ghoul snatched it back and gave up the attack。 Instead； she began to circle。 Just as a living creature would； she shook her battered extremity several times as if to dislodge the pain； then lifted it back on guard。
Faeryl turned to keep the foe with her crushed； half…flayed head in view。 What is it going to take to stop this thing？ the ambassador wondered。 Can I stop it？
Yes； curse it！
When she was a child； her cousin Merinid； weapons master of House Zauvirr； dead these many years since her mother tired of him； had told her that any opponent could be destroyed。 It was just a matter of finding the vulnerable spot。
Umrae lunged。 Once again； the ambassador snapped out the folds of her frail； flapping shield。 The cloak entangled one of the servant's hands。 The other raked； rasping and snagging； across Faeryl's coat of fine adamannottine links。 The winged ghoul's touch sowed cramping sickness in its wake； but the claws hadn't quite sheared through the sturdy mail； and the sensanottion only lasted an instant。
Faeryl swung at Umrae's withered chest in its covering of filthy； crumnotbling cloth。 If she couldn't slay the ghoul…thing with a strike to the head； then the heart must be the vulnerable spot； just as with a vampire。 Or at least she hoped so。
To her surprise； Umrae denied her the chance to find out one way or the other。 It looked as if the traitor had so mitted to her attack that she would find it impossible to defend against a riposte。 Yet she interposed her withered arm to take the shock of the war hammer； then stooped to claw at Faeryl's unarmored knee。
The envoy avoided that potentially crippling attack with a fast retreat； meanwhile ripping the cloak away from her foul…smelling adversary。 The garment was starting to look more like a bunch of ribbons than one conotherent piece of silk。 The duelists resumed circling； each looking for an opening。 Occasionnotally Faeryl let the tattered piwafwi slip or droop out of line； offering an innotvitation； but Umrae proved too canny to attack when and how her opponent wished her to。
Faeryl realized she was panting and did the best to control her breathnoting。 She wasn't afraid…she wasn't…but she was impressed with her sernotvant's potion…induced prowess。 Formidable from the moment she imbibed it； Umrae was truly getting the hang of her borrowed capabilities as the battle progressed。
While still maneuvering and keeping an eye on Umrae； Faeryl nevernottheless entered a light trance。 With a s