The Great Quest

Mal froze, as a form stepped from the shade to his side. Slowly rotating, he turned and looked into dark eyes, as puzzled as his own.

Mal showed no reaction at all, but inside, shock coursed through him. This man had the touch of shadow magic about him! Mal had known it had spread, as a lore, in the ages since he developed it, but had not expected to find a foe using it. And what was more, this one was strong, maybe stronger than him, in his still weakened, near mortal state.

Mal saw the other was a tensed to burst into motion as he was, and decided now was a time for diplomacy. He let a smile grow on his face, and bowed low to the other. "I think," he said wryly, rising back up, "we have much to talk about."