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Aidar to keep Kinara outside. In her condition she didn’t need to be watching this, but clearly his brother-in-law had lost that argument.
    Knowing Kinara, Aidar probably lost a lot of arguments.
    A single other light burned as brightly as the one lighting the Circle. Directed down it illuminated an observation balcony over the space.
    Alari stood there, alone.
    Her posture was straight, her head held high, but she gripped the rails so tightly even from here Kyndan could see the tension. 
    Jazan entered at the same time from the other side of the arena.  Dressed as Kyndan was, in loincloth alone, the man was a mass of muscle and scars.
    With Kyndan her chosen, Jazan was the challenger. As such, Jazan went first to stand in front of Alari. She said something to him but from where Kyndan stood he could not make it out.
    Whatever it was, made the warrior’s lip curl and he stalked away to take up his place in the Circle opposite from where Alari stood.
    As her chosen, Kyndan went second to stand before her. He would start the fight from this position, standing in front of her, standing as her protector.
    She looked so fragile up there, so alone. It wasn’t right that Alari should have to watch this with no one to comfort her. She deserved better care.
    Kyndan gave a bemused half smile as he took up position beneath her. When did I start thinking of her as mine?
    “Tell them,” she said hoarsely. Her dark eyes were wide as she looked down at him, her lower lip trembling. “Tell them you do not wish for this challenge. He will let you go. He will let you live.”
    Kyndan had been in battle. He’d been in simulations at the academy where they messed with your brain so bad that you didn’t even realize it wasn’t real, just to test you. And when he’d entered the Fleet he’d accepted the possibility that he might die but he wasn’t really willing to.
    He’d always held something back.
    But this wasn’t a fight for ideals or territory or because he was ordered by some data pusher back at Central Command. If he lost here Alari was going to spend her life with that brute.
    This was for her .
    And he wasn’t going to hold anything back this time.
    “I’ll be a good mate,” he said simply then he turned to face Jazan.

He really is a beast.
    Half a head taller and with biceps the size of Kyndan’s thigh, the man was massive.
    He’s got height, strength, weight and reach on me. He’s been training with a sword since he was eight and this is my first time even holding one.
    What are my advantages here?
    Kyndan drew his breath in and let it out slowly.
    Right, none. How can I win anyway?
    That Aidar had asked to have a month for him to teach him the rules was ludicrous. Kyndan hadn’t even needed the whole hour to get them. Basically they were: step into the Circle, don’t step out, kill the other guy.
    Well, I’ve managed two so far.
    At some unknown signal Jazan suddenly broke from his position opposite. Kyndan tensed, gripping his sword in the en garde position, but the Az-kye didn’t rush him. 
    Instead Jazan slowly arced toward him. He moved back and forth, pacing like a Leman mountain cougar, his brows drawn low over his angry dark gaze.
    One swing of that starblasted sword and this is over. Why is he waiting to attack?
    Kyndan’s eyes narrowed, sizing up the warrior as Jazan paced toward him. Jazan held his sword like it was an extension of his arm, graceful despite his bulk, wielding the blade as if the thing weighed nothing at all.
    Jazan was a heartbeat from pinning him against the boundary stones right beneath Alari. Kyndan darted quickly to the right to get some space between them.
    Damn it, he’s got to have a weakness somewhere!
    “I’m surprised you agreed to fight me at all,” Kyndan threw out.
    Jazan’s lip curled in disgust. “I should not have to.”
    “You don’t,” Kyndan pointed out. “I’ll let you walk out of here right now. All you have to do is give up Alari.”
    “Think you