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snatched it back。
A simple tentacle； with no blades or bludgeons sprouting from its end； snaked toward her。 It seemed as if it was going to try to grab and restrain her weapon arm。 She pretended she didn't notice。
The strand of shadow dipped to the floor； hooked around Quenthel's ankle； and jerked her good leg out from under her。 The change of target caught her by surprise； and she fell hard on her back； banging her head and shooting pain through her wounded limbs。
It took her an instant to shake off the shock。 When she did； she sensed the fiend's other limbs poised to slash and pound。 She was almost out of time to recite the trigger phrase。
But not quite。
She rattled off the three words； and power seethed and tingled inside her flesh。 She discharged it into the living darkness； an easy task since the demon was holding onto her。 She held her breath； waiting to see what would happen。
Like allowing her adversary to seize her； this too was a part of the gamble。 The magic she had just unleashed would weaken a dark elf or pretty much any other mortal being to the point of death。 However； depending on its precise nature； the demon—or whatever it was—might simply shrug it off。 It might even feed on the blast of force and grow stronger than before。
The ploy worked。 The fiend was susceptible； at least to some degree。 She knew it when the entity's limbs flailed and thrashed in spasms； the one on her ankle releasing her to twist and flop about。 The ambient darkness blinked out of existence for a second as the creature's grip on its surroundings wavered。
One instant of vision was all Quenthel needed to mark where her enemy's ragged core was floating。 She scrambled up； charged it； and found that she was hobbling； every other stride triggering a jolt of pain。 She didn't let the disfort slow her down。
The creature of darkness was recovering。 Two tendrils squirmed at Quenthel。 She ducked one and lashed the other； which flinched back。
After two more steps； she judged； hoped； that she'd limped within striking distance of the entity's formless heart。 She swung the whip； and shouted in satisfaction when she felt the vipers' fangs rip something more resistant than empty air。
She struck as hard and as fast as she could； grunting with every stroke。 Her snakes warned her of tendrils looping around behind her； and she ignored the threat。 If she left off attacking the center of the darkness； she might not get another chance。
The darkness obscuring the room started rapidly oscillating between presence and absence。 Quenthel's motions looked oddly jerky in the disjointed moments of vision。
Tentacles grabbed and dragged her backward。 She shouted in rage and frustration。 As if responding to her cry； the arms dissolved； dumping her back on the floor。
Quenthel raised her head and peered about。 There was no longer any impediment to sight。 The murderous darkness was gone。 Her last blow must have been mortal。 It had just taken the creature another second or two to succumb。
〃It's dead〃 hissed Hsiv。 〃What now； Mistress？〃
〃First 。 。 。 I'm going to sit 。。。 and tend my wounds； then we're going to look 。 。 。 for my sentry；〃 panted Quenthel； attenuating her rapport with the vipers。 In too deep and prolonged a munion； shades of identity could bleed in one direction or the other。 〃If she's lucky； she's already dead。〃
She wished she were as undaunted as she was trying to sound； but it appeared that demonic assassins were going to keep ing for her。 She'd hoped that the appearance of the spider demon might be an isolated incident。 She'd thought that if any more such fiends did appear； the renewed wards would keep them out。 Plainly； she'd been too optimistic。
At least ArachTinilith was the seat of her power。 There； she could deploy a small army of retainers and a hoard of magical devices in her own defense； but those resources hadn't helped her against the darkness； and she couldn't help wondering how many hostile visitations a priestess in her condition could hope to survive。
C ha p t e r
EIGH T
Greyanna's henchmen came floating down around her。 Two were warriors； one a wizard； and the third was another priestess。 All wore the half masks of true seeing； giving them the deceptively foolish look of actors in a pantomime。
Pharaun tried to levitate； but the net was too heavy。 He willed his animate rapier into existence。 The steel ring vanished from his finger； and the long； slim sword materialized outside the net。 The blade started slicing at the thick ropes； but to little effect。 A rapier was a thrusting weapon and not suited to sawing。 Tensing his muscles against the remorseless pressure of the tightening web； he turned the floating sword around to threaten his fellow representatives of House Mizzrym。
Greyanna laughed。 〃Is that one little bodkin supposed to hold us all at bay？〃
〃Possibly not；〃 said Pharaun； straining to work his fingers closer to one of his pockets。 〃That's why I instructed it to kill you first。〃
〃Did you； now？〃
His sister motioned her warriors forward。 Twin brothers possessed of the same slightly yellowish hair and deeply cleft chin； they carried pale bone longbows slung over their backs in preference to the more mon crossbows。
Greyanna herself remained on her mount and produced a scroll from within her piwafwi。 Thanks to his remaining ring； Pharaun could see from the plex corona of magical force shining around the rolled parchment that it contained； among others； a spell to disrupt the other fellow's magic。 Perhaps she intended to use it to render the dancing rapier inert long enough for her minions to break or immobilize it。
The wretched ropes were digging into the wizard's flesh like knives。 He would hardly have been surprised if they drew blood。 They were certainly cutting off his circulation and numbing his extremities。 Trembling with effort； he shifted his fingers another inch。
〃My panion is Ryld Argith；〃 he said； 〃a Master of MeleeMagthere。 He's never done anything to you； and you will place yourself in debt to the warriors of the pyramid by killing him。〃
Entangled as he was； Pharaun couldn't even turn his head to look at his friend anymore； but he could hear Ryld grunting and swearing and feel him shaking the net。 The swordsman was plainly trying to free himself； but it seemed unlikely that even his extraordinary strength would be enough if he was unable to bring one of his blades to bear； and apparently such was the case。
〃I've kept tabs on you through the years。〃 Greyanna said。 〃I know Master Argith is your most valued rade。 I don't need him trying to liberate or avenge you。 Our mother will handle MeleeMagthere。〃
On further inspection； Pharaun observed that the subordinate priestess had readied a scroll as well。 That struck him as vaguely odd； but he supposed this was hardly the time to ponder the possible significance。
The warriors were approaching steadily but warily； and not merely； he suspected； because of the hovering rapier。 Greyanna could neutralize the weapon； but they feared that Pharaun would work some terrible magic that only required speech； not gestures or a focal object。 He was sorry to disappoint them。 He did have one or two such spells in his memory but none that could annihilate all five of these unpleasant folk at a single stroke； and he knew that once he conjured some devastating attack； they would abandon any intention of taking him alive for a demise by torture。 They would strike back as fast and murderously as possible； and immobilized in the mesh； he would have little hope of defending against their efforts。
〃Actually； you ought to think twice about harming either of us；〃 he said； hoping that further conversation would slow the fighters' advance； even if only for a second。
Greyanna chuckled。 〃Be assured； I've thought of it a thousand thousand times。〃
〃The archmage won't like it。〃
〃I'm acting on behalf of the Council。 I doubt he'll deem it politic to retaliate 。 。 。 any more than MeleeMagthere will。〃
〃Well； Gromph won't sign his name to your cadaver； but someday 。。。〃
Pharaun's fingers finally jerked into the pocket and closed around a small but sturdy leather glove。 With the net still tightening every second； it was just as hard to withdraw the article as it had been to reach it。