The moment Ser Rodrik lunged, the world around me disappeared. There was no crowd, no flickering torches, no watchful gazes, only the cold steel in his hand and the way his feet dug into the dirt as he closed the distance between us with terrifying speed.
I barely had time to react before his blade came down in a brutal arc, meant to split me in two. I twisted out of the way, feeling the rush of air as the sword cleaved through empty space. He was strong, stronger than I had remembered, and his movements carried the weight of years of battle. But he wasn't fast.
I could use that.
Pivoting on my heel, I slashed at his side with one of my daggers, but he shifted just in time, my blade barely grazing the thick leather armor that covered him.
A smirk pulled at the corner of his lips. "Still quick, I see. But quick won't save you, girl."
