There was no time to dodge, no time to parry. All Erin could do was duck down and thrust up with her spear. She felt the crunch as it went through flesh, expected to feel the impact of her foes weapon in her own body, but for a moment, things just froze. She dared to look up, and he was there, transfixed on the end of her spear, so busy staring down at the weapon that he hadnt finished his own attack.

It is a fine thing to be lucky, and a stupid thing to rely on it, Swordmaster Wendross voice sounded in her mind.

The knifeman was still down, struggling to rise.

Mercy, please, the knifeman said.

Mercy? Erin said. How much mercy did you show to the people you robbed, and killed, and raped? When they begged you, did you laugh at them? Did you run them down when they fled? How much mercy would you have shown me?

Please, the man said, standing. He turned to run, probably hoping he could outpace Erin in the trees.

She almost let him go, but what would he do then? How many more people would die when he thought he could get away with it again? She reversed her blade, hefted it, and flung it.

Over a long distance, it wouldnt have worked, because the spear was shorter than a true javelin, but over the short space between them it sailed through the air perfectly, plunging through the bandit point first and bringing him to the ground. Erin stepped over to him, set a foot on his back, and dragged it out. Lifting it, she brought it down sharply on his neck.

Thats as much mercy as I have today, she said.

She stood there, then moved to the side of the track, suddenly nauseous. It had felt so right and so easy when shed been fighting, but now…

She threw up. Shed never killed anyone before, and now the horror and the stench of it were almost overwhelming. She knelt there for what felt like hours before her mind insisted that she should move. Swordmaster Wendross voice came to her again…

When it is done, it is done. You focus on the practical, and you dont regret any of it.