Fatigue

He advances calmly, as if the fight were a rite, a dance rather than a duel. I, on the other hand, move fast, looking for the angles, the blind spots. I slide to his left and lunge with a slash, seeking his thigh. But his sword easily gets in the way, deflecting the blow with one hand.

-Too impatient," Argus growls.

His counterattack is swift. The bastard sword whistles through the air and I barely manage to dodge, feeling the edge cut a lock of my hair. I roll to the side and leap to my feet, panting.

-Great care, that idiot is more skilled than he looks.

In my attempt to respond to Hero, a sound alerts me: the snap of a rope being pulled taut. Crossbow! I turn just in time to see two soldiers a few meters away, lining up their shots. Damn, where the fuck is it coming from.