It was like being a bystander in a terrible children's cartoon, forced to listen to villainous monologues the hero allowed to happen. The most irritating thing about it was that focussing on the conversation eased some of the panic inherent in not being able to breathe, so Solomon was obliged to listen to nearly every word.
Given what little he knew about Stark's background and Stark himself, Solomon couldn't say that Malicant was lying. Actually, he was very likely telling the truth; the truth always cut more than lies did. But he was only using the truth to lower Stark's guard, and that was rankling on the simple basis of the fact that Solomon, under other circumstances, might have done the same. Only to get the idiot to think, but still.
Slowly Solomon managed to get control of his breathing. The more Malicant was focussed on Stark, the more his control of Solomon's magic lessened. He'd done damage, though--Solomon took a deeper, experimental breath and choked on a cough, and taste blood not just in the back of his throat.
Solomon snarled. To hell with that. He pushed himself upright and tested his shaky hands--too shaky to be of any help anymore. But there were other options, and instead he focussed his mind and will on an animation, the sort of animation a necromancer might pull together using a corpse, or an engineer might have created with the golem. This time Solomon had nothing more or less than the Vilii Shard, but it grew and grew into a four-footed shape that lunged, roaring, at Malicant.
Lions could be weapons too, after all. It was a risk if Solomon couldn't get the Shard back--but if nothing else it would hopefully get Stark up off the ground.
no subject
Given what little he knew about Stark's background and Stark himself, Solomon couldn't say that Malicant was lying. Actually, he was very likely telling the truth; the truth always cut more than lies did. But he was only using the truth to lower Stark's guard, and that was rankling on the simple basis of the fact that Solomon, under other circumstances, might have done the same. Only to get the idiot to think, but still.
Slowly Solomon managed to get control of his breathing. The more Malicant was focussed on Stark, the more his control of Solomon's magic lessened. He'd done damage, though--Solomon took a deeper, experimental breath and choked on a cough, and taste blood not just in the back of his throat.
Solomon snarled. To hell with that. He pushed himself upright and tested his shaky hands--too shaky to be of any help anymore. But there were other options, and instead he focussed his mind and will on an animation, the sort of animation a necromancer might pull together using a corpse, or an engineer might have created with the golem. This time Solomon had nothing more or less than the Vilii Shard, but it grew and grew into a four-footed shape that lunged, roaring, at Malicant.
Lions could be weapons too, after all. It was a risk if Solomon couldn't get the Shard back--but if nothing else it would hopefully get Stark up off the ground.