The bile of injustice rose in his throat. He was to fight this stripling, whose leadership was surely only borne for Madog’s sake and who had most like not passed his seventeenth year. What worth would there be in defeating a boy? But he looked around the fire and saw the men did not protest it; they looked even more eager for this match than if Madog himself had presented the blade.

Well, they would have their show and he would have his sword. Never one to disappoint, Ranulf stood and donned his helm as men were sent to inform the night watch. By the time they had returned with word that they were as alone in these woods as any could wish, he wore his vest of cuirboille, not demanding that he be brought his shirt of mail or chausses. The boy wore no more armor than he, and even did this night bring Ranulf more challengers after the first, the hard cuirboille had served him well as any metal.

He turned and followed his opponent to the far side of the fire, waiting as Madog ordered the other men to stand back and not interfere, watching the boy move to the edge of the circle of light. He was not so awkward, in fact, but moved with a grace and balance that would serve him well, and tall enough to have a reach that must be reckoned with. All this Ranulf took in with a glance, along with the recognition that he had not seen the boy in Ruardean’s practice yard and therefore could not know the extent of his training. It was of no import. He would finish with the boy quickly and turn his challenge where it truly mattered, to Madog ap Rhys.

The first blow had him swiftly recalculating his opponent’s strength and skill. The boy was quick and cunning, parrying a lunge that had taken down many a man and returning with a thrust that was so sudden and hard that Ranulf danced away, choosing to retreat instead of attack immediately. He pivoted, bringing his sword up again and again, every strike blocked or neatly avoided. His wounds had healed, and it had been days since he had felt anything more than a slight soreness where his injuries had been. There was only a lingering weakness, and it was easily compensated with so slight an opponent. Haps he could have been stronger, but in all they were fairly matched.