The girl listened appalled, hearing thestakes magnify beyond reason, but did not dare protest.

      They stepped inside the battle circle andbecame blurs of motion. The girl had expected a certain incongruity, sincesmall men usually carried the lighter or sharper weapons while the heavy cluband long staff were left to the large men. Both warriors were so skilled,however, that such notions became meaningless. She tried to follow thrust and counter,but soon became hopelessly confused. The figures whirled and struck, ducked andparried, metal blade rebounding from metal staff and, in turn, blockingdefensively. Gradually, she made out the course of the fight.

      The sword was actually a fairly massiveweapon; though hard to stop, it was also slow to change its course, so therewas generally time for the opposing party to counter an aggressive swing. Thelong staff, on the other hand, was more agile than it looked, since both handsexerted force upon it and made for good leverage-but it could deliver apunishing blow only against a properly exposed target. The sword was primarilyoffensive; the staff, defensive. Again and again the sword whistled savagely atneck or leg or torso, only to be blocked crosswise by some section of thestaff.

      At first, it had seemed as though the men,were out to kill each other; then, it was evident that each expected hisaggressive moves to be countered and was not trying for bloody victory so muchas tactical initiative. Finally, it appeared to be a deadlock between twoextraordinarily talented warriors.

      Then the tempo changed. The blond Sol tookthe offensive, using the swift staff to force his opponents back and Offbalance by repeated blows at arms, legs and head. The sworder jumped out of theway often, rather than trying to parry the multiple blows with his singleinstrument; evidently the weight of his weapon was growing as the furious pacecontinued. Swords were not weapons of endurance. The staffer had conserved hisstrength and now had the advantage.. Soon the tiring sword-arm would slow toomuch and leave the body vulnerable.