Leaning more of her weight on that right foot, she used it as a pivot and pushed off with her left, spinning around and regaining equilibrium once more. She was a step or so farther away from her attacker—but now that she knew where he was, she could close the gap quickly enough in this small room.
There was no thought of mercy in her mind. She lunged forward, knife slashing through the space where, a fraction of a second ago, her fist had connected with the intruder’s chest. With most opponents, the battle would have ended right there, for no ordinary Restaal could expect to match the reflexes of a carc.
But her blade cut through empty air as her antagonist jumped backward against the wall and lashed out with a powerful foot to kick at her knife arm. He hit but a glancing blow in the da
