She didn't seem to believe him, and when she delved into his mind to check whether or not he told the truth, he recognized the feeling and went on the defensive.  He began reciting a lewd song in his head, refusing to let any other thought pass onto the surface of his mind.  

[i][color=f26522]I knew a plump maid from Gilead
Hair of gold and eyes of moss she had[/color][/i]

It seemed that no matter what he did he lost, though.  If he let her in his mind, she'd know what he didn't want her to, but when he kept her out, she knew that he was familiar with mind magic, which he shouldn't have been.  The two struggled silently for a moment, as Gale took Alph's advice and fled.  When the red headed woman spotted him leaving she grew bored of the mental contest and strode forward to end it physically.  

[i][color=f26522]Her breasts a better pillow were
Than a bed of down or hay or fur[/color][/i]

Alph blocked her blade clumsily, but she pressed the attack and it was all he could do to step out of her way, always moving backwards, his blade swinging wildly.  She got between him and the river and gave a furious swing, but Alph caught her blade, and the two ground together until their crossguards met.  She pushed, pushed with more strength than she ought to have been able for a woman of her size.  Alph strained against her, but the crossed swords were moving inexorably toward him, too close to his face for comfort.

[i][color=f26522]When I leave her bed I feel so grand
But her father won't let me take her hand[/color][/i]

The woman murmured a word under her breath and Alph could feel her blade suddenly begin to radiate heat.  It was so hot that it sank into the blade of Alph's sword, moving closer to him until it singed a lock of his hair.  He still couldn't push back, and when he looked into her face, he saw that she was grinning with pleasure at his distress.

[i][color=f26522]So every night I'd steal away
And be gone before the morn next day[/color][/i]

The burning blade was a mere inch from his face, and the strain of both pushing with his body and guarding his mind was deteriorating his willpower.  He was about to make peace with his death, having at least bought time for Gale to flee, but something he didn't recognize bloomed up inside of him, and a word he didn't even know sprung from his lips.  

[color=f26522]"[i]Jierda![/i]"[/color]  At the word, his sword exploded with such force that it knocked them away from each other.  The woman flung into the swollen river, and, caught off guard, was quickly swept up in the current.  Alph hit the tree behind him so hard that the wind was knocked from him, but he was on his feet, gasping, a moment later.  He ran, making for the rendezvous point that Zyloria had given them, and praying that that woman was the only one of her kind in Mashal.