To my dear Chambermaid, Astri

[Gallows]

I'm impressed and gratified. I was hoping this fight would be a challenge, and I am not disappointed. I hope Astri feels the same. After all, it does one good to stretch out the kinks and build up a repertoire of attacks. I curse mentally as her teeth grasp at a few of my flight feathers, tearing out several secondaries by the shaft. It's an aching hurt, although not a permanently damaging one. A blood feather is yanked loose along with the longer vaned ones and starts a trickle of dark liquid. My wings are a strength but when I am not wise, they are also a rather impressive target. I stretch them and then pull them in to my side, gritting my teeth. I won't know the full extent of the damage until I can test them later, but it's safe to say that my wings are not going to be my weapon of choice for this next round. At the very least they'll need grooming and rearranging for optimal flight. We are facing at an angle to each other at close range, with her right side perpendicular to my chest. I close the short distance with a rush. I take a page from Astri's book and bare my teeth, snaking out to attempt a bite firmly on the base of her neck. If it lands it will be bruising. I also have the possibility of closing my teeth further up her neck or on a shoulder if she rears to get away. Of course there is danger that I will miss, or that in being so close it puts her at a better angle to retaliate, but there is no victory without attempt. G A L L O W S We must all hang together or, assuredly, we shall all hang separately.