"Oh there'll be blood all right." Janco assured him.

"You're crazy."

"I've been called worse. Either apologize or get ready."

The man shifted his weight, lifted his sword and attacked. Janco sidestepped and elbowed the man in the ribs. Too easy. Janco tested Lunkhead's defenses and let him try a few more offensive moves. The guy actually smiled when he thought he'd almost snaked pass Janco's block.

Liana giggled and seemed to enjoy the quick motions and spins, which just infuriated the man. Good, anger made a person sloppy. Not that Janco needed the edge as he'd just been playing with the guy.

But he wanted the man riled up when Janco decided to get serious.

"Big and brawny but can't even beat a guy holding a baby bunny," Janco taunted.

Enraged, Lunkhead increase the pace of his attack. And didn't even pause when the tip of Janco's blade nicked his right arm. Guess he wasn't stopping at first blood. No worries. Janco flicked his sword, dodged lunges and spouted rhymes all the while making small cuts up his opponent's forearm.

When the man's face turned red and sweat soaked his sleeveless training tunic, Janco took it up a notch. He unarmed the man, sidestepped and kicked the back of his legs. Lunkhead fell forward onto his knees, but stilled when the point of Janco's sword jabbed into his thick neck.

"I believe an apology is in order," Janco said.

"Uh...sure...I'm sorry, Miss...er..."

"Her name is Liana Zaltana Icefaran." Janco titled his head at the man's bleeding arm. "Her initials are carved into your skin just in case you forget."

"I'm sorry Miss Icefaren."

"Don't forget the begging."

"I'm sorry, Miss Icefaren, please forgive me."

"That's nice," Janco said. "Don't you feel better?"

The guy glared. Stepping back, Janco allowed him to lumber to his feet, but he kept a tight grip on the sword until the man shuffled off. They had drawn quite a crowd. Murmurs rumbled through it along with his name. Time to go. He didn't want to be challenged. There were always puppy dogs yapping at him, nipping at his heels to test their skills against the legendary Janco.

Janco turned and froze.

His boss and chief of security, Onora stood near the fence. And her expression was...murderous.

"What the hell were you thinking?" she asked, but didn't wait for an answer. "Fighting with Yelena and Valek's daughter! She could have been--"

"Oh, please. I could have disarmed that guy without a sword. She was in no danger."

"Really?" Ice coated her voice. "All right, show me." She took Liana from Janco. The baby smiled and grabbed a fistful of Onora's brown hair. "Kurt, get your sword. You're sparring against Janco, who won't be armed."

Janco clamped down on a number of curses.

"Don't worry," Onora said. "Kurt's at the same skill level as your last opponent."

Oh. Well, that...was still bad, but not as bad.