Coke stepped fast back, avoiding the swung steel, then brought his sword hard across to guide the rapier past his side, the body following and aided in its acceleration by the foot the captain stuck out. The youth yelped and crashed onto the slick roof tiles. But the last, biggest man now lunged hard for Coke’s chest and he was only just able to get his own sword back to parry the thrust, taking it over his shoulder. This brought the man close enough for Coke to see, even in the poor light, the fury in the green eyes. Fury, but little fear.
The gaze held but a moment before Coke shoved the steel hard away, dropped his wrist, and tried to pop the pommel of his sword between those furious eyes. But the man had seen it, raised his other hand and caught the pommel – though the force of the bl
