The fight had barely commenced and already, Laya saw the sweat gleaming off Luntok’s face and chest. If he was scared, he didn’t show it. He matched Utu move for move. But Utu was the one setting the pace. He forced Luntok to keep up his defense, never once giving him a moment of rest. Luntok had the nimbleness of youth, but he lacked the stamina that came with experience. Laya was no expert in swordsmanship, but she knew that much. How long would he be able to keep it up?

The crowd jeered as Utu made a swipe at Luntok’s neck, missing the skin by a mere fraction of an inch. A cutthroat act for a friendly tournament, and it wouldn’t be the last. Fire raged in the dark pools of Utu’s eyes. Had Luntok done something before the match to anger him? Utu looked ready to kill.

Utu Luma didn’t relent. Each slash of his sword pushed Luntok back farther and farther until his right heel slipped off the platform’s edge. The air left Laya’s lungs as he swung his arms forward, regaining his balance.

“Luntok!” Her shriek pierced the air. Hundreds of heads turned toward her. Laya didn’t glance at a single one of them. She didn’t care who heard.

Luntok looked up, meeting Laya’s eyes. She gave him a nod of encouragement. Win, she urged him, clasping her hand over her chest. If not for you, then for me.

He stood far away atop the tournament platform. But to reach Luntok, Laya didn’t need words. Her burning gaze told him everything he needed to hear. Moments after she called out Luntok’s name, something in his demeanor shifted. He held himself taller. The crowd could sense the shift as well. They spurred him on with deafening cheers.

Utu’s thick eyebrows were furrowed in concentration. He raised his sword, beckoning to him. Luntok didn’t hesitate. He attacked.

Finally, Laya understood why the nobles had begun to whisper after watching Luntok’s first fight in the tournament. Why the men in the crowd gasped in awe, calling Luntok a god. He moved with inhuman speed, like a bird midflight. In some maneuvers, his feet barely touched the ground. His relentless strokes took Utu by surprise. Not even a seasoned warrior like him could anticipate Luntok’s next move.

What use were the tusks of a boar against the swift wings of an eagle? Before long, Luntok gained the upper hand. He was the one forcing Utu to retreat across the platform. He was the one setting the pace. Utu could charge all he wanted, but none of his attacks landed. Luntok slipped out of every trap Utu laid for him and succeeded in setting up a few of his own.

“Argh!”