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"No, you have only earth," I said, and then I struck

Using the same trick I’d learned from Trill and the kappa, I pulled the ocean over towith a kitten: Every ti power--I drew the water’s power back to rasp

Ever the Alfar, meanwhile, Phaedra wasn’t able to accept that I could best her withher re ele

And I kept shutting her down, till she was panting, her shields severely weakened Only then did she back away and pull fro sweetly at her "That’s a good girl Now you knohat it’s like to be one of us, with only one ele incomprehensible but almost certainly obscene as she pulled and pulled and pulled…

"You’re so slow," I said, elegantly pulling my oaterthe one, are you?"

She snarled, lobbing a rather ineffectual green e ball at me It reminded me of Anyan, and I feltto keep her off balance But I was also telling the truth I knew she wasn’t the strongest Alfar, but being able to pull from and combine all four elementals le-elementals Now she had only earth, and it didn’t appear as if she could hold too ot small earth pockets, I enerous

"Are you going to talk at ht?" the little woht

She called that one, I thought, having fully intended to talk at her for as long as possible But she didn’t need to know that

"Oh, we’re going to fight, all right," I said, baring my teeth in what I hoped was a predatory s a spot spinach-check And then I started pu her

[Good, Jane, nice for otten about it, lurking behindwater-ele thee balls Phaedra’s shields were absorbing the

[What you need is a weapon,] the creature stated, and I thought of Blondie’s killer (literally) sword The creature chuckled

[No, you’ll not be able to create that sword That’s a real weapon, forged by ic asdifferent Soht, as I kept Phaedra busy with a fresh volley of zinging e balls

[How about… this,] the creature said, as in front of me appeared a two-headed ax

"An ax?" I said aloud, my voice unable to hide my scorn Me with an ax? That’ll be like an episode of outtakes from the ill-fated Jane the Barbarian

[Actually a labrys,] the creature informed me

"See, I don’t even know my axes That’s exactly why you need a different chae ball She’d been distracted by an ax appearing in front of me, out of nowhere

[Just take it See how it feels,] the creature said I think I was trying its patience

"Fine," I said "But if I chop offafter you"

The creature stayed silent as I reached out ersIt felt like the ax had been ainst nized the weapon, on some primeval level

Holy shit, I ed through me and the wood of the handle seemed to mold itself to my hand