Tangled webs - Elaine Cunningham [80]
The efforts of the smaller creatures were also taking effect. They swam up into the water that comprised the elemental's borrowed body, turning the sea-colored creature dark with their shadowy forms. Hundreds of small fish busily schooled, swimming in fast, tight circles as if they were in some enormous fishbowl. The dizzying current seemed to confuse the elemental, and it swayed drunkenly as it flowed toward the north.
Other, more deadly creatures joined in the attack. Longsnouted barracudas darted about inside the creature, snapping and tearing as they sought the essence of the creature contained within the seawater. One of them managed to rip through the elemental's watery hide and was shot, with a sudden gush of fluid, from the creature's body. With the force of a ballista bolt, the fish slammed into the side of the Elfmaid. Its body splattered, leaving a dark streak behind as the remains of this strange warrior slid slowly into the sea.
The elemental's watery form flowed in to close the wound, but the creature had lost a bit of stature with the attack. It seemed weaker, too, and it no longer fought the determined whales that nosed it steadily away from the Ruathen ship.
By now Fyodor had climbed down from his perch, and he came to Liriel's side. The drow was swaying, drained by the powerful magic she'd cast, and he slipped a steadying arm about her waist. "You cannot fight it alone," he told her quietly.
"it becomes smaller with each attack," the stubborn elf responded, pulling away from her friend's embrace.
"Just so." Fyodor fixed a determined gaze upon her. "in my land, there are tales of an ancient sword whose strike could freeze the blood and flesh of an enemy. Put such an enchantment upon my sword, and i will carve frozen pieces from the creature for as long as i am able."
Liriel stared at the young man, understanding what he intended to do. He did not expect victory over the elemental, but he was fully prepared to die in battle against it if that would cut the creature down to manageable size. It was not the first time Fyodor had taken on suicidal odds to spare her, and Liriel had yet to understand how this could be so. Self-preservation was the first law of the drow. A mixture of awe and confusion sparked the girl's ready temper.
"Your confidence in my ability is touching," she snapped, thinking of the years of crafting, the incredibly powerful spell-binding, that went into making a weapon such as the one in Fyodors tale. "But you have no idea what you're asking! Before we try conjuring magic swords, let's give the fish a chance. Oh, look-there's a good one!"
A large black creature that looked strangely like an Underdark bat spiraled upward through the elemental's liquid body and into the head. The long tail whipped about, thrashing and probing. The elemental reeled, its one hand clutching at its temples as if it were in agony.
"Manta ray," Hrolf told her, a grin of dark satisfaction on his bearded face. "Got a poisonous sting to its tail with enough power to sink a small whale. Now that'll slow the critter