I stare at Karen, across from me on the lawn. And I'm subtly moving my fingers. It looks like nervous shifting, but it's something Lynn taught the both of us.

We need a draw.

Karen's eyes narrow, and her own fingers move.

But I want to win!

Shit. Of course she does. But a win for either of us is going to backfire. Hell, a draw is something we can barely salvage this from. If I win, Jane gets to shit on Karen and Michael some more, and if Karen wins, Jane gets to shit on both me and Lynn.

And, for all my training, Karen's been training longer. She can, if she tries, actually win.

So I launch myself forward, and Karen blocks, sidestepping me as she does, and I swing my legs around to avoid hers. I don't have the luxury of thinking, and it's bad enough that some of the girls are gasping at just this opening.

They're going to be a distraction the whole time.

Block! Dodge! Backstep! Golf swing left, fuck fuck fuck block block block!

It's only natural that Karen's forcing me back. And if I back away any more, I'm going to be pushed over the hedge.

Roll! I narrowly, very narrowly, avoid being clipped in the shoulder, and I grimace as I dodge moments after getting to my feet.

Why the hell did Karen let us ruin both our dresses, our respective mothers are going to murder us!

Parry, swing, parry, dodge right, swing left, block low, sweep, DODGE.

She's not giving me any room to breathe, and we both know that if she carries on this intensely for much longer, I'm going to be mercilessly beaten down. Not literally, but...

Okay. Okay. Nobody set down the rules for this sparring match, so... Part of my mind floats, symbols coalescing, in that brief window she's given me, and I let the mana fly.

I could do something powerful, but powerful requires me to tire myself out. It gives Karen more openings. And she'll guess what I'm doing.

No... Quick and dirty is the way to go. I just have to do this right, block, look like I'm dodging...

Karen, to her credit, turns into a graceful backroll as I swing for her, but when she gets up, her eyes narrow. Talking with our fingers doesn't allow us to communicate properly, but I don't need it. That glare tells me what she's thinking, and what she's thinking is:

What the hell, why would you do that?!?

BLOCK BLOCK PARRY PARRY SIDESTE-ROLL SHIT PARRY FUCK BLOCK BLOCK PARRY ICE PLEASE YES!

Small patches of ice. I'm trying to literally make her slip up, but she's better than me, and she's getting angrier and angrier by the second.

Normally, this would have been a good plan. But there's that whole "Better at me with swords" thing, so I've definitely fucked up here. And I can hear the murmurs already. If I don't win this now, things are going to go to hell, reputation wise, and Karen will get an ego boost she really doesn't need, even though she wants it.

I'm sorry, Karen, but, as your friend, I want to look out for you. Even if it means bruising that ego of yours and enduring your sulks for a week.

BLOCK [SYMBOL] DODGE [SYMBOL] PARRY [SYMBOL] OH HEY, ONE SWING! [SYMBOL] ROLL FUCK DIVE JUMP ROLL BLOCK [SYMBOL] PARRY [SYMBOL] BLOCK [SYMBOL] DODGE...

[LAST SYMBOL!] I let it fly, and Karen... Trips. To her credit, she holds onto her sword, and even manages to swing at me one last time. But I step in and away, and...

Tap. A light touch on the back of the head, and, as subtly as possible, she bangs her fist on the ground. I reach down to help her up, but she angrily bats it away, and stands up, covered in stains, as she pulls her foot out of the tiny quagmire I made for her to step into.

Okay... There's giggles. I was expecting them. This is winging it, but I can salvage this, even with a win.

Stepping away from Karen, I respectfully hold my sword to my face, and bow. Karen, instinctively, does the same, and, over the quieter giggles, there's applause.

Okay, that should mollify her a tiny bit. But that's the shot, now the chaser.

"You know, Karen, you've really taught me a lot!" She blinks, and I hear the giggles quiet down. Good.

"Those sweeps, for example. They helped me grow, because they taught me something that might save my life in the future." She finally starts getting the hint, and smiles, even if it's strained. Right... Chaser... Now another one...

"You taught me that in a real fight, not a duel with fixed rules, you don't hold back, and there's no such thing as a shameful action. You have to win. Because losing means dying."

That smile is less strained, and the mood is somber at the table behind me. Sorry, girls, but that's a price I have to pay. Okay... Now for the chug...

"And if it weren't for you convincing Lynn not to hold back, I wouldn't have learned that well enough before this spar. Thank you!" Another bow, and Karen, beaming, bows back. We place our arms around each other's shoulders, and I think we both enjoy Jane gnawing at her thumbnail, unnoticed by the rest.

Fuck you, Jane, we won this round. And I'm going to give you what for down the line. Still...

"I'm sorry, everyone, but as you can see, we're quite dirty, so we need to call this a day to clean up. We've had a lot of fun, and I hope you all come again!"

Jennifer's already there with two wet towels, and I smile, as everyone bids us farewell.

Jennifer... Please do a good job of washing our clothes before our mothers find out...

She smiles apologetically, and points subtly to the lounge door.

Too late, Miss Letty...