China watched Dalrymple come in with three quick jabs. Skulduggery parried the first two and sidestepped the third, responding with a riposte that Dalrymple blocked easily. They went at it again, blades flashing and singing together. Dalrymple kept his left hand held high behind him in a classical fencer’s stance. Skulduggery kept his free hand low and out in front – far less flashy, far more cautious.