Tom left the scene of his combat and headed back towards the castle. He was somewhat humbled that he had not been the clear winner at the end of the confrontation with Hugh. He was surprised that someone who lacked his body mass and experience as a warrior had been able to keep toe to toe with him in physical combat. “Of course,” he said to himself, “he did use some magic tricks to help him!”
Tom continued to reflect on his interaction with Hugh following their fight … “He could have killed me when I was lying on the ground, blinded by whatever it was he used to emit that bright light, but he didn’t. He didn’t press his advantage … I would not have been so lenient if the situation were reversed.” In his musings en route to his lodgings at the castle, Tom could not make up his m
