Money began to exchange hands as bets were claimed and attention now turned to the ongoing duel between Sir Francis and Akiko. Despite her awkwardness with the rapier, she was putting up a valiant fight, deflecting his attacks and countering with a few well-placed jabs of her own. Sir Francis was forced to up his game when the tip of Akiko’s rapier pierced his doublet and almost drew blood.

Sir Toby fought on too – regardless of taking first blood. Rapier and katana clashed as Jack warded off the multiple jabs. He was pricked in the arm, then the hand, but still Sir Toby advanced on him.

‘It’s first blood, Sir Toby,’ called out his friend. ‘Victory is yours.’

‘My honour is yet to be satisfied,’ he snapped, lunging again and again.

Each strike was like a bee sting to Jack. Despite his own sword skills, Jack found himself unable to match Sir Toby for speed and reach. More and more puncture wounds dotted his limbs and body. As he desperately fended off the flurry of attacks, Akiko continued to battle Sir Francis. Drunk as the man was, he proved to be a capable swordsman and Akiko was struggling to hold her own with an unfamiliar weapon and against such a vastly different sword style. But she seemed to be faring far better than Jack, who was fast becoming a bleeding pincushion.

Realizing he’d dangerously underestimated his opponent, Jack drew his wakizashi and took up a Two Heavens stance.

‘You’ll need more than two swords to beat me!’ Sir Toby scoffed and thrust for Jack’s chest.

Jack blocked the attack with his wakizashi, then brought his katana down hard on to the rapier. The steel of his blade being stronger than the rapier’s, the clash of swords broke the tip clean off Sir Toby’s weapon.

That should reduce his reach, thought Jack with a grin.

Sir Toby stared at his docked rapier in disbelief. Then flew into a rage. He stabbed, thrust and lunged repeatedly. But armed now with two swords and no longer at a disadvantage in terms of range, Jack had less trouble deflecting and countering the onslaught. A sudden yelp of pain caused him to turn. Akiko was backed up against the oak tree, her shoulder run through with Sir Francis’s rapier, its slender blade pinning her to the trunk.

Distracted by her plight, Jack was caught off guard by a vicious slash from Sir Toby. The broken blade whipped across the back of his left hand, leaving a welt and forcing him to drop his wakizashi. Retreating awkwardly, Jack stumbled over a tree root and landed on his back. With a gleeful grin, Sir Toby saw his opportunity and prepared to plunge his broken rapier into Jack’s exposed chest …

‘CONSTABLES!’ came a cry from the crowd.

A unit of armed men barged on to the scene and Sir Toby was denied his killing strike.