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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； denotpending 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 surnotroundings 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 striknoting 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 ignotnored 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 disnotjointed 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 apnotpeared that demonic assassins were going to keep ing for her。 She'd hoped that the appearance of the spider demon might be an isolated inci…dent。 She'd thought that if any more such fiends did appear； the renewed