The doctor kicked him over. “I should have known better than to pay an assassin to kill you. If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself.” She knelt by his side and shot him with something else while she covered his mouth with her hand. “Shh… just close your eyes and die like a good boy.”

Sumi staggered back as Dariana shoved her whole weight against her sword. Her entire arm was numb from holding her ground. At this point, Sumi was short-swording and using her weapon more like a small staff. Which was working well since Dariana couldn’t break through it to stab or cut her.

But it really wasn’t helping Sumi to win the fight. How aggravating that Andarions didn’t believe in a shield. They relied on their sword skills alone. And since the swords were shorter than human broadswords, yet longer than daggers, with large, ornate hilts, using them was more akin to axe fighting than actual sword fighting. It was a whole different style than anything Sumi had ever done, and it was using every muscle in her body to deflect and stay sharp.

Shrieking in frustration, Dariana finally made a strategic mistake. She lifted her sword to slice. Sumi twisted hers sideways so that when Dariana brought her blade down, it caught in the curved hilt of the Hauk Warsword. Faster than the Andarion could react, Sumi twisted Dariana’s sword out of her hands and captured it.

She kicked Dariana’s leg and knocked her down to one knee so that she could grab her throat and pin her.

Dariana tried to break free, but this was something Sumi had perfected in League training.

Sumi increased the pressure. “Yield!”

“Never!”

Sumi looked to the judges. “She’s defeated. And while I’d hate to kill her and the child she carries, I leave that decision up to you.”

The judges conferred for a few seconds before the head one spoke up. “She is defeated. Her claim on Dancer Hauk is cleared. The War Hauk heir is yours, Princess. The gods have ruled it so.”

Sumi released Dariana, and saluted them before she twisted the sheath down to her side and placed the sword in it then returned it to rest on her back. Ecstatic beyond belief, she headed for Fain and Darice.

Darice’s smile faded as he looked past her. Before she could turn, he jumped into the arena and shoved her back. The moment he did, a small knife buried itself into his shoulder.

“Darice!” Sumi grabbed him to her.

“No!” Dariana screamed as she realized she’d struck her son instead of Sumi.

Guards ran to arrest Dariana while Sumi lowered Darice to the ground. “Dare?”

He sucked his breath in sharply between his teeth. “How do you and Dancer stand it? This really hurts!”