Rham spun to the right as the shade lunged. The creature's presence was like the chill of the grave; its claws raked across his chest and its touch was so cold it burnt. Rham hissed out of surprise -- the wound wasn't deep. He quickly dropped his mace and took out out his falcata. The shade, which vaguely resembled a man-sized rat comprised of roiling shadow, hadn't been fazed by his assault thus far.
"Father?" Rham questioned. "You may not have much more time." The warrior hacked at his foe and was pleased to hear the beast chatter and squeal with anger.
"Soon Rham." Qoh replied as he finished the seventh movement of the Hjal-Mur. He serenely bowed to the shade and drew a vial filled with water from his belt. "I beseech the the Child whose light nurtures all life and guides us to perfection. Grant us a sliver of your holy flame so that we may banish the shadows from our path!"
A silver-white radiance sprang to life inside the vial and began to immediately expand. The beast recoiled from the growing light with another high pitched squeal, and it turned its ephemeral body to flee down the tunnel.
"Everything shall be reborn through flame!" Qoh said and cast the vial at the shade. The glass shattered on the wall beside the shadow beast, and it released a keen that brought Rham's hands to his ears. The two watched as the shadows roiled faster and the shade simply evaporated under the light that illuminated the tunnel.
Then the radiance winked out, and they were again left in the phosphorescent gloom of the light's they carried. Qoh walked up and patted Rham on the back. "You ok?"
The other nodded and grunted as he picked up his weapons. "The wound is cold, but its just a nagging pain. Sort of like your wife -- in both respects."
"Hah!" Qoh barked and headed down the tunnel in front of the warrior. "Then you won't mind covering some more distance until we rest. I want to reach Thsoling by tomorrow."
