Prologue

"En guarde!"

Donned in body padding and headgear, the two men circled each other, their foiled swords striking and recoiling to protect. There was the soft whisper of steel as the swords clashed and parted. The taller man slashed his sword down with the accuracy and speed of an eagle strike followed by a flurry of lunges and twist. The shorter man reflected his onslaught with clumsy fumbling moves. Then the taller man lunged forward to meet his opponents blade and with a clever twist he flung the sword out of the shorter man's hand. Breathing heavily they parted while the fallen blade lay on the ground. The shorter man stared at it, then lifted his headgear and threw it to the floor before offering his hand to the taller man and the handshake was returned. "Touche, well played indeed Chun."

The taller man lifted his headgear to reveal a mass of tousled blond hair. "My pleasure, Davin." He shifted to sit down on the nearby gymnasium bench with an athlete's grace as he removed his padding. Davin mirrored his moves.

"It's late. You want to have dinner before your retreat home?"

Chun shrugged his shoulders ambivalently. "Suits me, if it suit you."

"Okay then. Up for dinner at the Chinese restaurant?" Davin asked.

"Like I said, anything," Chun replied coldly.

They took a quick walk down the street to the restaurant. Along the way a woman cut in front of them and hurried down the narrow street. Davin smacked his lips and whistled. "Hey lady, you want a quick lay?

The woman threw him a disgusted look and hastened faster.

"Nobody ignores me!" He stretched forward an grabbed the woman's wrist even as she tried to dodge his grasp.

He pulled her forward in an embrace and forced his mouth down onto hers. He quelled the woman's attempt at escape easily by locking her arms. He lifted his head up and asked, "Hey, Chun you want a taste of her?"

The woman looked up with pleading brown eyes at Chun and held his midnight eyes in a trance.

He shook his head. Then Davin continued to plunder the woman's mouth.

In a desperate move, she bit down on his tongue. He yelled and swung his hand out to backhand her.

Chun grabbed his hand in a lightning swift move and pushed him to the floor. "That's enough!" He grabbed the woman and pulled her into a standing position. Reaching into his pocket, he produced his handkerchief and pressed it on her ravaged and swollen mouth. Her puppy dog eyes round with hurt and shock pulled at his natural instinct to mother. Anger swelled in him and he turned to Davin. "Get out of my sight now! You disgust me. Next time I see you around, I'll kill you. And I don't make threats, I make promises," he warned.