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He had two minutes until the gun’s energy crystal recharged. He backed away as she advanced on him with the knife and looked desperately around him for some kind of weapon. Cathy’s face was calm but determined, as though she was working on some minor puzzle whose solution for the moment escaped her.
    “Cathy, I really think we need to talk about this.”
    “Too late for talk, Owen.”
    “If this is some kind of joke, I don’t find it in the least bit funny.”
    “No joke, Owen. I’m canceling our contract. The escape clause is a bit of a bastard, but that’s life for you. Or rather, death. Don’t struggle and I’ll make it quick.”
    “Whatever they’re paying, I’ll double it.”
    “You can’t buy yourself out of trouble this time, dear. Now stand still and let me do what I have to. At least have the decency to die with dignity.”
    Owen realized he’d ended up back by the burning bed and winced away from the leaping flames. He drew himself up to his full height and glared at his mistress. His nakedness rather distracted from the effect. “Cathy, you don’t really think you can beat me in a fight, do you? I am the Deathstalker, after all.”
    “And I was trained in the House of Joy. They teach us all kinds of things there. You’d be surprised. We’re both a little out of shape, but you’ve really let yourself go, Owen. If the knife doesn’t get you, the gun will, once it’s recharged. Say goodbye, dear. It’s been fun; let’s not spoil it.”
    She lunged forward gracefully while she was still talking, the long knife reaching for his heart. Owen side-stepped at the last moment, and the edge of the knife grated across his ribs as Cathy sailed past him. She recovered her balance ina moment and turned to face him again. Owen noted disgustedly that she wasn’t even breathing hard. The long cut burned across his ribs, and he could feel blood coursing down his side. Much as he hated to admit it, Cathy clearly was in much better shape than he.
    The thought sparked a sudden anger in him, and as she came forward again, Owen fell easily into the defensive stance he should have been using all along. His weapon master had spent enough time hammering it into him. Cathy lunged again, and he stepped gracefully aside, seized her arm in one simple movement and twisted it up behind her back. Her own speed and impetus slammed the hold into place, and she gasped in pain as he applied a steady pressure. Her fingers opened reluctantly, releasing the knife. It fell to the floor, but Cathy kicked it out of reach before Owen could even think about going after it. And then she twisted strangely, pulled free of his grasp and sent Owen flying before he knew what was happening. He scrambled hurriedly to his feet, looking about him for the knife. Cathy pirouetted once, her long leg flying up, and her foot hit Owen expertly just above the ear. He managed to roll with some of the blow, but he still hit the floor hard again, his head ringing.
    Great
, thought Owen, as he struggled to get his feet under him.
All the assassins that could have come after me, and I had to get a double-jointed contortionist kick-boxer. Well, when in doubt, improvise. And if that fails, cheat
.
    Cathy came at him again, moving almost too fast for the eye to follow. Owen grabbed his clothes from the chair they’d been laid out on and threw them into Cathy’s face. For a second she was blind and off balance, and that was all it took for Owen to snatch up the knife and thrust it between her ribs. For a long moment they remained as they were, Cathy on her feet, him on one knee, both breathing hard. Blood poured from Cathy’s heaving side. The clothes fell away from her face. She gripped his shoulders fiercely, as though to hold herself up, but all her strength went out of her, and she sank to the floor, still holding onto him. He eased her down and sat with her, holding her tenderly in his arms. She coughed painfully, and blood ran from her