#bergen_county

Brekke nods again. "True. I will learn from that." She looks over to where Tiara is, assessing.

Tiara is being healed, and soon will be ready for the final

"You can't unhorse a centaur."

"Hm." Thoughtful. "Did you notice her preferring left or right foreleg?"

Seeking more words of experience from Dagmar.

Symon notices Lily… getting into something… and slips away to watch.

"She leads with her right."

A slow nod. "I may be able to use that."

"Did she truly connect with that kick, or was it a feint?"

"The kick was light, her sword got me."

A nod. "I shall watch for that."

And soon "Next and final round for the grand melee! Chieftain Brekke of Rivervale vs Dame Tiara of Caer Falken!"

"Keep watch," Brekke says to Dagmar as she enters the ring. "Tell me what you see." Then she goes to meet Tiara at the center of the ring.

"You have done well, so far," she says to the centaur.

"Better than I imagined, Chieftain" She gives the troll salute

Dagmar goes to watch and cheer. She does want the Chief to win!

But...

Brekke returns the salute. "Let us make a fine show for the end of this."

She turns and goes back to her side of the ring, helm goes on, and she waits for the signal.

And the signal goes on

She knows that Tiara has likely been studying her, as well, so instead of striding directly to her, she instead moves more slowly and circles to Tiara's right as she closes.

Tiara looks quizical, noting the change

A shift in direction, then back...less predictable footwork.

The sort of approach that might make a horse nervous.

"Not nice" But Tiara smiles, and fients

A jab with the shield to obscure Brekke's vision for a sword strike

Brekke doesn't try to deflect it -- instead, she grabs the shield and yanks it towards herself and down.

Tiara didn't expect THAT, and it causes her balance to go off, good thing she has FOUR Hooves to brace but it still exposes her

Brekke does a completely unwise, unorthodox move, turning away while still holding the shield, and aiming a backhand strike, blind, at Tiara's horse-belly.

The one area that isn't barded! A woosh and from there, it's over... as the air goes out of Tiara, the rest is a matter of clean up!

"Winner, Chieftain Brekke of Rivervale, Grand Melee!"

A winded Centaur indeed did wheeze out a surrender

Brekke immediately releases the shield and moves to steady Tiara until the healers can get to her. "Be steady. You will be well soon."

"Good to remember..."Heaving "what air tastes like"

Cheers breaks out, and somewhere in the crowd a piskie goes "Oh thank god"

"RIVERVALE ROCKS!" Sylvi cheers again!

Tiara grunts recovering "You never taught me that trick, Chieftain" A weak smile

medics are moving towards her

"I never needed it before," Brekke replies.

She makes sure the medics are there, then steps back and salutes Tiara. "Thank you."

She turns and acknowledges the crowd, then goes back to the edge of the ring. A grateful nod to Dagmar. "Thank you. That was helpful."

"You were brilliant."

"Only because I had good information. You were my general, today."

And with the power of team work even in a single event, Rivervale has much to be proud of, as other events get their turn

(To be summarized later)