'It certainly would,' Tom agreed.
'It would be bad for ours too.' Thunder adjusted his sword harness. 'So make sure it doesn't happen.'
They reached Griffin who was standing a few paces from an elegantly attired officer of Morgon's guard. His plumed helmet nodded in the breeze.
Tom's party halted.
Another armed group was heading their way. Tom made out the figure of Morgon, towering above his escort. He approached to within a few paces and halted.
Tom didn't wait for introductions.
'Morgon!' he bellowed. 'I challenge you to single combat.'
'The plumed man intervened.
'The Lord Morgon wishes it to be known that he does not accept challenges from persons of inferior rank.'
Tom glared at Morgon.
'You pathetic coward. I have you trapped.'
Morgon approached a step and stared at Tom impassively.
'You silly little boy. I didn't come here to answer your pathetic challenge. I came to see your attempt at fortification and now I see it I know what it is. We'll punch a hole through your pile of mud like a child kicks down a sandcastle.'
'Kick a hole through my wall and you will be consumed by fire.'
'By Bithras. You are a clown.' Morgon screwed up his face. 'You are like those silly actors who perform in the theatres. You think you can build a wall of mud and stop an army. Such things might happen on the stage in front of senile senators and posh merchants. Just you wait and see what happens when you come up against a real army led by real officers.'
'You're a coward, Morgon.'
'Put your hand where your mouth is.' Morgon bellowed. 'My informants tell me you have been elevated to the office of Head Master. Very well. My Head Master is here. He equals you in rank. Challenge him.'
He pointed to a ferocious looking man at his side.
'He wants you to fight his Sword Master,' Thunder whispered.
'What styles?'
'Theirs and ours.'
'Anything else?'
'He's good.'
Tom advanced towards the Sword Master and stuck out his tongue. Like Tom, the other man was armed with a long sword and short sword. Tom adopted a relaxed, swaggering posture and began to insult his adversary, who wore a silver mask with a bird's face.
'Pretty boy ...'
Tom made a warbling noise.
The Sword Master adjusted his position.
Thunder had seen the Sky Warrior training and knew he was good. But the big man was far too casual. He was behaving like a herdboy insulting another boy or a baker's son playing at being a soldier.