The black-clad figure makes another leap, arching gracefully backwards in midair like the leap of a dolphin, neatly evading Lord Vayan's blades. It lands on its feet in time to parry the next thrust, and the ring of steel on steel sounds like a bell in the night.

There are more than half a dozen of Vayan's people, and only one attacker. It shouldn't be possible for it to defend itself against all of them; it certainly shouldn't be possible for it to be attacking at the same time. Nonetheless, first one and then another of the House Varadeem warriors reels back wounded.

(Not dead. They're not the attacker's target. They're just in the way.)