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Malvat curled his bulk around the cavern, wishing it would enlarge like the tunnel had. Despite his power-enforced hide, the spikes lining the walls, floor, and ceiling made it uncomfortable. He should just grind them into dust, or break them all off and toss them into the fiery inferno beyond the tunnel, but he decided those actions might invoke a more violent response from the Castle. He couldn’t risk either Bearer being destroyed.

Speaking of which, the mankind were seating themselves around a small fire and beginning to spin yarns. The one with the deep eyes spoke first, telling a tale of a star and the “Star-Breather”. Malvat suppressed a wave of anger and slight fear. Why did Kening keep showing up? It was beginning to be about as annoying as the war between Life and Death inside him.

The woman went next, her story that of a captured Princess and a young farmboy who went to save her with the help of the villain’s former master. Malvat let his head be consumed in the shadows beyond the firelight, trying to keep the mankind from seeing the rage sparking in his eyes. He would have his fight with his apprentice, as Kuvadh did, and he would not fall.

Everyone looked to the older Bearer next, the one named Brendin if Malvat gleaned thoughts correctly. But instead of taking hold of the opportunity, Brendin said, “If you wish to hear my story, I’m afraid I’ll disappoint.”

Odd. Malvat narrowed his silver eyes. Was the Bearer shy?

“How so?” the woman inquired.

Brendin shrugged, waves of tenseness flowing from his body.  “I know only fragments of it.  I remember little.”

This got Malvat’s attention. If the Bearer only remembered some of his past, then he would be easier to manipulate. Brute force would not be necessary to win him to Malvat’s side. Malvat could slowly shift his worldview to align with his own. Then he would only need a Water Bearer, and mankind would fall.

Alessio jumped in, relating a short tale of a tall Tree who tried to reach the Sun. Malvat watched the dancing flames over the heads of the mankind as the boy spoke, observing how they reacted to his words. This must be the Bearer of Natural Flames, then. He would do if Brendin fell short.

When the story was completed, Alessio curled his legs up and muttered, “I was told there was a lesson there, other than not reaching for things too great for you…”

Pride goes before Destruction, Malvat thought. It is true.

“If you wish,” he offered, keeping his voice low. Despite his efforts, the stone walls of the cavern echoed with the deep-throated rumbles. “I have a tale. It is not a happy one, although I hope it ends well.”

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