.
substance.
But it was more important to get a quick reply out than it was to be clever.
I looked at Paul.
"Mary Jo stepped between me and Henry." "And you still let her fight?" Paul asked me incredulously.
"You didn't think that might be dangerous?" "A fight to the death is dangerous," I told him.
"She knew about her ribs.
I knew you didn't want to kill her." He stared at me.
Glanced at Henry.
To Darryl, he said, "Yes.
Let's get this over with." Darryl gave him a half bow, stepped off the mat, and said, "Gentlemen, you may begin." It started slowly.
With most of the expanse of the dojo between them, Paul made some fancy salute that I didn't recognize; a graceful flutter of the hands and forearms combined with a half step forward, then back.
He made a breathy, hissing noise that sounded alien and predatory.
Adam placed his fists together at his chest, then lowered them slowly and silently, flowing smoothly into an openhanded guard: a more common salute, simple and direct.
It looked very similar to the salute my sensei had taught me.
The scabs on his hands broke as he moved his fingers.
Paul advanced, a quick series of zigzag steps that let him glide across the mat while making it virtually impossible to predict where his next step would take him.
His left arm was high, almost vertical, while his right maintained a low guard, hand positioned unconsciously near his groin.
Adam watched him, pivoting slightly to face him squarely as he crossed the mat.
Had he seen what I had? That Paul was blinking as if he were trying to clear his vision.
Adam smiled just a little.
For me? I decided that I'd do better to try to keep out of his head if I could figure out how--and let him concentrate on Paul.
Paul's foot flashed out in a low, scything kick to the knee, and Adam's weight shifted as he raised his foot in response.
As Adam completed the block, Paul's foot stopped short, then zipped up toward Adam's right cheek in a modified roundhouse.
Paul was strong enough to put some serious muscle behind the kick despite the short distance.
Adam barely blocked in time, and the force of the kick made him stumble a half step.
Paul danced back out of range.
Adam moved forward slowly, deliberately, a couple of bold steps, eyes on his quarry.
Paul retreated, automatically giving ground to the Alpha.
He caught himself and glared at Adam, who met his eyes and held them.