With a crowd seeking entertainment, I felt silly circling Alice. Her eyes called for blood even if her body remained completely at ease.

I breathed in and then out, expelling unnecessary thoughts out of my mind.

Here we go.

I rushed forward; the explosive start worked best. She angled her axe; I tried to bend lower, leaning with my weapon arm first. Another swing; she didn't dodge. The thick shaft of her weapon stopped my blade. She stepped back.

I couldn't allow that; I leaned forward and grabbed at her weapon. In response, a high kick met my arm. I took the hit, and she turned the sharp sting into a push, forcing me away. I tripped on one leg and began to stumble backward, but she rushed in. Her axe swung from below. Pushing off my back foot, I raised my own.

Clang!

My weapon knocked hers down, but she quickly turned the motion into a jab. It smashed into my toes, and I bit my tongue. I tasted copper, and my mana bubbled. Lava filled my veins, I watched the world brighten, the red of her cloak drawing me in as she charged.

Her axe began to hook between my legs, and I hopped. Once my foot returned to the ground, she switched her grip. I watched the axe head, ready for a swing; instead, she used the shaft like a bar. Thick wood met my unguarded chest. My lungs deflated while my back hit the dirt. Before I could cough, a boot pinned my axe arm to the ground while the head of her axe hovered above my throat.

I blinked and began to snarl. But then I saw it – the wide grin stretching across her face. Her blue irises shined with a dull crimson.

"There's more to combat than using your blade," she whispered.

She released my arm and helped pull me up. I grunted and spat out blood, all before hanging my head.

Right, don't leave blood if you can. Will burn this after we're done.

"Ah, the ferocity of youth! Outstanding. Especially the footwork; so many of my guards are too stiff. But that kick, Miss Alice," Volk said as he thumped his chest. "It reminds me to have my guards do more stretching drills."

She dipped her head in response and smiled at the little girl who stared at her like she was a dazzling hero. Krenlow looked nearly as enthused as the captain, and Devon continued to watch, ever silent.

I pushed him out of my mind as this time Alice charged first. She adjusted her hands lower on the shaft and chopped downward. I dodged to the right and pushed off the dirt. Instead of leaping at her, a piece of hard metal pushed into my shoulder blade and tugged me forward.

Her hands shifted behind the beard of her axe, and the butt of her weapon came flying for my gut. My hand shot out, took the hit, and secured my grip.

She pulled, but I didn't relent. My axe cut at her side, and she dropped low. Metal sliced through empty air, and she pounced. Her hand rocketed upward, and I leaned back, barely avoiding the uppercut.

The dodge made me loosen my fingers enough for her to slide it free. A foot slid between mine, wood pushed into my back and pulled me forward. Her fingers gripped my hoodie, tugging me downward before I could adjust.

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No!

I stomped and bent forward, yet I kept my legs steady. Sending a right hook into her shoulder, I growled and tried to do what she did to me. The huntress resisted and leaned back, widening her stance. I pulled; she pulled against. Neither of us budged.

The lava in my veins erupted as heat crawled up and down my limbs. I saw steam begin to rise into the chilly air. Each thump of my heart drowned out the cheering from the sidelines.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

My axe punched into her side, the dull metal preventing it from parting flesh. I slid my fingers behind the beard and swung again, but her hand shot outward and wrapped her fingers over mine.

I pushed; she held me back.

Again, she jerked me forward, and I let her. My knee rose to meet her head as I roared and pulled her into the hit. Bone met bone, and a loud crack cut through the pounding in my ears.

Blood dripped across my pants.

In a slight daze, she fell backward, and I pushed down on her arm still gripping her weapon. We crashed to the floor, and I slammed the butt of my axe into her stomach. Spit hit my cheek, and I pressed her into the dirt. I bared my teeth and stared into her eyes. Fully crimson, she stared back murderously, trying to push me off. Muscles strained but I didn't budge.

"Looks like I wi-" I started before I flew backward and crashed onto my back.

Before I could roll away, knees pressed into my chest and a bar of wood pinned me down by the throat. Alice straddled me with another arm tying down my wrist gripping my axe. Her legs wrapped around my waist, and I tried to break free, but she pushed the shaft harder against my throat, forcing my airway shut.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

I punched her side. She winced but kept her grip. Her head bled, and blood flowed freely onto my cheek.

Shifting, squirming, I struggled to get out from underneath her, and she responded with more force.

The blood called; I could feel an anger that demanded I win. It wanted me to break her arms and crush her bones. I could; if I just let it.

No…

Shutting my eyes, I tapped her thigh. The pressure continued until I tapped again, and she let up. Air rushed into my lungs, and I rolled onto my side, sputtering with each shaky breath. Rubbing my throat, I nearly hissed as it protested my touch.

Gritting my teeth, I sat up and rubbed at my bruised arm.

Huh. What's with the faces?

Volk looked speculative, but a ghost of a smile hid behind his mustache. Devon nodded my way, a surprising reaction from the man.

Did I do good?

Alice, for her part, sat beside me and dabbed at her head with some gauze. I didn't even have to ask before she tossed over a wad of bandages. Using my water flask, I began to clean up while I stole glances at the others.

A few other guards stood around at various distances, all watching with strange expressions. I recognized Yadalee frowning from a few paces out. The mounted knights, in particular, stared with sour looks. But the strangest expressions were from the noble and his daughter. The dad looked… worried, concerned even. He lost some of his color and absentmindedly rubbed the back of his hand with his thumb.

I guess it was too much for him.

Yet the tiny noble's reaction was the strangest of them all.

She wasn't afraid like her dad; she didn't look contemplative like some of the guards. No. From ear to ear, a smile so bright it would have threatened to blind the sun stretched across her face. It wasn't an evil smile; instead one filled with excitement, an almost physical joy.

She stared at our weapons, especially Alice's battleaxe laying on the ground beside her.

I subtly tapped Alice's leg with my foot, and she glanced over. I pointed with my chin, and she followed the direction until she saw Heldeena.

"Looks like you have a fan," I whispered. "Well, at least your axe has a fan."

She snorted. "That kind of reverence she's showing. Maro would be smitten."

I chuckled with her. "That'd be a sight. How's the head? Can't believe I lost every round."

The faint smile dropped, her face sobering. "You gave in at the end."

It wasn't a question, but I heard the inquiry.

"Yeah, I did. There was a line to cross, and I refused."

"We're Grimms. If it wasn't for the audience, I would willingly have broken your legs if it meant you couldn't get up. We're not allowed to quit."

I turned to face her, but she was already standing up, using the last of the gauze in her hand to clean her cheek. She dropped the stainedonto the ground, joining the pile I created, and walked off to head back to the wagon.

She walked stiffly, an unusual sight for the normally relaxed huntress.

What's going on in your head, Alice?