th not forsaken her priestesses； Faeryl might have connottrolled the cadaverous thing with her clerical powers； but that was no longer an option。 Nor were any of her other retainers likely to notice her plight and dash to her rescue。 She had them all too busy packing up the house。
It was unfortunate； because like most undead； except for the lowly corpses and skeletons spell casters reanimated to serve as mindless thralls； Umrae in winged…ghoul form could probably do grievous harm with any strike that so much as grazed the skin； and Faeryl didn't even have a shield to fend her off。 How was she to know the spy would possess such a potent means of defense？
Umrae took a shambling step； then； with a clap of her wings； bounded forward。 Faeryl hastily retreated； dropped the useless crossbow； and opened the clasp of her cloak。 Pulling the garment off her shoulders with one hand； she unsheathed a little adamantine rod with the other。 At a snap of her wrist； the harmless…looking object swelled into Mother's Kiss； the long…hafted； basalt…headed war hammer the females of House Zauvirr had borne since the founding of their line。 Perhaps an enchanted weapon would slay Umrae where the envenomed quarrel had failed。
Faeryl would have to hope so。 Even if she were willing to stand meekly aside and let the traitor fly away； Umrae； her thoughts perhaps colored by the predatory guise she'd assumed； plainly wanted a fight； and the envoy could see no way to evade her。 It would be stupid to evoke darkness and run。 In undead form； Umrae would likely manage better in the murk than its maker did。 It would be even more pointless to try to levitate or ascend through the use of the air…walking charm when the shape shifter could simply spread her ragged wings and follow。
Faeryl waved her piwafwi back and forth at the end of her extended arm； to confuse Umrae and serve as some semblance of a shield。 No one had ever taught Faeryl to fight thusly； but she'd observed warriors practicnoting the technique； and she tried to believe that if mere males could do it； it would surely present no difficulty to a high priestess。
Umrae lunged； Faeryl lashed the cloak in a horizontal arc。 Possibly thanks to luck as much as skill； the garment blocked Umrae's hands。 Her talons snagged in the weave。
Surprised； Umrae faltered in the attack and struggled to free her hands。 Faeryl stepped through and smashed the pointed stone head of her hammer into the center of the servant's carious brow。 Bone crunched； and Umrae's head snapped backward。 A goodly portion of her 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