Liora
Tarin's first retreat was smaller than Liora remembered.
She noticed before she committed the next step.
Her point stopped short of his guard. His returning blade passed across the line she had almost entered.
They separated without a touch.
Across the ring, Tarin changed his grip by a small amount.
He had watched her prepare too.
Liora moved around the center with the sword held low enough to keep her shoulder loose. The grip sat properly in her hand. She did not need to check the leather again. Kara had done the work, and the inspection had confirmed it.
The hand using it was her responsibility.
Tarin approached with two short strikes. She turned the first, met the second and tried to take the return.
His rear foot was already in place.
She withdrew before the counter reached her upper panel.
Somewhere beyond the rail, a spectator shouted for her to attack.
He had missed a useful opportunity to remain quiet.
Liora kept moving.
