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〃I do find that interesting。 As you confessed； your magical talents withered away some time ago。 Since then； you've dominated the gobnotlins through bluff and force of personality； and it worked until a few days ago。 What changed？ Where did the Undercreatures find the courage to turn against you？ Have you noticed anything that might acnotcount for it？〃
〃Well；〃 said Smylla； 〃it could just be they saw me failing physically； but…〃 Her cracked lips stretched into a grin。 〃You're good； Master Mizzrym。 You give me a smile； friendly conversation； a soft touch on the arm； and my tongue starts to flap。 That's loneliness for you。 But I will have my cure before I give up anything of importance。〃
〃Very sensible。〃 Pharaun extracted an empty cocoon from one of his pockets。 〃What do you wish to bee？〃
〃One of you；〃 she said； leering。 〃I once heard a philosopher say that everyone bees the thing he hates。〃
〃He must have been a cheery fellow to have about。 Now； brace yourself。 This will only take a moment； but it may hurt a little。〃
Employing greater care than usual； he recited the incantation and used the ridged silken case to write a symbol on the air。
Magic shrilled through the air； and the temperature plummeted。 For a moment； the whole room rippled and shimmered； then the distortion concentrated itself on Smylla's shriveled body。 Tendons standing out in her neck； she screamed。
Beyond the door； one of the bugbears shouted； 〃We want to get even； too！ We had a bargain！〃
Smylla's sores faded away； and her emaciated form filled out into a healthy slimness。 Her ashen skin darkened to a gleaming black； her blue eyes turned red； and her ears grew points。 Her features became more delnoticate。 Her snowy hair thickened； changing from brittle and lusterless to wavy and glossy。
〃The pain went away；〃 she breathed。 〃I feel stronger。〃
〃Of course；〃 Pharaun said。
She stared at her hands； then sat up； rose from the cot； and tried to walk。 At first she moved with an invalid's caution； but gradually； as she proved to herself that she wouldn't fall； that hesitancy passed。 After a few seconds； she was striding； jumping； and spinning like an exuberant little girl testing her strength； her grimy nightshirt flapping about her。
〃You did it！〃 she said； and the pure； uncalculated gratitude in her crimnotson eyes showed that even wearing the flesh of a dark elf maiden； she was still human at the core。
Though it was foreign to his own nature； Pharaun found her apprecianottion rather gratifying。 Still； he hadn't transformed her to bask in her naive sentimentality but to elicit some answers。 〃Now；〃 he said； 〃please； tell us。〃
〃Right。〃 She took a deep breath to pose herself and said； 〃I do benotlieve something emboldened the Undercreatures in this house。 What's more； I think it's affected goblinoids throughout the Braeryn。〃
〃What is it？〃 asked Ryld。
〃I don't know。〃
The warrior grimaced。
〃What led you to infer this agency？〃 Pharaun asked。 〃I assume you were housebound even before you barricaded yourself in your room。〃
〃I saw a change in the brutes who live here。 They were surly； insolent； and fo