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 sense that was neither sight； hearnoting； nor any faculty prehensible to those who'd never pledged her service to a deity； she reached into that formless yet somehow jagged place where she had once been accustomed to touch the shadow of the goddess。
The presence of Lolth had absented itself from the meeting ground； leaving a vacancy that somehow throbbed like a diseased tooth。 Still； it seemed an appropriate domain in which to pray。
Dread Queen of Spiders； Faeryl silently began； I beg you； reveal yournotself to me。 Restore my powers； even if only for a moment。 Has Menzoberranzan offended you？ So be it； but I'm not one of her daughters。 I'm from Ched Nasad。 Make me as I was； and I'll give you many lives…a slave every day for a year。
Nothing happened。
Umrae sprang in； clawing。 Faeryl jerked the part of her spirit that had groped in the void back into her body。 Retreating； she blocked the undead creature's claws with her cloak and struck a couple blows with the war hammer。 She didn't withdraw quickly enough to take herself pletely out of harm's way； nor did she settle into a strong stance and swing as hard as she could have。 She wanted the ghoul to feel on the brink of overwhelming her opponent and keep ing。 If Umrae grew too eager； she might open herself up for an effective counterattack。
Umrae's talons whizzed through the air； tearing scraps from the shelternoting cloak until it was the size of a ragged hand towel。 Unexpectedly； the spy beat her riddled wings； hopped in close； and struck at Faeryl's face。 The noble recoiled； but even so the claws streaked past a fraction of an inch before her eyes； so close she could feel the malignancy inside them as a pulse of headache。
Still； it was all right； because she thought Umrae was finally open。 She sidestepped and swung her stone…headed hammer at the ghoul's rib cage…
…to no avail； even though Faeryl had been correct； Umrae couldn't swing her hands around in time to block the blow。 Instead； she took annotother stride；