Einin could not see the grin spread across Ryk's face as she came at him. She was a quick study, this moment had proved it. Her use of the technique was a bit sloppy, but he was sure she would master it quickly. As she danced toward him, her blade trying to snake its way through his defenses, he found that already he had to step up his game. She was not only quick of mind and body, it seemed she had great endurance as well. Perfect attributes for a swordplay, and for a skilled lover. Ryk could not help but notice that even in her sparring garb, her feminine figure showed through. Einin truly was a young beauty. The mental cataloguing of her attributes as a potential lover brought to mind Dylanna. Why did this young woman make him think of the Lady Swinden. She was the only woman he'd ever loved, but he refused to admit that even to himself. The momentary distraction was enough though, and Einin's blade found its way through to strike a blow to his left shoulder.
The new blade Ryk had given her easily cut through the thin padding at the joint piercing into his flesh. The Ryk mask slipped and he quickly reacted as Rufus would. He dropped his own saber and pivoted, putting his back into Einin's chest. Still in his shoulder, he pulled her sword tip with him as he did. When it snapped lose, it tore the wound worse than he'd have liked, but he was in the heat of the moment, barely feeling it. His heels pressed down on her toes, and he threw his tricep into her masked face knocking her to the ground. As she fell, Ryk pried the blade from her hand and then turned putting the tip to her throat. It all had happened so fast, and as soon as he realized what he had done, his Rufus persona fell away, leaving in its place the man that he hid.
Ryk felt ashamed and appalled at his actions. He dropped Einin's blade by her side and stepped back, only now feeling the pain of the wound. His hand went up to it, clutching it tightly to stanch the bleeding. He reached up and pulled off his mask, he was feeling a bit claustrophobic, and tossed that to the ground as well. Then Ryk did something very unlike himself, he apologized with complete sincerity.
"I'm sorry for that. I don't know what came over me," his words colored with shame, Ryk turned away from the downed Einin. He pulled a kerchief from his pocket and pressed it into the wound. "Excuse me," was all he said as he walked into the garden to find himself.