The area around the mansion was quiet. Ratface walked past the defenders at the front door. It was a narrow entrance; against normal monsters they might be able to hold it. With those lizard apes all this corridor would do is keep the blood contained. Hannah stood by the entrance.

“You shouldn’t do this child,” she said.

Ratface glanced over at her. The half-elf didn’t seem as worried as Isabelle was. She was saying the words, but it was clear she didn’t believe in it. She was a survivor. Ratface and her were similar in that way.

“Even odds, what are your chances against that elf?” Ratface asked. Hannah’s eyes lingered on the elf.

“If I fought her one on one, I could win, assuming her glamour wasn’t anything worth mentioning.”

So, Hannah hadn’t seen the glamour either. Was it too much to hope that she didn’t have one? Maybe it was the staff she’d been using.

“In this situation you’d lose right?” said Ratface.

“I wouldn’t put your faith in me.”

“Then put yours in me instead. I’ve got a plan.” Ratface left the manor on that note. She walked about halfway to Amaranth before she stopped. The elf looked different than before. She was more the woods gone to war than forest keeper. She raised an eyebrow When Ratface stopped.

“A few more steps goblin.”

“Actually, I’ve come to challenge you to a duel.”

Amaranth threw back her head and laughed. It annoyed Ratface that it was charming instead of a cackle.

“Why would I bother?”

Ratface grinned. It was the kind of grin you did before sliding the knife and that’s exactly what she did.

“Because last time we fought, I won.”

The elf stopped laughing at that.

“An interesting delusion you have there.” Ratface opened her arms.

“Am I wrong? Last time we fought only one of us got a real hit on the other and it wasn’t you. If you were going to kill me it wouldn’t matter, but you’re keeping me alive right? What version of the story do you think I’m going to tell.”

The elf tsked.

“Fair enough, terms?”

“Just you and me. I wont use anyone in the mansion, and you wont use any of your monsters.”

“Deal.”

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

Ratface bit back her smirk. That pretty much confirmed that Amaranth didn’t know about Abigail and the others. Amaranth leaned on her staff. She looked bored.

“Ready?”

“Ready,” said Ratface.

She nearly lost three times within the first few seconds. Amaranth had blurred across the distance between them and swung at her head. It had only been Krysa screaming at her to duck that had gotten her to move. Amaranth had twisted through after that and tried to sweep her legs. Ratface jumped and managed to get her knife in the elf’s face before she could finish her third swing. Ratface danced back and Amaranth went back to leaning on her staff.

“Still clinging to that win?” Amaranth asked.

“I’m sorry, where exactly did you hit me?” Ratface fired back. Amaranth didn’t like that. She swept towards Ratface ina flurry of strikes. Ratface fended them off with a combination of ducking, rolling, and blocking with her sword and knife. Krysa called out instructions for her to move the more the fight went on.

“Next time, don’t taunt the elf. I thought we were buying time,” said Krysa.

“Sorry,” Ratface thought back. She parried another staff strike. Her arms were wobbling with the effort.

It wasn’t a fair fight. She couldn’t really retaliate, just block. The elf kept pushing her towards the edge of their clearing where the monsters were and Ratface just knew they’d bite her if she got too close.

She was outmatched but at least she hadn’t lost yet. Amaranth was playing with her.

“A bit harder when you don’t sneak up isn’t it?” said Amaranth. Ratface took Krysa’s advice and didn’t respond. Not that she could have anyway. She was pushing herself here more than she had against anyone else. It wouldn’t be enough. She’d improved, sure, but at the end of the day she was still a child. She didn’t like her chances.

If she kept fighting like this, she was going to lose. She needed to do something clever before it was too late. Ratface turned tail and ran.

“Tell me when,” she thought to Krysa.

She heard a snort from behind her as the elf pursued her. She ran as fast as she could. She had to play into an elf’s understanding of a goblin. Cowardly and stupid.

“Now,” said Krysa.

Ratface twisted in place and lunged at Amaranth. The elf’s staff was low from where she’d been about to sweep Ratface, but she was aiming for where she’d be in the future. Right now, Ratface was inside her guard and Amaranth had to stumble back to avoid the attack.

Ratface poured on the pressure. She kept close to the elf and didn’t stop striking. She couldn’t hit her, but Amaranth couldn’t attack her either. Amaranth’s face twisted in annoyance, and she jumped back. Ratface threw her knife and Amaranth eyes widened as it flew at her. She wasn’t going to be able to block it, Ratface realised. She’d actually won.

A snakehead arm whipped out and grabbed Amaranth out of the air. It pulled her out of the way of the knife and settled on the floor.

“Cheater,” said Ratface.

“Hardly,” said Amaranth. The lizard ape that had helped her twisted its shape so that its face was in the shape of a blade horn’s instead. So that’s where her glamour was.

“I suppose I have to give you credit. I did have to try in this fight. Yet what are you going to do now that you’re outnumbered.”

Ratface didn’t bother answering. She’d done her best but it looks like she hadn’t managed enough time. She shifted in place and got ready to keep dodging.

It was about then she heard a commotion on the edge of the monsters. Flame erupted from the area until there was a path to Amaranth and Ratface. Four people stood there. It was good to see them, but Ratface mainly had eyes for Abigail.

She was in full armour. She even had her helmet. Her armour steamed faintly as she walked through the flames to stand next to Ratface. Fear kicked into Ratface just by the sheer intimidation of her. Here was a woman made for war.

“Took you long enough,” she managed weakly. Abigail’s helmet stared back at her.

“We’re going to have a talk about your habit of getting into these situations,” she said. Ratface smiled back. If they were alive after this, she’d happily take the lecture.

“So that’s why you specified the mansion,” said Amaranth, “clever.”

“Does that mean you’ll honour the duel?” asked Ratface.

Amaranth tapped her cheek in thought.

“No,” she said. She sliced her hand through the air.

Then the monsters attacked.