--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I walked past Malison, up Lower Main to…" description: "\"“I walked past Malison, up Lower Main to Main and across the road. I didn’t need to look to know he was behind me. I entered Royal Wood, went a short w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e38/k-ritz-32084_adventure_i-walked-past-malison-up-lower-main-to-m_2046012.jpg" --- # I walked past Malison, up Lower Main to Main and across… ![“I walked past Malison, up Lower Main to Main and across the road. I didn’t need to look to know he was behind me. I entered Royal Wood, went a short way along a path and waited. It was cool and dim beneath the trees. When Malison entered the Wood, I continued eastward. I wanted to place his body…” quote by K. Ritz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e38/k-ritz-32084_adventure_i-walked-past-malison-up-lower-main-to-m_2046012.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e38/k-ritz-32084_adventure_i-walked-past-malison-up-lower-main-to-m_2046012.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e38/k-ritz-32084_adventure_i-walked-past-malison-up-lower-main-to-m_2046012.jpg) > ““I walked past Malison, up Lower Main to Main and across the road. I didn’t need to look to know he was behind me. I entered Royal Wood, went a short way along a path and waited. It was cool and dim beneath the trees. When Malison entered the Wood, I continued eastward. I wanted to place his body in hallowed ground. He was born a Mearan. The least I could do was send him to Loric. The distance between us closed until he was on my heels. He chose to come, I told myself, as if that lessened the crime I planned. He chose what I have to offer. We were almost to the cemetery before he asked where we were going. I answered with another question. “Do you like living in the High Lord’s kitchens?” He, of course, replied, “No.” “Well, we’re going to a better place.” When we reached the edge of the Wood, I pushed aside a branch to see the Temple of Loric and Calec’s cottage. No smoke was coming from the chimney, and I assumed the old man was yet abed. His pony was grazing in the field of graves. The sun hid behind a bank of clouds. Malison moved beside me. “It’s a graveyard.” “Are you afraid of ghosts?” I asked. “My father’s a ghost,” he whispered. I asked if he wanted to learn how to throw a knife. He said, “Yes,” as I knew he would.  He untucked his shirt, withdrew the knife he had stolen and gave it to me. It was a thick-bladed, single-edged knife, better suited for dicing celery than slitting a young throat. But it would serve my purpose. That I also knew. I’d spent all night projecting how the morning would unfold and, except for indulging in the tea, it had happened as I had imagined. Damut kissed her son farewell. Malison followed me of his own free will. Without fear, he placed the instrument of his death into my hand. We were at the appointed place, at the appointed time. The stolen knife was warm from the heat of his body. I had only to use it. Yet I hesitated, and again prayed for Sythene to show me a different path. “Aren’t you going to show me?” Malison prompted, as if to echo my prayer.”” [K. Ritz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-ritz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A narrator lures a man to a graveyard, offering a knife for a ritual murder, while wrestling with conscience and destiny. **In simple terms:** A man is coaxed into killing another with a borrowed knife. Key Takeaway Consider the moral cost of manipulation. Themes betrayal manipulation death conscience destiny Mood dark foreboding introspective Type narrative psychological moral When to use this quote - forest - graveyard - ritual murder - inner conflict - prayer for guidance Key Concepts free will moral ambiguity ritual psychological tension Questions to Reflect On - What does consent mean when coercion is present? - Can a ritual justify violence? A Different Perspective The act may be premeditated, but the victim’s consent complicates moral judgment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adventure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adventure/) [Better place](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-place/) [Different path](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different-path/) [Humour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humour/) [Literary fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/literary-fiction/) [Magic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/magic/) [Old man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-man/) [Sorcery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sorcery/) [Spiritual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“Whither be the heart of Justice? Lo, in stone, child. Lo, in stone. Whither be the heart of Justice? Lo, tis fast in stone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-ritz/whither-be-the-heart-of-justice-lo-in-stone-child-lo-in-stone-whither/) [K. 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I didn’t need to look to know he was behind me. I entered Royal Wood, went a short way along a path and waited. It was cool and dim beneath the trees. When Malison entered the Wood, I continued eastward. I wanted to place his body in hallowed ground. He was born a Mearan. The least I could do was send him to Loric. The distance between us closed until he was on my heels. He chose to come, I told myself, as if that lessened the crime I planned. He chose what I have to offer. We were almost to the cemetery before he asked where we were going. I answered with another question. “Do you like living in the High Lord’s kitchens?” He, of course, replied, “No.” “Well, we’re going to a better place.” When we reached the edge of the Wood, I pushed aside a branch to see the Temple of Loric and Calec’s cottage. No smoke was coming from the chimney, and I assumed the old man was yet abed. His pony was grazing in the field of graves. The sun hid behind a bank of clouds. Malison moved beside me. “It’s a graveyard.” “Are you afraid of ghosts?” I asked. “My father’s a ghost,” he whispered. I asked if he wanted to learn how to throw a knife. He said, “Yes,” as I knew he would.  He untucked his shirt, withdrew the knife he had stolen and gave it to me. It was a thick-bladed, single-edged knife, better suited for dicing celery than slitting a young throat. But it would serve my purpose. That I also knew. I’d spent all night projecting how the morning would unfold and, except for indulging in the tea, it had happened as I had imagined. Damut kissed her son farewell. Malison followed me of his own free will. Without fear, he placed the instrument of his death into my hand. We were at the appointed place, at the appointed time. The stolen knife was warm from the heat of his body. I had only to use it. Yet I hesitated, and again prayed for Sythene to show me a different path. “Aren’t you going to show me?” Malison prompted, as if to echo my prayer.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "K. 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