The greatest alive, I knew, was brother Benedict, and he wasn't around to help, one way or the other. We'd both had centuries under the greatest masters of the blade in business. I suddenly had the feeling that I couldn't take him, and I parried like mad and retreated in the same fashion as he beat me back, step by step.
He was perhaps one of the greatest swordsmen I had ever faced. The first time, as I remember, it was pretty much a draw."Īnd he lunged then and beat me back, and I felt suddenly that for all my work he was still my master. "You know where you left me, to die of the plague. He parried me and made me retreat before his own attacks. I tried three more elaborate attacks and was defeated on each occasion. I cursed this, but I couldn't get around it. He was a better man than I was, when it came to the blade. I kept backing away, and the fear and the knowledge came upon me: I knew I still couldn't take him. Eric's retainers were coming, and if he didn't kill me before they arrived, then I was confident that they'd do the job - probably with a bolt from a crossbow. Then there were some alarms and excursions in the hall outside. "Oh, damnable brother" he said, retreating. Poorly, on other counts, however."Īnd his blade was in his hand and mine in mine. His hand was still steady but I had the feeling then that under other circumstances, by fighting a defensive fight, I just might be able to wear him down with that wrist injury going against him, and perhaps I could get through his guard at the proper moment when he began to slow. There was blood dripping from his right wrist. "More than one of us are assembled against you." Let's see what you learned on the Shadow Earth." And I'd like to quit your claim right now. Slay me, and the throne will probably be yours. If you wish to try me at arms, I find myself suitably attired. "Then it is between the two of us now, Corwin," he said.
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