THE BATTLE continued through the night.
Morning came.
Neither stopped.
The ruined estate slowly brightened beneath the rising sun, revealing the destruction that had accumulated throughout the night. Dust covered the broken ground, and fresh cracks crossed older ones until there was hardly a stretch of earth left untouched by the battle.
By afternoon, Lord Pei could no longer properly hold his sword with his left hand.
His fingers refused to close completely around the hilt. He switched hands without hesitation and continued fighting.
By evening, his bow had broken.
The weapon had survived years in his hands, but after being used continuously throughout the battle, it finally snapped beneath the force of another shot. Lord Pei discarded the broken pieces and drew his sword again.
When darkness descended again, he was still fighting.
Alone.
His sword cut across the man's shoulder.
The man struck his ribs.
Lord Pei heard them break.
