Kade took the wooden blade from the rack and weighed it in his hand.
“Champion’s stand-in,” he said. He turned to the empty yard as if there were a crowd on the wall. “Duke Kade Ansel, Iron Duke of the Yard, takes up the Crownhall challenge on behalf of a foreign champion who could not be bothered to come in person.”
“You are holding the guard,” said Calen.
“I am holding it with dignity.”
“Hold it with the drawing.”
Kade sighed through his nose. He went to the middle of the flags and set his feet.
He let the wooden blade drop, low and to the right, its point near the stones. His knee bent. His weight went onto the back foot. He had seen the drawing on the gate, and he had copied it well.
Liss stood at the edge of the yard with her sleeves pushed back. She looked at Kade for one long breath. Then she stepped into the stance.
