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。 Enjoy your match。〃
He started to turn away； then whirled back around。 The point of the red long sword streaked at Ryld's neck。
Before the four panions had even reached the sava table； Ryld had inconspicuously centered his weight and planted his feet in a manner that would allow him to get out of his chair quickly。 He simultaneously sprang up and brushed the blade aside with a sweep of his arm； but he didn't strike it at quite the proper angle。 The wicked edge of the red sword drew a little blood。
Ryld realized that this was his first real fight in the better part of a year。 He'd intended to go out with one of the panies patrolling Bauthwaf； slaughter himself a few of the predators that were always wandering in from the caverns farther out； but somehow he had never bestirred himself to do it。
That was no problem。 He had no fear that he was rusty。 It was just that； looking back； he was surprised at his lack of motivation。
All these thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant and without slowing his reactions in the slightest。
Tathlyn jumped back out of reach； but one of his panions was lungnoting at Ryld。 It looked like they all intended to fight； which probably meant they were all the weapons master's kin and subordinates。 Otherwise； one or more of them might have stayed out of the quarrel。
Ryld twitched himself out of the way of his attacker's wild head cut； drew his leaf…bladed short sword； and thrust。 The onrushing Godeep's momentum； Ryld's strength and skill； and the magical keenness of his point served to bury the weapon deep in the crook of his assailant's fightnoting arm。 Though not his favored weapon； the short sword…enchanted to wound even incorporeal spirits…was a fine blade。 Blood started from the puncture； and； staggering； the Godeep dropped his falchion。 It would acnottually have been easier to kill the dolt than merely incapacitate him； but Ryld was on a secret mission； and outright homicide was far more likely to attract attention than a simple tavern brawl。
Tathlyn and his other two friends saw their chance and rushed in。 Ryld knew that he didn't have time to pull the embedded short sword out of his victim's flesh。 If he tried； his other enemies would have him。 He cloaked the wounded Godeep in a ragged bulb of darkness and shoved him at the others。
Ryld couldn't see through the obscuring field any more than his advernotsaries could； but； peering around the edges of it； he saw the wounded Godeep reel into his fellows and stagger them； startle them； too； with the sudden； unexpected impediment to their sight。 That gave the weapons master the time he needed to whirl； take in the obstructive clutter of furnotniture and gawking sava players before him； and leap up onto the table where his own game sat waiting。 His racing feet annihilated the snare he'd so cunningly laid for the merchant； hurling the pieces rattling across the board and onto the floor。
He jumped down on the other side； grabbed Splitter； and spun back around to face his enemies。 In one smooth blur of motion； he yanked this most trusted of all his weapons from its scabbard and came on guard。 Denotspite its hugeness； the great sword was so perfectly balanced that it felt as light as a dagger in his grasp。
He noticed that the nonbatants in the taproom had begun shoutnoting encouragement and insults at the fighters。 A couple quick…thinking gamblers were giving odds。
Ryld's three remaining adversaries manhandled their shadow…shrouded kinsman out of their way and stalked forward； manifestly hoping to pin the fencing teacher against the wall。 The one on the left hung back a bit； none