Chapter 30
Bradamante and Astolpho bowed to their new partners.
“Number One! Attack!”
Bradamante raised her sword, but her eyes remained on Astolpho.
“Hey!” her partner snapped. “Concentrate!”
Bradamante used her last few steps to drive her opponent off his feet. For all his bluster, he lacked balance. He would have fallen if not for the wall behind him.
He sucked blood from his lip where he had bitten himself. “My turn.”
Grunting and sweating, he bullied his way down the field, relying on bulk rather than finesse. Rayda was three times the fighter he was, Bradamante observed.
“Take your time,” she cautioned.
He heaved forward. “Let’s see how good you are!” He slashed his sword low toward Bradamante’s bare legs.
Bradamante left her shield high and blocked her partner’s sword with
