She knocked his arm aside. The next thing the failed mage knew he was taking back steps, coughing and wheezing as he went.

The knight had landed a good punch into his stomach.

Lawrence thrust a warding arm forward to make the knight take a defensive pause while he recovered, her allies surrounding him in a tactical half-circle formation. They weren’t taking any chances. Good, because that would keep them nice and slow—away from the group.

After fighting for this long, he had probably wasted enough time to allow the others to escape, though what happened to Tomiichi, he couldn’t say.

“Your demon magic might be powerful,” the woman said, “but you don’t even come close to me in armed and unarmed combat.”

He had recovered enough to speak. Fortunately. “Give me a sword, you armored cow and we’ll see about that.”

She burst out laughing. “For one about to die, you sure know how to talk a big game of dice.”

Lawrence chuckled then. “For one on the higher side of the game”—the dicing metaphors seemed appropriate—“you sure do waste a lot of time.”

She stood up straight. “So that’s it, mage? You were stalling us? Please… We’ll slice your allies to ribbons as soon as catch them.”

“With all that armor?” he asked. “You lunge quickly, and I noticed you can move in quick jaunts, but don’t think I haven’t noticed the weight begin to carry. What is it, runes? I know you don’t use magic.”

“What are you talking about?”

She tried, quite feebly to deflect, but he knew what was going on. “You’ve already begun to slow. Just like a big, tired cow.”

“Stop calling me that!”

“I’m surprised my insults are even getting to you, what with all that armor, you’d think you had some skin under there. Perhaps you have too much. Is your gambeson too thin? Oh, you’re not wearing one?” He tilted his head. “Are you wearing anything under all that plate? If you are, it must be stifling. I wouldn’t be wearing anything. Did my fire singe your—“

She growled.

“Lady Captain,” one of her men on the left called. “He’s taunting you!” Don’t—“

“Quiet!” she ordered, her hand rising to emphasize her authority. “I’m well aware!”

“Captain!”

“What?”

“We’re wasting time. They’re escaping.”

She snarled, evidentially understanding that. “Fine!” she spat. Go after them. “I’m staying her to deal with this devil’s spawn.”

“Devil’s spawn?” Lawrence asked. “I worship no dark gods. Is it the magic you can’t stomach?”

“Captain.”

“Go. I’ll be fine.”

The other knight took pause for a moment, but finally obeyed. “Let’s go,” he called, and the other five knights followed him in the direction of the group.

Lawrence felt uneasy. He hoped they would be all right. Where is Tomiichi?

“Now I’m going to crush you, mage.”

“Just as soon as you stop talking?”

She sneered as she dropped into a fighting stance, completely sure of her own abilities versus his. That was a mistake.