The
last moment the woman whipped off her skirt. It spun through the air,
wrapping around the guard's head. Her short sword came from the
scabbard hidden on her leg. She stepped forward, pushing
aside the guard's sword, and put her blade
to his throat. "Kill!" she cried, claiming the victory.
17 Her young companion fared just as well. His belt
flew off, whizzed through the air, and wrapped around his opponent's
legs. As the man fell, the boy was on his back in an instant, his knife
above his heart. "Kill!" he cried.
18 The First Speaker rose and clapped. "Well done!"
he signed. "Come here, you two, bring those weapons."
19 The Hawk's people quickly obeyed. The skirt
looked perfectly normal, but it had weights in the hem. Thrown the
right way, it flew through the air and wrapped about whatever it
touched. The boy's belt was actually three ropes with
weights on the end. When thrown they spun out and again wrapped around
their target.
20 "As well as being brave," said The First Speaker,
"you are clever. These weapons would take any man by surprise, but
what if they have to fight a long battle against greater numbers?"
21 "They now have the swords and shields of your
fallen guards," answered The Hawk. "Pick three of your men. Let them
attack."
22 The First Speaker obliged. This contest lasted a
little longer than the first one, but not much! While fighting his own
opponent, the young man kicked one of the women between the legs. As he
lost his footing the woman claimed the
kill, finished her second attacker, and struck the boy's attacker from
the rear before he could turn to face her.
23 The First Speaker was impressed. "They fight