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Houndaer hacked madly； and sensed Tsabrak doing the same。 Darkness or no； when the spy lunged forward； they'd cut him to pieces。 Their swords split nothing but air。
After a few seconds； Omraeth shouted； 〃e back this way！ Now！〃
Houndaer and Tsabrak turned and blundered their way toward the sound of their rade's voice。 The drider's envenomed sword bumped the Tuin'TarPs arm； but fortunately without sufficient force to penetrate his armor and piwafwi。
When Houndaer stumbled out of the murk； Master Argith was in the center of the salle。 Under the cover of darkness； he'd made it to the top of the steps and bounded down the other side。 He had a good chance of reaching the exit unchecked。
He didn't take it； though。 Standing in the center of one of the faintly lunotminous circles； he settled into a fighting stance。 He hadn't scrambled over the steps to flee； rather to reach a battleground more to his liking。
Houndaer swallowed away a dryness in his mouth。 Ryld hadn't the sense to run？ Well； good。 Then they'd kill him。
The noble and drider fanned out to e at the Master of Melee…Magthere from opposite sides。 Omraeth hung back and menced annotother song。
Advancing to meet his adversaries； Master Argith glided through the first of three moves…parry； feint high； slash low…of one of the broadsword katas he'd taught Houndaer back on Tier Breche。 The noble discerned an instant too late that the purpose was to distract attention from the crossbow in the weapons master's other hand。 The dart plunged into Omraeth's throat； ending his song in an ugly gurgle and dissipating the charged heaviness of arcane force accumulating in the air。 The spellsinger fell backward； and it was two to one。
Houndaer told himself it didn't matter。 Not when he was wielding Ryld's own greatsword； a weapon that could supposedly shear through anything； and Tsabrak's blade was dripping poison。 They only needed to land one light little cut to incapacitate their foe。
Ryld gave ground before them。 Houndaer assumed he wanted to put his back against the wall； so neither of his opponents could get behind him； but with an agility astonishing in so massive a fighter； Ryld changed dinotrection。 In the blink of an eye； he was driving forward instead of back； plunging at the half…spider on his left。
Startled； Houndaer faltered； then scrambled toward Ryld and the drider。 It would take him a few heartbeats to close the distance。
In that time； Ryld charged in on Tsabrak's right； the side opposite the creature's sword arm。 A drider's spidery lower half was sufficiently massive that； like a mounted warrior； he had difficulty striking or parrying across his torso。
Tsabrak slashed at the weapons master's head。 The stroke was poorly aimed； and Ryld didn't bother to duck or parry； simply concentrated on his own attack。
Tsabrak made a desperate effort to heave himself aside。 Still； Ryld's broadsword crunched through the top of one of the drider's chitinous legs。 Tsabrak cried out and lurched off…balance。
Stepping； Ryld whirled his weapon around for what would surely be the coup de grace。 Houndaer shouted a war cry； ran a final stride； and swung the greatsword。 He wasn't in a proper stance； and the stroke was a clumsy one； but it sufficed to drive the weapons master back。 Ryld knew better than anyone how deadly was that enormous blade。
As soon as the stroke whizzed past； the master advanced with a thrust to the chest。 Houndaer wrenched the greatsword around for a parry。 It should have been impossible to bring such a huge weapon about so quickly； but it seemed to grow as light as a roll of parchment in his hands。 Ryld's b