Then an interesting permutation on the situation occurred in the arrival of a further pair of seconds. These came from Leotes ti Ponthieu, on his own account, challenging me. I accepted at once. “I’ll fight both the rasts, singly or both together!” I bawled out of the inn window at the departing backs of the seconds.
Uncouth, yes, refreshing — well...
The impression I had created and which remained was that I had been away taking rapier lessons and was now puffed with pride, more than half drunk. Any other explanation would have been far more sinister. Everyone believed implicitly that Leotes was the finest swordsman in Ruathytu, and would have no trouble with my new skills. They were right on one count; he was the finest swordsman among the sacred quarter rufflers. You know of my feelin
