With a single step, she brought ruin upon herself.

Sigurd moved in sync, the distance between them closed to four feet as she closed on the swordsman and rendered her own lance useless, caught on the same line as Sigurd’s shield behind him, unable to be retracted far enough to strike him in his new position. He stepped forward and leftward on his left foot, right dragging behind, not much distance gained. His sword, hovering ready for the lunge, burst forth, at first aiming for the gap in her shields on her right side. However, Sigurd could take advantage of an opening in record time, and his enemy had unconsciously granted him a massive one. The shield strapped to her left forearm could not provide her cover as she drew a blade from her left hip, and in Sigurd’s new position the opening made itself apparent to his keen eye. The steel longsword hurtled forward in a killing strike destined for her heart.

Her shield may perhaps still menace him, but not before his steel served its purpose.