“I don't know how much he was holding back, but I suspect a lot.”
Kerral and I were walking back to my tent and I'd asked about Sapphire.
Well, Kerral was walking. I was more staggering, using the same concentration to move as you do when really drunk and not wanting to show it. Felt similar too, oddly enough.
“He was holding back?”
“Quite a lot I suspect.”
“How can you tell? I couldn't tell.”
“Experience. You should have Pakat watch next time. Two reasons.”
“Well?”
“One, Pakat is a lot better swordsman than I am. Two, if he has to kill Sapphire he'll need any advantage he can get.”
“Well. I'm not sure how I feel about that. Depressed, I think.”
“He was teaching you the right things for battle. Don't become a victim. Hit him anywhere. Don't duel with him.”
“Never planned to.”
Kerral looked at me coldly and for just a second I saw a hint of Sapphire's coldness in his warm brown eyes. “Do plan on it. Anyone can become an enemy.”