One Skeleton had hesitated. But not because it was waiting, but because it chose not to act.
Percival did not punish it. Instead, he struck the Skeleton beside it.
The hesitant one tilted its skull slightly.
A deviation. Waiting to act must be a good thing, it must have thought.
"Good," Percival said.
He pointed at that Skeleton.
"You," he said. "Attack."
The Skeleton stepped forward, raised its sword, then abruptly stopped. 'Waiting to attack.'
Percival had already committed, angling his blade to block.
The Skeleton suddenly lunged, although half a beat late, aiming to stab Percival rather than the earlier vertical slash.
Percival blocked it easily, but his eyes flashed with excitement.
The Skeleton followed with a second strike that did not match the first.
It was clumsy. Inefficient.
But it was unexpected.
Percival still parried the attack with ease, though he gave the Skeleton the reward of showing his surprise.
The other Skeletons stared.
