{"text":"I didn't falter and together we matched, step for step. Each swing of the sword was blocked, each step countered. No blade ever made contact with flash. We twirled around; my concentration far too focussed to feel dizzy. All I could see was Macrucio's wicked smirk, one that reminded me far more of my past than even Nathaniel did. I wasn't fighting Macrucio now; it was my former life I had to eradicate.","author":"Freedom Matthews","tags":["dark-past","evil-men","pain","reminders","sword-and-sorcery","sword-fighting"],"id":24790,"author_id":"Freedom+Matthews"}