Jehan ringed him in circles of light, and the famous downward stroke was expended on vacant air.

He played with him till he breathed heavily like a cow, and then by a sleight of hand sent his sword spinning among the oak mast.

The young giant stood sulkily before him, unarmed, deeply shamed, waiting on his death, but with no fear in his eyes.
Jehan tossed his own blade to the ground, and stripped off his hauberk.
"We have fought with weapons," he said, "now we will fight in the ancient way." There followed a very different contest.

Aelward lost his shamefastness and his slow blood fired as flesh met flesh and sinew strained against sinew.

His great arms crushed the Frenchman till the ribs cracked, but always the other slipped through and evaded the fatal hug.