Harry gets Ron’d

Harry was not such an athlete, so when he came down, having misjudged his leap, he came down hard on his right ankle, which broke with a sickening crack.

Most boys his age, warriors in training or not, would have howled their agony, bit their lip or clutched at their ankle, eyes watering in pain.

He was not most boys, and as Uhtred turned, in response to the leap and the crack, he scrambled forwards in half dive, half leap, left hand supporting him as his left side took his weight, while his his right arm and the wooden sword at the end of it, extended.

And when Uhtred turned, ready to bring his wooden axe down in a sweeping, bout finishing blow, he found the blade of the wooden sword lying against his carotid artery.

Silence fell.

"Yield," Harry hissed through gritted teeth. The pain, of course, made him clench his jaw. It also made him sound a lot more dangerous, belying the wobble in his body, caused by tiredness and agony.

Uhtred was many things. Proud, yes. Competitive, yes. Arrogant, yes.

But he was honourable above them all.

—- Chapter 29, Before the Storm