Chapter 11

The sound of the traitor sneaking up behind her was not secret to Fleetfoot, she had known that he would try to attack her from behind. Looking over to Velvet, she mouthed "Watch the snake" and turned to face Disodeum.

It would be lying to say that Disodeum didn't show his surprise on his face after he learned that Fleetfoot had know that he was there the whole time.

"Well, well." Fleetfoot whispered. "If it isn't the traitor. I vowed to come after you, didn't I? I always keep vows. But I'll give you a fair fight, I'm not like you in any sense at all."

Disodeum gripped his sword tighter, then ran forward. Fleetfoot met his rush with a clash of steel on steel. It was difficult for Velvet to keep from charging in, but she was busy watching the snake.

Monofluro slithered back into the rats. He'd known this would happen. Never matter. The hare would go first then.

Fleetfoot was just a small touch out of practice, having barely any time to attack. She feinted with her sword then kicked out. Disodeum was flung one way, his sword the other.

Fleetfoot stood back.

Disodeum scrambled for his sword, and in doing so flung sand into Fleetfoot's face. But as he scrambled up, Fleetfoot was lowering the swordblade from where she had had it over her eyes.

"Verminy trick," she said, "I knew you had been spending too much time around those idiots."

Later, Disodeum had Fleetfoot backed up to the mountain, muttering dire threats about how her plan had gone wrong. He made a fatal mistake when he said, "But you will be gone, the first to go, then I'll see about that badger friend of yours."

Fleetfoot pushed off the mountain, forcing Disodeum back onto the sand. Her sword point was resting against his chest.

"You looked away," she said," Years of training, and you looked away. I thought you knew never to look away from your opponent. Stupid. Very stupid. Go on, you have won nothing and lost only your honor. Leave this place."

Without a backward glance Disodeum leapt up and sped off.

"Stinkin' verminy traitor types. Always do themselves wrong. He could have made a good Long Patroller."

She turned to face Monofluro.

"Okay, snake, I'd told you that you needed to watch out for me, and now, I will repay you for the lives that had been lost at this place!"