"Mayron that is First of Shadows," the empty-skinned thing replied proudly, and began to weep great, black tears that soon emptied it, so that the skin drooped down into a huddle on the pave and a black cloud in the shape of a man stood sparkling in the dusk before Greaves. "Mayron that will again be First of Men, when all men are shadows. Mayron that is already First of many men. And which of us is a god, David Greaves?"
Adelie's face glowed with excitement. Her red lips were parted breathlessly. The crowd on the tiers had loosed a great, wailing moan, which hung over the court of conquered monsters as the first stars became visible on the far horizon.
Greaves took a deep breath. He could feel his body tensing itself, the muscles rippling, as though his hide needed comfort.
"Which of us is a god, man?" Mayron repeated softly, his voice coming from the entire cloud. "What is it you can do against me, you whose entire virtue rests on doing nothing?"
"That would depend on what was expected of me at this moment," Greaves said.
"This moment?" Mayron chuckled. "At this moment, nothing."
"In that case, get out of my court and come back when there's something to do."
Mayron laughed, throwing his head back, the laughter high and insolent. "How like a god! How very like the real thing."
Greaves frowned. "If you were a man, once, you might remember how that feels." But the laugh had bothered him.