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Another spit on the ground "The loudest"

"I will be next in the circle," Skald announced, apparently also deaf to his critics He shrugged out of his velvet jacket, revealing an ornate leather-and-brass chest protector that had been joined at the bottoe codpiece, also made of brass that had been styled to resee of pity as laughter rang out, and Skald joined in, unaware that he was the object of the arave tone, "domore steel in his crotch than in his fist?"

"Your eyes are painfully honest" Phillipe rose as he watched Skald still whipping his blade, now dangerously close to crossing into the circle The vain seneschal see bout, soivable in the lists "Will"

"I see hi

Before they could reach Skald, Jayr’s opponent released a shout of fury Phillipe saw a long line of red appear across the o lih several muscles

"Oh, dear Excuse my interference, brother" Skald retreated up several steps, lowered his bloodstained épée, and took out a handkerchief to wipe the blade He pulled a face as the wounded man conceded to Jayr "I did not erness would precede me into battle"

Before Skald could cross over into the circle, Scarlet stepped in front of him and folded his arms "Have it precede you into the keep, little one"

"I cannot, brother, for I have issued a challenge Jayr is to fightup as he tried to see over Scarlet’s shoulder "You will engage me, will you not?"

Jayr did not answer, but turned her back on Skald and asked her wounded opponent if he required her assistance He refused and withdrew, giving Skald a wide berth as he left the lists

"I don’t understand," the short seneschal said "What is wrong? Is it soaze before it subsided "Navarre, can I interest you in a , motionless wall between Skald and the circle where he and Jayr stood "You can"

"When you are ready, sir" She ly herof protection so that they were out of blade range

Phillipe heard Skald’s emphatic protests as he drew his sword, rotated his wrist to ease the tension in his aruard, mademoiselle"

Their bladesat the hilts Phillipe felt the strength in her ar to overpower his before they broke apart He kept his gaze steady as he parried and thrust, standing al the measure of a blade and a half

"First blood," Jayr said after she feinted right

Phillipe felt the burn of copper across the top of his shoulder and blinked Her arm had been a blur; he hadn’t seen the hit before she had struck "How do you move so?"

Her mouth hitched "I have excellent motivation"

He used a series of short, brutal thrusts to chase her in a half circle; she turned it around and beat hian to wonder if he had any real chance of prevailing over her, the air turned chilly and a man’s voice called out, "Halt!"

Jayr nodded to hi the tips of their swords in the ground Phillipe saw the air around her shimmer briefly, as it did above the roadway on a hot day Shethe

In another circle, Will Scarlet looked down the length of his sword at Skald, who lay dazed and bleeding on the ground

Nottinghae of the circle

"This rab the back of his seneschal’s collar and using it to drag him to his feet "You will attend me now"

"Yes, master" Skald bobbed an aard bow and tried to sheath his épée Blood fro cuts on his hands ha it away

Phillipe saw a smear of movement dart around him and streaian Will had fought earlier, who had his back toward Nottingha épée a h She raround as sha succinct and conte to the keep Skald babbled excuses as he hobbled after him

"Seneschal," someone called out "Your hair"

Jayr put a hand to her head and disappeared in another streak, reappearing beside the water barrel As her hair burst into fla them The sizzle echoed around the lists

"Mon Dieu" Phillipe hurried over to her