Seven
The Duel
Spring 943 MC
Three months following Beverly’s eighth birthday, she was alone in the practise yard, swinging her sword while running through the strokes that Gerald had been teaching her. The light was beginning to fade on this warm evening, and she paused to catch her breath after finishing a great overhead strike. Covered in sweat from her exertions, her red hair was plastered to her face. Tomorrow, she thought, she must remember to braid it, for a knight can’t be wandering around with hair in their eyes all the time. The water trough at the side of the yard caught her attention, and she wandered over to splash herself, wiping the offending strands out the way. Lifting her head up, she felt a nice cool breeze and decided to sit on the stone step, letting the wind dry he
