The Sea Flower

Taunt is an excellent ability, if you happen to be an expert with a shield and parrying. Having everyone attacking you means that they aren't attacking your friends and co-warriors.

The disadvantage, of course, is that you just can't parry everyone all at once.

Or perhaps I should rephrase; I can't parry everyone all the time, and when I'm busy defending myself, I'm not attacking.

"Let me at him! Let me at him, I'll show him who's a bitch!"

"Quit shoving!"

An overhead blow with an axe sent me down to one knee, and took a good chunk off the bottom edge of the shield to boot. I'd like to say that I dodged and ducked and weaved and rolled, but the truth is I bumped too many legs, took too many cuts and nicks and bruises.

I'm surprised I was still on my feet when Gamilla made her way onto the deck. I was trying not to slip in a widening pool of blood, most of it my own.