However many times Pendragon had settled himself into that situation--he could count the number of times it hadn't turned out bloody. Most would attack straight away, he recalled, rather than giving Arthur a chance to choose his actions. In the end, it all ended in blood--his warning turning into a moment that forced others to retaliate out of fear. Torin wasn't acting out of fear--or, if he was, he was suppressing it for what he believed in.

"If you can--"

He turned on his axis perfectly, the turn of his invisible sword coming the same as a war-hammer. The impact of Arthur's swing would have felt just as strong. It was the only time he intended to swing his sword, as if to test if Torin was physically capable of handling himself if things went wrong.

"--Then, I suggest you hurry."