**Pivotal Battle**
He was open for a moment, his weight too far forward, and I struck for his eyes. A stroke like that didn’t need power, it was a flick and a pivot of the blade, licking at the air like a whip. His head snapped back to avoid it, then he lunged forward. I got my blade back into position, but he was too strong. His sword drove my blade back and struck my chest. Links of mail glittered in the air as the blade fell on my chest like a hammer blow. I flew back and struck a tree, everything going white as my head whipped back and struck the bark.
I felt myself sliding down, helpless. I felt him catch the mail shirt as I fell, and pull it over my head. *He was going to find out.* Then he kicked my shoulder, driving me onto my back. There was a long pause, then I felt the fabric tying my breasts down being cut free. The whiteness receded, and I wiggled my toes to prove that I could, but I didn’t open my eyes.