The brothers fought through the yard, the glen, and the hills, all day and well into the evening. The sky turned grey and a wind picked up the dust as they battled, with spits of rain falling toward the afternoon. Tevron took the first blow on his left forearm, drawing scarlet drops of blood that spurted onto his tunic and stained his leather bodkin. He tore off the tunic and bodkin, bare to the waist, snarled at Stannock, and lunged. His sword hacked air. Stannock parried and danced forward, slashing expertly, while his brother placed both hands on the hilt of his steel weapon and roared a challenge. Sweat poured from their faces and backs. The clang and jar of their battle could be heard across the length of the settlements, where all wise citizens stayed indoors.
Mariette herded the ch
