Unfurling easily into a one-handed stance, Laertes angles his body away from Magnus, leaving him to contend with only the blade. It's harder to wield this way--Laertes's wrist is used to the weight of a rapier, and Jack is a stouter blade--but his form remains impeccable. "Tricky," he says appreciatively, making a couple of noncommittal feints just to gauge how Magnus reacts.