Page 76 of Shadows of Winter

“Crenoch did.”

“And his taste is impeccable?” The image of Crenoch’s huge tongue dipping into a goblet came to mind. Hopefully, Vlerion wouldn’t tell the queen that taybarri lips had been all over the drinkware at the castle.

“His taste is highly questionable, but he is what humans would call a prince. His sire and dam are leaders among the taybarri.”

“Well, there you go. You can honestly say that royalty loves my mead.”

“Yes. Should you last five minutes.”

“We’re already down to three, aren’t we? Maybe four since I got up here.”

“The timer begins when you attack.”

“Damn, I thought I just had to keep you chatting.” Kaylina didn’t see a timer at all.

“No.” Vlerion flicked his fingers in invitation.

She eased closer, then thrust the staff toward his groin. Maybe not a fair target, but it would be harder for him to dodge his midsection out of the way than his head or torso. He also might want to protect that area assiduously. Most men did.

He didn’t dodge, merely sweeping his hand in to catch the staff and keep it from connecting. He tugged on it, almost pulling her off balance.

Though tempted to let go of it, she didn’t. She did wobble and had to take several fast sideways steps as the log shifted. Vlerion matched the movements, staying on without trouble. He could have ripped the staff out of her hands, but he let her regain her balance and back up.

The next time, she thrust faster, first feinting for his head before committing to another groin attack. He must have been able to tell the feint wasn’t a threat, because he didn’t lift a hand to block it, simply grabbing the thrust toward his midsection again.

“I’m fortunate your sling didn’t target my balls,” Vlerion said.

“Your back was to me when I fired.”

“If I’d been turned toward you?”

“Any target is fair game when someone is after my brother.”

“I see.”

Kaylina set up again, feinting twice this time, then lunging for his abdomen. He shifted to the side, using his open palm to block and deflect the staff, then wrapping his grip around it. He yanked the staff—and her—toward him, and she stumbled into him. She might as well have rammed against a stone pillar. He didn’t move, and she bounced back, losing her balance and tilting toward the water. She tried to grab him and take him in with her, but he glided back out of reach.

With a great splash, cold water enveloped her as she landed butt-first. At least there weren’t any sharks in the pool.

“Whether you’re attacking or defending, keep your knees bent and the core of your weight low.” Vlerion touched his abdomen and demonstrated by crouching. “It’ll be easier to keep your balance that way. When you’re on a taybarri, you can only move your top half, but you’ll find that you can still sink yourself low if someone is swinging at you with an axe. Since the taybarri won’t abide stirrups, saddles, and bits, you can’t rise up and move about as much as you can on a horse.”

Kaylina wiped water out of her eyes and waded toward the side. “They sound uppity.”

“What else would you expect from royalty?”

“They’re not all from that same sire and dam, are they?”

“No, but they all think highly of themselves.”

Kaylina pulled herself out, water sloughing from her soaked clothes, and padded back onto the log. She wanted another crack at Vlerion. Too bad her five minutes had probably started over.

Once more, he held the staff out horizontally for her. Her splash had gotten him wet. As she eased across the log, she decided one wasn’t supposed to admire the damp, gleaming muscles of one’s opponent.

This time, she used her weight to shift the log before attacking. She had to think of ways to distract him if she wanted to catch him off balance.

Vlerion moved his feet without glancing down, stopping her spin and rotating it in the other direction. Since he weighed more, he could take control of the log anytime. Watching her, he rotated it faster.

She crouched lower, moving with the spin and balancing effectively for a time, but as soon as she attacked again, he caught the staff and pulled her. She let go of it, hoping she wouldn’t go in again, but he shifted the weapon in his grip and thrust it at her.

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