Malina’s vindictiveness made Birin start with anger. But before he could reply, she said, ‘Imalwain is with them. I will not readily forget your cruelty to her.’
Birin’s anger was deflected by surprise. ‘Cruelty?’
‘You hurt her deeply,’ Malina told him. ‘Like most Elves you used her to get what you wanted, then discarded her like some worthless rag.’
Underestimating the depth of Malina’s anger and the injury he had caused to Imalwain, he said, ‘I once saved her life. What more could she ask of me?’
‘You may have saved her life but only to keep your plaything undamaged,’ Malina replied with undisguised contempt. ‘She loved you and you just used her.’
Birin almost laughed. ‘Don’t be ridiculous! Pixies are incapable of-’
Malina’s naked fury stopped him. ‘Yes, Birin? Remember to whom you speak!’ When he didn’t answer she shouted, ‘Say it! Pixies are incapable of any real feeling. Isn’t that right?’
Trying to deflect her anger, he said, ‘You are much changed-’
‘Yes,’ she replied coldly, ‘I am much changed. I begin to see more clearly now. You are not so high and mighty as I once believed.’ When he didn’t reply, she turned her back on him and began heading to the rear of the line towards the wagon. Turning to Pran and Ralph, Birin found Pran staring at the ground and Ralph watching him with a mixture of anger and disappointment.