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Josua stumbled back； ducking awkwardly beneath another of Utvart's swinging attacks； then censed and lunged forward。 His thrust ended harmlessly； well short of Utvart's oiled stomach。 The Thrithings…man； silent to this point； laughed harshly and cut again。 Josua blocked； then attacked。 Utvart's eyes widened； and for a moment the paddock echoed with the percussive sound of steel on steel。 Most of the throng were up and shouting。 Slender Naidel and Utvart's long sword spun in and out through an intricate dance of silver light； ringing their own acpaniment。
The Thrithings…man's mouth stretched in a grimace of wild glee； but Josua's face was ashen； his bloodless lips pursed and his gray eyes burning with some last reserve of strength。 Two of the Thrithings…man's powerful swings were clangingly rebuffed； then Josua's swift lunge drew a bright red line along Utvart's ribs。 Some in the watching crowd shouted and clapped at this evidence that the fight was not yet over； but Utvart narrowed his eyes in anger and surged forward； raining blows like a blacksmith hammering at an anvil。 Staggered； Josua could only retreat； trying to keep Naidel up before him； the thin strip of steel his only shield The prince's weak attempt at a counter…thrust was carelessly knocked aside； then one of Utvart's bludgeoning swipes banged off the prince's guard and struck his head。 Josua lurched backward for several loose…jointed steps before slumping to his knees； blood coursing from a spot just above his ear。 He lifted Naidel before him as though to ward off more blows； but his eyes were bleary and the sword wavered like a willow limb。
The noise of the throng rose to a howl。 Fikolmij was on his feet； beard blowing in the sharp wind； clenched fist in the air like an angry god calling down the thunder of the heavens。 Utvart approached Josua slowly； still surprisingly cautious； as though he expected some stone…dweller trick； but the prince was clearly beaten； struggling to rise from his knees； the stump of his right wrist slipping in the mud。
A different kind of noise suddenly arose from the far side of the paddock。 The crowd's attention grudgingly turned toward the source。 There was an eddying of bodies near where the prisoners stood； and spears flailing like grass…stems。 A woman's shriek of amazement was followed immediately by a man's cry of pain。 A moment later a pair of bodies broke free from the press。 Deornoth held one of the Thrithings guards； his elbow around the man's throat。 The knight's other hand clasped the guard's spear just below the head； its sharp point pushed snug against the man's belly
〃Tell your other riders to stand back； horse…lord； or these men will die。〃 Deornoth prodded at his captive's belly。 The man grunted but did not cry out。 A spot of blood appeared on his dun…colored shirt。
Fikolmij stepped forward； flushed with wrath； his braided beard quivering on his jaws。 〃Are you mad？ Are you madmen？ By The Four…Footed； I will crush you all！〃
〃Then your clansmen will die as well。 We do not like to kill in cold blood； but we will not stand by and see our prince murdered after you beat him until he could not fight。〃
The crowd murmured unhappily； but Fikolmy； seething with rage； paid no attention。 He raised his braceleted arm to call for his warriors； but a voice lanced out。
〃No'〃 It was Josua； climbing totteringly to his feet。 〃Let them go； Deornoth。〃
The knight stared in amazement 〃But； Highness。。。〃
〃Let them go。〃 He paused to find breath。 〃I will fight my own battle。 If you love me； release them。〃 Josua rubbed blood from his eyes； blinking。
Deornoth turned to Isorn and Sangfugol； who held spears on three more guards。 They returned his astonished stare。 〃Release them；〃 he said at last。 〃The prince bids us release them。〃
Isorn and Sangfugol lowered their spears； allowing the Thrithings…men to step away。 They promptly did； scrambling out of reach of the spear points before they remembered their original roles as captors and stopped； muttering angrily。 Isorn ignored them。 Beside him； the harper was trembling like a wounded bird。 Geloe； who had not moved through all the furor； shifted her yellow eyes back to Josua。
〃e； Utvart；〃 the prince said haltingly； his smile a bitter slash of white across a bloody mask。 〃Forget them。 We are not finished。〃
Fikolmij； who stood close by； champing with his open mouth as though at a bit； started to say something。 He never had the chance。
Utvart leaped forward； battering at Josua's guard。 The moment's respite had not returned Josua's strength： he fell backward unsteadily before the Thrithings…man's attack； fending off the curved blade only by the slimmest of margins。 At last a swinging blow slid past； nicking Josua's chest； then the following attack landed the flat of Utvart's blade on Josua's elbow； springing Naidel from his grasp。 The prince scuttled after it； but as his fingers closed on the bloody hilt his feet slipped from beneath him and he sprawled on the trampled turf。
Seeing his advantage； Utvart lunged forward。 Josua was able to lift his sword and turn the stroke downward； but his awkward position as he rose from the ground allowed Utvart to grapple him in a hugely…muscled arm and begin to pull the prince in toward the cutting edge of the curved sword。 Josua brought up his knee and right arm to try to hold his attacker at bay； then managed to raise his other arm； keeping his blade locked against Utvart's guard； but the stronger Thrithings…man pushed his sword up slowly against the prince's stiffened wrist； forcing Naidel back as the crescent blade rose toward Josua's throat。 The prince's lips skinned back in a grimace of ultimate exertion and sinews knotted along his slender arm。 For a moment； his supreme effort halted the rising blade。 The two men stood grappling chest to chest。 Sensing the prince's flagging strength； Utvart tightened his grip around his smaller foe and smiled； drawing Josua toward him in a movement almost ritually slow。 Despite the agonized play of the prince's muscles； the long edge of the curved blade continued inexorably upward； ing lovingly to rest against the side of Josua's throat。
The crowd stopped shouting。 Somewhere overhead a crane threw out its clattering call； then silence swept back over the field。
〃Now； 〃 the Thrithings…man exulted； breaking his long silence； 〃Utvart kills you。〃
Josua suddenly ceased resisting and flung himself forward into his enemy's grasp； snapping his head to one side。 The curved blade slid along the outside of his neck； slicing the flesh deeply； but in that fractional instant of freedom the prince drove a knee into Utvart's groin。
As Utvart grunted in painful surprise； Josua hooked a foot around the Thrithings…man's calf and pushed against him。 Utvart could not find his balance and tumbled backward。 Josua fell with him； the Thrithings…man's blade flailing past his shoulder。 When Utvart struck the ground with a hiss of released breath； Naidel snaked free。 A moment later its point slid beneath the Thrithings…man's chin and was hammered upward a hand's…width or more； through the jaw and into the braincase。
Josua rolled himself free of Utvart's s