Rezkin reached forward and grabbed one man’s ankle, dragging him closer as Rezkin clambered over him. As he reached the man’s torso, Rezkin gripped his shoulders and rolled over so that the man was on top of him. The striker’s eyes nearly popped out of his skull as a long silvery blade impaled him through the chest. Blood poured from the wound followed by more blood sputtering up through the man’s lips on his dying breath.

Tossing the man aside, Rezkin kicked up into the groin of the striker who was now standing over him. The striker cringed but seemed to use the pain to power a downward strike of his sword. Rezkin kicked out with his other foot, bashing the man’s hands free from the hilt. He must have lost some of his grip on the sword with the groin impact. Rezkin clenched his abdominals and lurched up, ripping through the man’s intestines and stomach with his favorite curved dagger. At that moment a throwing dagger sliced through Rezkin’s right bicep and imbedded itself in the suffering striker’s shoulder. The young man jerked the striker around and threw him toward his rear attacker.

Rezkin ran toward the nearest striker, who happened to be the crossbowman. The bowman realized too late that he would not be able to reload in time. Before he was able to draw his sword, Rezkin grabbed him, spun the man around, and impaled him through the kidney with a stiletto. The excruciating, searing pain from such an injury would be so intense that the striker’s muscles would lock up, and the man could move no more than a statue—at least, that is what Rezkin had been taught would happen. Luckily for him it worked, and Rezkin was able to hold the man in front of him while he assessed his surroundings.

All of his opponents were now located in front or to the side, so he did not have to worry about his back for the moment. He was surprised and dumfounded when his eyes landed on the masters. The men who had worked together diligently his entire life to instruct and guide him so that he could grow to be a big-man, were engaged in a bitter duel, and it appeared to be to the death.