Odal pulled back in confusion, only to have the wild-swinging broadsword strike him just above the wrist. The ax dropped out of his hand, and Odal involuntarily grasped the wounded forearm with his left hand. Blood seeped through his fingers.
He shook his head in bitter resignation, turned his back on the prostrate Hector, and began walking away.
Slowly, the scene faded, and Hector found himself sitting in the booth of the dueling machine.
XV
The door opened and Leoh squeezed into the booth.
“You’re all right?”
Hector blinked and refocused his eyes on reality. “Think so—”
“Everything went well? The Watchmen got through to you?”
“Good thing they did. I was nearly killed anyway.”
“But you survived.”