Boyce shrank backwards, out of the way and managed to land a blow over Orren's back, with his damaged sabre, but all that happened was that the blow dented and cracked the armour. The force of the blow, however, was enough to send Orren toppling over. He landed face down and Boyce went over to him. He stood over Orren for a moment then helped him t his feet only to be pushed away by him. "You are a stupid young man." Orren commented. "I would never have helped you!" Boyce, holding his side with one hand, smiled and staggered backwards a few steps. "Yes, I know!" he added. Boyce now attacked, brandishing his sabre over and over, rotating it fervently and not giving Orren the chance to make a good swing back at him. Orren fell back to the ground several times, and Boyce chopped at him, then stepped back. The rhythm of his movements were monotonous and anticipatory, making Orren to constantly step backwards. It was all Orren could do to defend himself. Then, Boyce stopped and squatted, and glared at him. Orren slowly made it to his feet, the armour from his own left arm totally ripped off of him and the bloody flesh just hanging off of the bone. With great pain Orren forced a smile at Boyce clutching his profusely bleeding abdomen. "You are getting better!" Orren said to Boyce. "But why didn't you finish me off?" Boyce smiled. "I am having too much fun ... besides -- I am giving you the chance to live and to surrender!" Orren shook his head and Boyce knew that he could not reach a compromise with Orren. Now, he had to try his hardest against this man. Orren felt the same way. He now realised that Boyce was trained very well for this kind of fighting. It was then that Orren's mind was illuminated to all that has occurred up to this moment. He understood the prophesy and he could see the truth behind his killing Lloyd. Yet, he also understood that there was now no turner back or reconciling. "Be on your guard!" Orren warned with a hint of affection and admiration in his voice. "And you!" echoed Boyce. Orren lunged at Boyce but quickly withdrew as Boyce pitched forward at him. The move momentarily confused Boyce and catching him unaware for an instant, but he quickly fell to the ground and rolled forward a few times to escape the deadly reel that Orren had followed him with. Dust flew up from the ground as Orren gouged the earth with his sword, again missing Boyce. Boyce came to his feet slowly and was smiling, and Orren nodded complimentarily to him for anticipating his tactic. They continued to fight and the time passed. Soon it was an hour passed since they had started to fight. They hadn't said very much after the first hairy tactic that Orren had tried on Boyce. The rest of the time was spent in offensives and countering, each man trying to out-think and out-skill the other.