amara abruptly reversed her grip on her sword and laid it , blade gleaming , on the table beside her then she turned to face him and walked toward him , stopping less than an arm 's length away `` pirellus , ' she said , keeping her voice to a low murmur `` i 'd rather not be here and i 'd rather not pull rank on you do n't force me to push this as far as i 'm willing to `` his eyes met hers , hard , stubborn `` do n't threaten me , girl you 've got nothing to do it with `` in answer , amara called upon cirrus again and struck the man with her open hand across his cheek , a ringing blow that had landed and turned his head before he could avoid it pirellus stepped back from her , blade coming up to rest pointing at her heart in pure reflex `` do n't bother , '' amara told him `` if you will not do what needs to be done , i challenge you to juns macto here and now , for negligence of duty treasonous to the realm `` she turned from him and reclaimed the blade , turning back to face him `` blades i can begin when you are ready `` the commander had stopped and was staring at her intently `` you 're kidding me , '' he said `` you 've got to be joking you could never beat me `` `` no , '' amara said , 'but i 'm enough of a blade to make you kill me to win you 'd be killing a cursor in the execution of her duties , commander whether i 'm a man or woman , whether i 'm right or wrong about the coming attack , you will be guilty of treason and we both know what will happen to you . ''