"Indeed," Hadama responded, his expression serene but a gleam of wicked mischief in his emerald eyes that belied his outward poise. The solid hit was a small balm against the ache in his ribs that was proof of the other demigod's more numerous successful strikes, but Hadama measured himself against an opponent with far more experience and training in war, and he counted the landing of even one good hit a reason for pride.
It was just as well that he was content with it, because the next offensive that Ronin launched went right for his weak spot: his legs. Hadama tried to shift his leg back in the sand but he was too slow. The White Knight's attack caught him off balance and there was a flash of nausea and a sharp pain in his lower back as a sharp fist found its target. Already stumbling, the Tidebreaker flung an elbow back towards where he thought Ronin's jaw might still be before he managed to catch his balance and twist - with a slight tightening of the corners of his eyes at the flare of pain from the motion - to face his opponent once more. He gave a short, sharp nod of acknowledgment for the hit. A move I would like to learn, he admitted, a hint of rueful appreciation in his mental tone.
It was just as well that he was content with it, because the next offensive that Ronin launched went right for his weak spot: his legs. Hadama tried to shift his leg back in the sand but he was too slow. The White Knight's attack caught him off balance and there was a flash of nausea and a sharp pain in his lower back as a sharp fist found its target. Already stumbling, the Tidebreaker flung an elbow back towards where he thought Ronin's jaw might still be before he managed to catch his balance and twist - with a slight tightening of the corners of his eyes at the flare of pain from the motion - to face his opponent once more. He gave a short, sharp nod of acknowledgment for the hit. A move I would like to learn, he admitted, a hint of rueful appreciation in his mental tone.
