‘I thought I had been quite clear earlier, Jarl Mardl,’ Astrid said coolly. ‘Jarl Gudbrandr has no interest in discussing the fight. I hope you are not getting forgetful in your old age.’

An amused smile played about the older man’s lips. ‘I must admit, Your Grace, the temptation to ask just a few questions was too great … I have never seen so remarkable a combat.’

‘But I told you—’

‘It’s all right,’ Lann said, nodding at Astrid. ‘I guess I will have to talk about it at some time or another.’ He turned to Mardl. ‘And please, my name is Lannigon. I doubt I will ever get used to being addressed by my new title. What did you want to know?’

‘Where to begin! Such extraordinary prowess. You must have learned from a true master to have dared employ such an audacious gambit.’

‘Gambit?’

‘Oh, come now. I have witnessed it before, but never have I seen it carried off quite so well. To bait your opponent into a hasty attack when you are looking so weak. By the gods, your hands were so low you practically invited the Ubrfullen attack!’

‘The what?’

The look the Master-at-Arms gave him suggested he thought the young man was deliberately teasing him. ‘And yet when your opponent rose to your exquisitely presented bait, you deflected his blows with great skill, transitioning what appeared at first to be a clumsy defence into wonderful attacks. I particularly admired the Shiluer move you made to end his first press.’

‘Shiluer?’

Mardl’s face hardened. ‘It is rude to mock others, Jarl Gudbrandr.’

‘It is. But I am not mocking you. I have no idea what you are talking about.’

‘Who taught you to fight?’ Mardl snapped, any hint of friendliness now gone from his words.

‘Nobody. I am … self-taught.’

‘You expect me to believe that? How many bouts have you fought?’ He leaned in closer. ‘Where did you get that black blade?’

‘Which would you like me to answer first?’ Lann said, his own annoyance coming to the fore. He ticked his answers off on his fingers. ‘I was never taught sword-play – you can believe me or not.’ He moved on to the next finger. ‘I’ve never fought before, so that was my first. And my blade? I am afraid that it is none of your business.’ The sword stirred at Lann’s side as if it appreciated this final response.

Mardl flushed with anger. He went to say something, but stopped. Turning on his heels, he stomped away, muttering loudly about young upstarts and lack of respect for elders.

‘That went well,’ Astrid said, grinning. ‘Don’t worry, he’ll get over you teasing him like that.’

Lann shrugged. ‘I wasn’t teasing him. Everything I just said was the truth.’

‘Now you’re teasing me.’ Astrid’s smile faded at Lann’s expression. ‘Y-you mean to say that was all true? You’ve never been trained in sword-play?’