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Arien started to smirk at the reputation bit, but he found himself countering another attack. This guy meant business--and he realized his mistake in underestimating his opponent.

He stepped back and swung his sword, countering the blow, but the force behind it broke through his guard. The blow caught his left shoulder and he staggered back another step. He turned to keep his balance, determined to keep his feet and the sword between him and Shayle; grateful it had only been the butt of the spear and not the point. He was going to be sore tomorrow.

This really shouldn't bug me as much as it does, but damned if I don't I hate it. Shayle thought irritably, sparing another glance past Arien. In the shade, halfway behind a tree, was a man watching the battle unfold intently. The same one that had been tailing him since he took the stupid job to hunt down Arien. No doubt some lackey of his employer, to make sure he kept up his end of the deal and not just lied about it. Where's the trust these days?

Turning his attention back to his opponent, Shayle wished he could just use one of the poisons he had mixed up a while back to end the fight faster. Of course it was doubtful Arien would just stand by and give him the time to apply the one to his spear or willingly swallow the other, which meant doing things the hard way. Shifting his aim slightly toward the right side of Arien's torso and hoping he'd try to deflect the same way, Shayle took another quick jab at him.

Arien nearly missed Shayle's glance to someone behind him. He would have turned to look, but he wasn't dumb enough to provide an opening like that. He had enough trouble staying on his feet as it was.

Does this guy aim anywhere else? Arien thought as he dodged to the left and knocked the spear away from his side. At least he was learning--even as he stepped around, trying to see who it was that Shayle was looking at.

Guess he's getting the timing down. Shayle thought as Arien avoided the strike. Second thoughts about the whole way he started his encounter idly drifted through his mind, and he blamed the jerk in the shadows watching. If not for that he never would have done something like picked a fight right away. Had to put on a show now, though. Which meant actually landing another hit or two.

Shifting his hands a bit, Shayle took another stab at his opponent's gut. Once the swordsman moved to deflect it, he'd raise the spear up, lunge and try to bring the shaft straight down on Arien's head.

Arien winced as his injury began to throb a little. If he wanted to win this, he'd have to end it soon. Seeing the spear coming, he did the only thing he could think of to offset it; he went towards it with a yell, hacking down with his sword. If his sword connected, it might break the shaft. If it missed--it was going to be a painful encounter for him.