The discord in the midst of battle was soon interrupted by a fresh wave of enemies.
Before he could think through the possible consequences, Martin had to focus on the trouble right in front of him. Otherwise, these things would send him into the Lord's embrace before he had time to give it proper thought.
Kraft's tactics were simple in theory, but very difficult to carry out.
The main difficulty in dealing with these things was that they were hard to predict. In fact, the more experienced someone was, the easier it was to be misled. Only a handful of people here could dodge and counterattack accurately on instinct.
That was precisely why he had noticed the distinctive traits of Kraft's swordsmanship.
Unlike the fancy techniques that had gradually become impractical, these were simple, straightforward movements. They were most often seen among nouveau riche with no deep roots, ennobled within the last couple of generations, and were more widespread than breastplates.
There was little in the way of intricate design or technique; the emphasis was on making sure each blow carried its full force. It likely derived from some low-cost method of using a slashing weapon, meant for beginners. After being adapted, a few practical tricks had been added to help wield a lighter, more agile sword with force, resulting in a style with no school of its own.
Martin had encountered similar people before. Their styles varied wildly depending on the unconventional methods of whoever had taught them, but they all shared a crude directness, forcing their opponents into a contest of speed and ferocity where even skill was hard to bring to bear.
This newly appointed honorary professor at Rivers University clearly had a foundation in swordsmanship that came from this tradition, while his overall style was very...