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Malvat looked back to the mankind as the sudden protective urge swept over him like an eruption. Were they brothers? No… friends. New friends. Odd that they’d developed such a bond.

I have nothing to hide from you. I am afraid. That’s what he had said. Was he lying? While Malvat considered lies extremely useful at times, most of the time they revolted him. He had been trained to hate them from his birth.

One of the adult (?) mankind stepped away from a hole in the far wall – a tunnel opening – and came close to Alessio. His fingers brushed the mankind boy’s shoulder.  “Lower your bow,” he whispered.  “If he wanted we’d already be dead.”

Very true. Malvat studied the man, his eyes narrowing as he realized something was different about this one. He had the air of an empowered one. Malvat should know – after all, he had been the Bestower once upon a time. He’d learned to sense it. But this one… he had something fiery about it.

Could it be?

A Keeper, Malvat thought, scrutinizing the mankind more closely. I know who bears Burning Fire, and it is not he. Yet there are two others. The Centaur was said to have had Natural Fire, and a young girl Physical Fire. He glanced out of the corner of his eye at Alessio. He has it too. Physical and Natural Bearers within my reach? Have the Centaur and girl died, and their powers bestowed upon others? Luck is with me. Now to discover which is the weaker.

That is as much of a lie as saying the mother bear won’t eat you while you sit in her den, the mankind with the expressive eyes thought. Anything could happen.

Malvat turned his silver gaze on him and smiled, nodding. Yes, anything could.

“What do you call yourself?” the mankind asked, looking Malvat in the face.

Letting his tail drape over the edge of the platform into the scalding air beneath, Malvat settled down with his feet tucked beneath him. His talons dug into the stone, ready to spring if the need arose, but for now he was fairly confident. He furled his wings and yawned, pointedly displaying his sharp white teeth. Lowering his head to the ground, he looked the mankind in his eyes. “I call myself many things. Most know me as Malvat.”

Rusak, a feminine voice whispered, the most achingly beautiful sound in all VaSerBo, top and bottom.

Stop, Life. I am Malvat, Malvat thought back, barely keeping the growl from rising in his throat. “I could glean your names from your thoughts, I suppose” -he glanced at the fiery mankind who was still by Alessio- “but I prefer receiving introductions in the normal fashion. It’s less intimidating.” His eyes swept the small group. “Who are you?”

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