And they crossed swords. The Count went for the quick kill, the inverse Bonetti.

No chance.

Again they crossed, and the Count moved into a Morozzo defense, because the blood was still streaming.

Inigo shoved his fist deeper into himself.

The Count retreated around the billard table.

Inigo slipped in his own blood.

The Count continued to retreat, waiting, waiting.

He dug with his fist and he didn’t want to think what he was touching and pushing and holding into place but for the first time he felt able to try a move, so the six-fingered sword flashed forward-

-and there was a cut down one side of Count Rugen’s cheek-

-another flash-

-another cut, parallel, bleeding-

The Count was beginning to experience a decline of nerve.

Inigo drove for the Count’s left shoulder, as the Count has wounded his. Then he went through the Count’s left arm, at the same spot the Count had penetrated his.

“Offer me anything I ask for.”

“Yes. Yes. Say it.”

“I WANT DOMINGO MONTOYA, YOU SON OF A BITCH,” and the six-fingered sword flashed again.

The Count screamed.

Inigo struck again.

Another scream.

“That was below your heart. Can you guess what I’m doing?”

“Cutting my heart out.”

The Count screamed one final time and then fell dead of fear.

Chapter 8