Darian side stepped with a swift, practiced motion, the assassin's knife flashing past his ear. He had seen the move coming. He dodged her second lunge, weaving back and forth like a shadow. He waited for the right moment, a subtle shift in her balance as she prepared for a third strike. Just as she attempted, Darian's foot found a small rock on the ground and he kicked it hard. It didn’t hit her, but the sound was enough of a distraction. She faltered for a fraction of a second, and that was all Darian needed.
He moved in, not to attack, but to disarm. He grabbed her wrist, twisting it just so, and with a quick, fluid motion, he snatched the knife from her hand. The girl gasped.
He sent two kicks to her belly and gave her a shove that floored her. Before she could regain composure, he w
