A Couple of Losers?

He expects me to lose, Astra thought. As do the rest of them. They can see that I'm strong for a woman, but they don't expect me to be any match for a man as obviously fit as Fred. I don't trust either the lord or the audience to take a win for me with good grace. Things could turn very nasty, with the two of us finishing in the stocks or worse. I don't like throwing a contest, and the following half hour is likely to be rather unpleasant, but I think that I am going to have to lose.

Meanwhile the chairs were being passed up to the seconds,who placed them on either side of the small table. Fred and Astra took their seats. Once the seconds had checked that all was in order, they withdrew to the wings.

Fred and Astra each placed their right elbow on the table and clasped the other's hand. "I'm going to lose," Fred whispered, ever the gentleman.

"No, we have to give them what they want," Astra whispered back. "So I'll lose. Not too quickly, though. We don't want to make them suspicious."

"Begin!" the lord shouted.

Fred and Astra tried to give a convincing impression of two people striving with all their might to win.

1. But after a minute or so Astra allowed her forearm gradually to be forced down until her hand came in contact with the table.
2. But in fact neither was exerting any real pressure, as both were determined to lose.
3. But in fact neither was exerting much pressure, as both intended to lose. After five minutes of stalemate, the crowd became restless. "I've had enough!" the lord yelled. "Neither of you is trying. I declare that both have lost and shall pay the forfeit.
4. But Ralph could lip read. Astra had been facing the audience, and Ralph relayed to his lord what she had said.

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