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“I do what? Rule?” Josh muttered to Tyler. “Hang on.”

“Well met! Indeed.” The girl laughed with genuine pleasure and encouraged the mob of visitors to clap with her for Tyler’s speechifying. “Is it not? Well said. Well met. Hie you hither, Master Robber. And bring your shining lord.”

Suddenly Tyler strode right into the clapping crowd, which parted before him like they’d rehearsed it. Feeling more than slightly ridiculous, Josh followed, keeping his eyes on Tyler’s broad flexing back and butt so he wouldn’t turn around.

“Consequences be damned!” The girl got the crowd to roar and curse at Tyler, and he hopped up onto the log with easy athleticism, his legs bunching with explosive power. She seemed startled by his height up close, but then slipped aside to let Josh climb to the log. “Your Grace.” She bowed to Josh.

Josh nodded and mumbled, “What the hell?”

Tyler reached forward to pluck the smallest of the two padded swords from her grip. “I challenge you to a duel, my lord!” he declared. “Your life or your freedom.”

Josh grabbed the longer sword. “I accept!”

The crowd cheered. Josh saw a few of the folks they had bumped into earlier: the mask vendor, the bubble sorceress, one of the joust knights mopping his brow, Luis the batwing champion on his dad’s shoulders.

Against all his better judgment, Josh took one look at Tyler’s twinkling eyes and jumped right into the silliness of it.

The swords felt like repurposed nerf bats. The log was broad enough that balancing was easy. All his rock climbing had done wonders for his equilibrium. And he was strong enough to hold his own, certainly, if Tyler went easy.

They faced off, swatting at each other with greater and greater force as they realized just how safe they were up here. They began to grunt, shout, and made a good show of it. Once she knew they were safe, the girl catcalled and the crowd jeered, mostly at Tyler as the burly bad guy.

Emboldened, Tyler attempted an obvious feint and sweep, over which Josh jumped pretty easily. The crowd shouted and hooted. Tyler swung down, hitting the flat of Josh’s shoulder but not moving him an inch.

He wants me to win. He winked at Tyler, and Tyler winked back.

Josh bent low and then swung his sword in a wide arc that slammed into Tyler’s side, knocking Tyler completely off balance.

Tyler’s arms pinwheeled a moment with him balanced on the edge, body arched, which shamelessly showed off his abs, pecs, and overstuffed codpiece.

With a dramatic cry, Tyler toppled into the cushions below and gave a roar of terrible defeat.

Josh smiled and raised his arms in victory. The girl got the crowd cheering and clapping again, but then the crowd booed as treacherous Tyler reached up and tugged Josh down into the pit on top of him.

For one perfect, breathless moment, Josh lay sprawled across Tyler’s broad, damp, heaving chest as Tyler’s arms caught him and held him steady. Their eyes met, faces inches apart.

Josh’s heart pounded. Tyler licked his lips, watching Josh’s eyes on him. Slowly, so slowly Josh could feel himself stiffening again in his breeches, Tyler released his powerful grip, and they helped each other to their feet, both flushed and off balance.

The girl shook her head ruefully at Tyler. “A lusty fighter—”

“Fights hardest still.” Tyler nodded and shrugged at her teasing abuse.

“Your lord is merciful.” The log wench invited them up for final hurrahs and a last bow to the crowd. She gave them a friendly, knowing glance.

Tyler turned to eye Josh softly. “More than you know.”

Josh tried to read his expression behind the smile and the mask.

Balanced on the log, they turned to face different sections of the crowd, bowing several times.

Tyler tipped his head to say softly to Josh, “A draw, then.”

Josh nodded, pulse racing. The full-length press of Tyler’s body still burned through his costume. What did it mean? He needed to know… but he suspected the day wasn’t close to over.

After their impromptu duel on the log and whatever had happened between them pressed together down in the pit, Josh needed a breather.

Tyler stopped to splash his face at a water fountain. “You hungry? After all that hard combat and shopping, I’m about to starve.” Then the rough accent again and the rogue’s grin. “But as it seems now I am your prisoner, I can but beg your indulgence.”

“Indulge away.” Josh laughed, following Tyler to a vendor offering massive turkey legs. The scent of roast meat and spices filled the air.