356 The Strength Of Lords

Kadun came at Rannoc in a furious rush, raising the Living Shadow sword as if he wanted to finish his opponent in a single blow.

Yet where Kadun seemed overtaken with anger, Rannoc showed not even the slightest sign of excitement. Instead, his movements were steady and deliberate as he took a defensive position and braced himself for the attack.

Then, Kadun was upon Rannoc. Or rather, upon his weapon — because while Kadun held a sword, Rannoc wielded an eight-foot glaive with a reach far greater than his opponent's weapon.

Eager though Kadun might be to strike down his foe, to do so he would first need to get past the glaive's long blade — and that put him in range of Rannoc's attacks.

For well over a minute, the two Lords exchanged blows, with Kadun fighting ferociously to break through Rannoc's guard. He attacked again and again, his sword clashing with the glaive as he struggled to create an opening.