red on the floor。
Fortunately； the illumination had lasted long enough for her to note the locations of several other objects on the stand。 She instinctively ducked； the tentacle swept over her head and tousled her hair； and she grabbed a scroll。 As before； she would regret expending any of the spells contained therein； but she'd regret dying even more。
Conversant with the contents of the parchment； she didn't need to see the trigger phrase to 〃read〃 it。 She recited the words； and a shaft of yellow flame roared down from the ceiling through the spot where the core of the demon had been floating。 The firelight showed that it was still there。 The blaze passed right through it； and all its arms and streamers of murk convulsed。
The column of flame vanished after a moment； leaving； despite the care the drow had taken to shield her eyes； a haze of afterimage bisecting her vision。 It took her a second to realize that dull； wavering stripe was the only thing she could see。 The darkness had survived。 It had clotted its essence around her to seal her eyes once more。
You're a tough one； she thought； sending the unspoken words to the mind of the demon as she； a divine emissary of Lolth； was trained to do。
There was no response； and Quenthel felt no connection made between her mind and the consciousness of the demon。 This was no servant of Lolth's。
Alive and impossible to mand； it would surely grab or strike at her； and this time intuition was failing her。 She had no idea from where the attack would e； so she didn't know which way to dodge to evade it。 She simply had to guess； jump somewhere and not let blindness and innotdecision delay her。 She pivoted； and something struck her shoulder。
At first it was just a startling jolt； then pain burned at the point of impact； and wet blood flowed。 Either the darkness could harden its memnotbers into claws or else it had picked up a blade from somewhere in the chamber。
Quenthel was glad her teachers had taught her to suffer a wound withnotout the shock of it freezing her in her tracks； helpless to avert her advernotsary's follow…up attack。 She kept moving； making herself； she hoped； a more difficult target。
Something hissed。 The source of the sound was almost under her feet。 Evidently； dragging the whip handle behind them； her vipers had been slithering about endeavoring to locate her in the dark。 She stooped； fumbled about their cool； sinuous lengths for a moment； achieved the proper grip； and lifted the weapon。
The serpents reared； hissed； and peered； each in a different direction。 Quenthel realized they could see what she could not。 The darkness was preparing to attack。
The priestess deepened her psionic link with her snake…demon servants。 She still couldn't see where her adversary's tentacles were poised； but she had a sense of them。 That would have to do。
The darkness reached for her； and； turning and turning； she swung the whip repeatedly。 Her aim was inexact； but the vipers twisted in the air to correct it。
Toward the end； she was breathing harder； and her actions were getting bigger； slower； and wilder； as any batant's will if she performs too many without a pause。 Then something long and pointed plunged into the back of her thigh。
Quenthel knew at once from the flare of pain and the gush of blood that this puncture wound was worse than the gash in her shoulder。 She stagnotgered a step； and her leg began to fold。 The whip vipers hissed in alarm。
She shouted to focus her will and quell the agony； to force the limb to obey。 Throbbing； it straightened。
She spun and struck at the tentacle that had stabbed her； lashing it to pieces before it could do the same again。 At that same instant； her serpent familiars detected hands reaching for her neck。 She spun； destroyed those as well； and at last the shadow stopped attacking。
Feeling the blood stream down her leg to pool on the floor； her mind racing； Quenthel considered her situation。 She must be causing the demon pain…if not it would attack relentlessly； never faltering until she fell…but that didn't necessarily mean she was well on her way to killing it。 From what she knew of such entities； it seemed entirely possible that she would have to do more harm to the nucleus at the end of the tendrils to acnotplish that。 Assuming she could reach or even locate it amid the obfuscatnoting gloom。
It might be better not to try； to take advantage of this momentary respite and make a run for it； but she knew that if she moved the demon would move with her； which would mean she'd still be scurrying sightnotlessly along。 In her suite； that wasn't an enormous problem…she knew every inch of