“Mud stacker does not want to fight but this peasant does. If you are afraid to fight, how about I teach this one his place?” The noble boy danced backward. “I will take my condolences to your mother myself. I am sure she would appreciate them.”

The uniformed boy’s hand grabbed Orn’s shoulder. In a harsh half whisper the bot spoke to Orn. “Stop, he is trying to pick a fight, you will just…”

Orn was not interested in the other boy’s words and shrugged off his hand. Orn drew his sword as he followed the taunting boy into the open space between the watching students.

“Oh no. What ever should I do?” The older boy’s voice was filled with mock fear as he turned back to the crowd behind him. The crowd of nobles howled with laughter, as the boy kept just a few steps ahead of Orn.

“Stop!” yelled the uniformed boy. “You need a teacher to approve a duel. You cannot just… Oh no.” The last words came out as a groan when he saw movement on the other side of the path.

Orn saw a group of noble students half drag a man forward from the corner of his eye. The man looked as haggard as his battered robes.

“Look at that. A teacher, just like you wanted.” The noble boy said laughing. Again the boy danced around just out of reach as Orn slowly pursued him.

“Stop this Bron. I will get my sword and shield, just leave the boy alone.” The older boy said trying to focus the noble’s attention on him.

“A sword and shield? How medieval.” The noble boy laughed, “I have a dance partner now, so do not butt in. Teacher approve the duel!”

Almost as an afterthought he, looked at Orn’s sword and added, “Nice sword, we need a wager to make this fun. The winner gets the loser’s blades and belt. Now tell us to start, I do not have all day.”

The teacher looked back and forth between the two, clearly uncomfortable. “B…but I have to get his assent as well.”

“He is chasing me with his sword out!” the older boy snapped causing the teacher to visibly flinch. “Give your approval!”

The teacher sighed, and his noble escort backed away. In a pained voice the teacher said, “Begin.”

The older boy Orn had slowly stalked around the small space instantly stopped retreating. Orn was taken aback by how fast the older boy raced toward him at the man’s signal. The rapier flashed toward Orn’s face in a blur. Only years of practicing with Kao’s sudden attacks let him knock it aside with his sword. But even though he managed to get his sword up in time, he was forced to step aside to fully avoid the attack. He is fast.

“Oh!” the other boy exclaimed after moving back out of Orn’s reach. “This one can hold a sword. This will be fun!” The old blood’s laughter grew as he raced forward to attack again.

A barrage of blows flew at Orn, as the other boy seemed to dance around him. Orn was able to deflect the blows, but could not get close enough to strike back at the boy. The boy was not as tall as the large uniformed boy, but was a still a head taller than Orn with a reach to match. It was also very clear that the boy was a very good duelist. He was not as good as Kao by any means, but his height and skill kept Orn on the defensive.

Orn’s world narrowed to his opponent and he fell into a familiar pattern of defending until an opportunity presented itself. Orn’s focus on his opponent’s motion and the familiarity of the routine slowly grounded Orn. Just like I practiced with Kao. It is just a matter of time. He will make a mistake sooner or later.

Orn watch his opponent’s expression began to shift from one of joy, to irritation at each exchange. The blows also changed from ones meant to take Orn out of the fight to ones meant to probe his defenses. Orn repelled them all waiting for the right opportunity.

“What are you doing?” “Quit playing around.” Orn heard the audience was getting impatient as the duel dragged on. They had come to see the noble beat up Orn, or another student. Watching Orn hold him off was not what they wanted.

The noble boy moved faster at the crowd’s complaints, but Orn noticed the motions were also becoming simpler. Good get in a hurry. Then you will regret ever...

A quick thrust nearly clipped Orn and he shook the idle thoughts away. Stop thinking about useless things.

Orn focused his attention fully back to the duel and carefully noted his opponent’s motion. Slowly he began to see a pattern. Look at a target, right foot forward, stab. Look, right foot forward slash. Look, step, stab. Look, step...

Got you, Orn thought. Now I just need him to overextend himself.

Orn did his best to hold still, and let the other boy slash at his left shoulder. The rapier’s tip cut at the fabric of his uniform, but Orn sidestepped at the last second. This avoided the worst of the blow, and left only his uniform the worse for the exchange.

Orn’s foot slid forward and his opponent's eyes widened as he realized he was within Orn’s reach for the first time. The knowledge he had closed the distance brought a smile to Orn’s face, and he swung his sword a the other student’s middle. Take this you piece of ...

Instead, of hitting the noble, a metallic sound reverberated through the air, and Orn saw his sword strike the boy’s rapier. A moment later, the other boy’s sword breaker caught Orn’s sword.

The larger boy laughed, “I was worried you were missing the pattern. I did not think, I could make it any more obvious. Then you go and give me your shoulder.”

Orn felt the other boy trying to pull the sword from his hands. As they struggled for control of the blade, Orn realized he was loosing it. The older boy was too strong for Orn to pull his sword away, leaving him exposed.

Orn watched the grin spread across the other boy’s face, as he pulled the blade in and up. “I cannot believe it took you that long to bite. I could not have made it any more obvious.”

“I will just take this now,” the older boy mocked as he pulled the blade up and over his left shoulder.

As his sword was slowly pulled away, Orn saw the noble boy lifting his rapier to slash at him. An empty feeling started gnawed in the pit of Orn’s stomach, when he considered his position. Abandon the sword or get cut apart trying to keep it?