The blade slapped ineffectually against Sigurd’s left foot as his own strike landed. He wasn’t paying it much attention, as many years of war had taught him there was little to fear from a long weapon at close range. However, he was dismayed by the lack of effect his blade had, such strikes had always done far more damage in the past. Perhaps his foe had armour of some unnatural density or quality, it was not beyond the realms of possibility.

His sword strike did have one inevitable advantage, the blade knocked his opponent’s arm as her own strike landed, and weakening what paltry momentum it had. Unfortunately for the Northman the blade did have an unnatural quality of sorts, it was superheated. The effect may have been direr had Sigurd’s stone arm not been at hand barely a meter away from the blade itself, dampening it with its own passive aura that had a disruptive effect upon magic targeting Sigurd. Instead, the blade cut through his leather boots by merit of its high temperature and began to burn his skin, causing a slight graze before his foe’s hand was knocked by the longsword and her own pivot dragged the weapon out of line.

Ignoring the slight pain of the burn, albeit with surprise he had been marked at all, Sigurd continued his offensive. His foe had risen her shield up and offered him an easy target to strike at her body, and he was not one to turn down an obvious advantage. His left foot sank back a bit, consequently escaping further impediment from the bladed edge, but his stance was otherwise suitable for his follow up. He twisted his upper body rightward, swinging his shield but more importantly drawing his longsword in a vicious diagnol in a dangerous low cut. The effect was to draw his upper torso back and away from the shield while his blade slipped easily underneath, driving forth in a powerful strike to the upper part of his foe’s right leg. The fact that his blade was already low and in a suitable position from the attack on her arm made the strike a quick and effective follow-up exploiting her shield being out of position.