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Emily and Adam used the next few months apart in very different ways.
“By my black blood!” cried Malrog the Goblin as he failed to parry Adam’s thrust. “If the sword hadn’t had a button, I would have had at least three inches of your blade in my chest. There’s no doubt at all, the student has surpassed his master! Now, I’ve nothing left to teach you.” Saluting his young adversary, the bow-legged goblin laid down his practice sword and sat on a rock to get his breath back.
Of course, it hadn’t been so easy at the start. Adam smiled wryly at the memory of his first few days. He was mortified time and again; he felt clumsy and leaden-footed, body mottled with bruises and ego badly mauled. Slowly, slowly, and then, ever faster, he’d improved until now he was excellent.
Malrog hadn’t exa
