"Because fighting has been a part of our biology far longer than art," Devin said, mostly to be argumentative. "I don't find beauty in actual battle. Sparring is a different matter; in battle, I have only one goal." Namely killing his opponent, in the quickest way possible.

He and Valdis seemed to have some things in common, although this did not endear her to him.

"What is it that does matter to them?"