Tanith’s blade slashed at the spear and she spun and jumped, but Crab sidestepped, cracked the shaft against her head. She went down, tumbled, rolling to her feet as the spear jabbed, almost catching her. She blocked, blocked again, backing up as Crab advanced, the spear flicking at her low and then high, darting at her belly and then her arm. She couldn’t get close to him. The spear was too long and her sword was too short.

She tried flipping away, but her feet sank into the sand before take-off, and she ended up throwing herself awkwardly back. She scrambled up, ripping off her coat. She wrapped it round her left forearm as Crab came at her. Using the coat as a shield to deflect his attacks, she took the fight to him. Now it was his turn to back away, as her sword got closer with every step she took. His eyes were widening, she saw. She grinned.

He stumbled in the sand and she flung her left arm wide, her coat wrapping round the spear. She yanked it from his grip and the spear fell somewhere behind her. Crab scrambled back on his hands, came up in a crouch. Tanith let her coat drop as she walked towards him, twirling her sword.

“Lovely day for it,” she said.

He backed up on to the wet sand, which sucked lightly at his bare feet. It was greedier with Tanith’s boot, and she retreated on to firmer ground before she lost her advantage. Crab’s beard twitched, and she realised he was smiling. She couldn’t get to him without sacrificing her agility, and the spear was too far behind her to be sure of reaching it before he did. He was quicker than he looked, and light.

She started backing up slowly. He followed, closing the gap ever so slightly. She risked a glance behind, to check where the spear had landed, and Crab charged, bare feet padding across the sand like it was a running track. She slashed at him and he rolled beneath her blade, taking her legs from under her. She hit the ground and he scuttled on to her back, wrapping his legs round her waist as she struggled to get up. He pulled her hair, exposing her throat, wrapping an arm round. She let go of the sword and got to her feet, staggering, the old hermit clinging to her. Her feet plunged into wet sand and she fell and they rolled into the cold surf. Her hands were at his arm to loosen the choke while she tried twisting her hips to escape the grip his legs had on her. They rolled into the waves and for a moment Tanith was submerged.