Kevin Wade Johnson
2025
He stood maybe an inch taller, ten pounds heavier. A few years older, maybe. He had a relaxed smile on his face. "Begin!" His expression didn't change. As he advanced with caution, he started talking. "Hey now, you look like a challenge, young man. I'm Aramund, who are you?" I stopped, wary. "Brytram." He had stopped when I did. I tried not to let that lull me in anyway. He went on talking as resumed advancing. "Hey, it's a pleasure to meet you." He feinted, and I waited. "Nice there, glad to see I've got a real opponent this time." He swung his truncheon, no feint this time, and almost got my hand instead of my truncheon. "I like a challenge," he continued without pausing. "Can't get better fighting inferiors." He half-feinted, I met his truncheon with mine, and he tried to lever mine around and out of my hand. I slipped the attempt and stepped back. "Yes, this time I'm going to have to give it my best, no question, you're up to my weight and maybe then some." He feinted again, and I thought I'd spotted the difference between his real attacks and his feints and half-feints. He shifts his weight, just the tiniest bit— I didn't stop to wonder about it, I lunged in—
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