Free We Will Hunt Together by J. Hepburn Page B

with shields or daggers in their off-hands, might be able to get around Helgaer's guard and attack her from the side.
    Camille tried rapid, probing attacks, seeing if she could sneak through Helgaer's guard, but Helgaer deflected or evaded each one with ease. Camille had to retreat in frustration.
    Helgaer attacked while Camille was still stepping backwards, catching her wrong-footed and pressed her backwards. Camille cut Helgaer's first attack to one side but found her riposte counter-attacked. Helgaer continued pressing as Camille retreated in a wide circle to stay in the clearing as she tried to keep Helgaer's sword off her arm or body.
    Helgaer finally broke through as a stone turned under Camille's foot, pulling the attack at the last second to tap lightly between Camille's breasts.
    Camille staggered, looking ungainly for a brief second before finding her balance again.
    She saluted with genuine respect.
    When they closed again, it was Camille who tried to press an advantage, her lighter sword flickering around Helgaer's but never managing to dodge it entirely. Helgaer made Camille leap sideways with an occasional probing counter-attack, but Camille was quicker on her feet this time and did not let up. She barely seemed to use the same technique twice, but she found Helgaer's short, direct movements, although they seemed so easy to evade, impossible to escape.
    A look of disbelief crossed Camille's face for an instant as Helgaer managed at last to cut at her wrist, numbing Camille's fingers.
    They stood in silence for a while, both breathing easily, as Camille massaged her wrist.
    "Again," Camille said when she was ready.
    They cut back and forth a few times before Helgaer struck Camille's sword so hard, with what seemed just a flick of her own wrist, that Camille lost her grip long enough for Helgaer to lightly tap her on the side of her neck.
    "How long was Tola teaching you?" Camille asked as she found her water skin.
    "Everyone in Vreeland learns to fight." She had sparred without expression or any emotion, but there was definite amusement in Helgaer's voice now.
    Camille shook her head as she replaced the skin's stopper. "With staves, you said."
    Helgaer held her sword up to examine it, lightly turning the grip in her hand. "They are not so different. How long were the Gharaj teaching you?"
    "Four months, but after them, I have had lessons from hunters and my friends in the village. I thought I could look out for myself." She shook her head again. "How hard are you trying?"
    Helgaer merely grinned at her.
    They squared up again. This time, Helgaer knew she had Camille's measure. She could not see an easy opening all the time, but she knew she could weather any of Camille's attacks and find a way through. Without having to use her left arm, her wound was not paining her much. She broke through Camille's attack three more times before Camille conceded.
    "I thought I would be able to teach you something," Camille said, staring at Helgaer with a mixture of respect and disbelief.
    "There is much you would be able to teach me about the bow, and you have been teaching me even more about hunting."
    Camille shook her head. "You fought with your brother when you were children, didn't you?"
    "I always beat him then, as well."
    "Did you ever manage to beat Tola? Fairly?"
    Helgaer shook her head, her triumphant grin gone. "Only while wrestling. Never with any sort of weapon."
    "By the gods. Yet you hope to take revenge on her killers."
    "That is why we will have to kill them one by one."
    "Well, I'm glad I could teach you something, then."
    Helgaer nodded gravely. "When we find him."
    Camille only frowned at that.
    They were silent for a little while, each alone with her own thoughts. Helgaer studied Camille while Camille stalked to the edge of the clearing to look out across the forest. "You must get lonely, living there."
    Camille hesitated a heartbeat too long before answering. "Living alone suits me. People have not treated