Her swing was wild, like he knew it would be. He tapped her blade, she growled and swung again, just as he expected.
"You are not focusing. You are unbalanced, Theresa."
"I'm fine!" A sharp jab that he twisted to avoid, a follow up swing that he back flipped up the stairs away from.
"You are not fine. You are aggravated. It is affecting your technique." He ducked away from the chop and sighed. "Now you are not even using the right weapon technique."
"Ye do it all the time!" A heavy double handed blow and he was sick of this. He slammed the heel of his boot onto her blade, kicking out against her hand. She yelped, dropped the blade and tumbled backwards, lying on the stairs in a sprawl.
A flick and her sword was spinning in the air, grip landing in his left hand. "I know how to use a sword. You must understand the rules before you may break them. Do you yield?"
She shook her head. His gaze dropped to her feet. They were shuffling slightly.
She had another weapon.
He relaxed and stood apparently at ease, swords crossed loosely in front of him. "I have your weapon, Theresa."
Another shake of her head and she crouched in further. His eyes lightened into a smile that never touched his lips.
When she leapt at him, he was expecting it. He bent back, ever so slightly, her knife sweeping up and past his cheek. Her eyes went wide as he wrapped one arm around her and pulled her close to him, pinning her against his chest.
She stared at him. She was flushed, eyes bright with the heat of battle. He tilted his head slightly, eyes narrowing into confusion as she wrapped her arms around his neck to help support her weight. "Shatty..."
"You have lost."
"What?" She looked surprised.
He nudged her side, making her look down to where his sword was pushed flush against her body. "Another inch and you would have been impaled."
He let go of her. She hung on for a second, finally dropping from his shoulders with a sigh and a shake of her head. She looked disappointed.