A dark mist bled out from Tablurath scabbards as he studied the slow advance of his opponent. As he suspected it did not seem she would comply and surrender. He admired her courage, however misplaced as it was. It would be a shame to have to kill her. Perhaps he could enlighten her to their cause? Convince her to use her talents for a more noble effort than supporting the short sided goals of her father? First he would need to test her and see for himself the extent of her skills.

He remained in the posture known as rei, the formless, as she approached. It was the apical of fighting stances. Only the most skilled of masters fought without any obvious stance, able to flow naturally from offence to defense from long experience. It had the added benefit of making it appear is if he was defenseless or unprepared to the uninitiated. Just as Rodetta was just ten feet out Tablurath bent his knees slightly, placing his left foot a little forward and waited for the first strike. 

His opponent indeed wasted little time, immediately rushing forward into a jab aimed for his stomach. Tablurath wasted little time in reacting, ducking low while moving forward his right foot leading, bringing his right handed sword before him, the blades tip pointed up. The flat side of his sword aimed for just the base of the incoming spear point. If it hit, it would drive the pike to Tablurath’s left side coming within but missing by inches his left lumbar region, but effectively parrying the blow. Tablurath would then turn with the momentum of his swing counterclockwise. By the time Rodetta pulled back and sent forth another jab, this one aimed toward his neck, he’d have his left handed sword sweeping in from the right, then up. Deflecting the thrust toward the side of his face. 

The quick turn had served the dual purpose of causing his cape to billow up between them. Obfuscating Rodetta’s line of sight for a brief second. Tablurath however, was not so hampered. Seeing the outlines of his opponent through the thin fabric thanks to his extraordinary sense of sight, his opponent's aura appearing as a bright fiery red. This he used to his advantage, masking his first attack so far. His right handed sword angled for a stab toward Rodetta’s throat. He leaned on his left foot which had swung around with him, putting him just within six feet of his opponent. Assuming his earlier deflection worked allowing him to get within his opponents reach. Rodetta’s swept pike thrust parried up to his far right side as Tablurath came in with a, if all things went according to plan, unseen sword thrust. The maneuver all taking place roughly within two heartbeats. The dark mist from earlier now quite evident in the air around them.