Their underestimation was good for her, but she grew angry over the ease with which they dismissed her.With luck and skill, she might be able to put the man down fast before he even knew what hit him.If she could knock him out, she’d win without bloodshed or killing.
Kenzie strode towards her as if he thought he was the mad king himself.
Ye are too full of pride, man,she thought sourly.
He wore a sword on the left side of his belt and a long knife on his right.He quickly drew his sword, faster than she thought possible for a man his size, and faster than William had been during their practice.
But not quite as fast as Master Park and his rubber training weapons.
Kenzie held his arms out high to his sides as if to say,‘tis your move, little lass,andexposing his ample belly.
“Distance, speed, and surprise,” Ailith whispered to herself, repeating William’s words and thinking of his last lesson.Learning to throw a knife nudged higher on her to-do list.
Ailith waited for him to move.With the butt of her pole planted on the ground, she placed her feet apart for balance, and her upper body leaned not on the pole but towards it to give the illusion that she was relaxed and not yet ready.
“Every movement, every attack needs to be made violently and deliberately,” Ailith muttered under her breath.“Give no warning.”
She made the words into a mantra in her mind – words that might save Teagan from a dire fate.This wasn’t a fight where she had any backup or support.And while the man might not slay her, that didn’t mean it wouldn't happen by accident, or feigned accidental intent.
I hope William has taught me enough!
Kenzie stepped within four feet of her, arms still out wide, smiling ear to ear at the opportunity to put her in her place.A smidgen of anger crept under her skin, but she gave no warning as the butt of her pole exploded up and out in front of her, smashing Kenzie under his chin and into his nose.
Kenzie stumbled back, and the previously jeering crowd fell silent in surprise.Ailith split the man’s chin open and bloodied his nose.She drew first blood.
But she didn’t let up or give Kenzie time to recover.She lunged and jammed her pole into his face, trying to knock him out quickly.Kenzie hadn’t fully recovered from Ailith’s first attack and took the butt of her pole square in his doughy face, stumbling backward again.He tripped over his own feet and landed hard on his backside.
Two small lads nearby cheered for Ailith until their mother slapped them on their heads.Ailith pursed her lips in a slight grin.
He’s on his arse.Is it over?Better not chance it.
Ailith leaped forward and brought her pole down hard like a spear at the man’s face to end this joke of a trial.
However, Kenzie managed to roll away, and Ailith instead gouged the ground where Kenzie’s face had just been.She relentlessly continued her attack, jamming the pole in the ground, over and over, as Kenzie continued to roll away.
Violently and deliberately, as she’d been taught.
Kenzie finally stopped rolling and reached up with his left hand to grab Ailith’s pole end before it struck his face again.His right eye had swelled purple and red from her jab to his face.Kenzie locked his one good eye on Ailith, and she knew he’d no longer be content with toying with her to knock her on her arse.She yanked back on her pole.
Kenzie managed to regain his feet and held his sword out, tip pointed at Ailith’s face.His eyes watered, and his breathing heaved as his ample chest panted under his tunic.His damaged face didn’t show fear but something worse – embarrassment that a woman got the best of him while he had yet to lay a finger on her.
She had seen that look before.It was a dangerous one.A vengeful one.In another life, she’d hear the wordsyou bitchwith that look.
With a huffing shout of effort and rage, Kenzie charged forward, bringing his sword down over his head like an axe.Ailith sidestepped the blade and backed away, her pole in both hands in front of herself as Kenzie’s blade dug into the dirt.
Ailith remembered William's words about backing away and shifted to circle Kenzie instead.Kenzie gave no pause but jerked towards Ailith and thrust his sword towards her stomach.Ailith managed to bring her pole up and knock the blade away, but Kenzie continued forward and shoulder-checked Ailith, knocking her back a few steps.
Before Ailith could recover, Kenzie swung the back of his left hand, striking her cheek hard enough to knock Ailith to the ground.
What is it with men and their back-handed strikes against women?She wondered wildly as she pushed the pulsing pain from her mind.
A weak cheer broke out from the crowd as their man gained the upper hand.Ailith rolled away and came up fast, remembering William’s warning: being on the ground meant death.Ailith popped up in a fighting stance, the sting on her left cheek throbbing as she moved.
Kenzie stepped forward again, and Ailith thrust her pole again for his face in hopes of injuring his good eye.He saw the pole in time and swung his sword in a high arc, catching her pole and bringing it down to the ground.Before Ailith could pull away, Kenzie stepped forward with his right foot and brought it down on the pole, snapping it in half.
With her half-pole in her hands, Ailith rushed backward, and the crowd cheered for Kenzie again.Kenzie sneered at Ailith as he breathed hard, and blood bubbles erupted from his bloodied nose.Her lips curled – he was quite the horrifying sight.He breathed like a bull, snorting as he panted, complete with grunting sounds coming from his open mouth.
Mouth-breather,she thought as she shifted the broken pole in her hand like a club, not sure what to do next.Having a club in a swordfight was like taking a knife to a gunfight.
