"I should have brought the damned sword," Eragos spat, for Sleeping Tiger's ears alone. "I'll draw him from the left. Take him on the right - we cannot afford to delay."
"Luck?!" Sleeping Tiger spat. He nodded to Eraggos with one stiff jerk of the head and spun his horse. This time someone was definitely coming out of the saddle. Eragos lined up on the left, with Sleeping Tiger taking the right. After three strides of his horse's hooves Sleeping Tiger shoved his naginata down, making sure the haft went through at least one of the saddle's securing loops.
And then as they all neared, only his toes were left in the stirrups. Eragos would be passing by first and the Rider's flail came up on that side. He wasn't going to intercept Eragos's saber, he was going to beat it to the blow.
Which was hard to do with another human driving full force into your chest. The Rider's lungs emptied all at once with a loud grunt, something that Sleeping Tiger echoed. He'd lept right out of the saddle as they passed and tackled the man, both arms tangled around his torso.
He had no idea which way was up. Only that he hit the ground, rolling over hard, unforgiving stone as the scramble of momentum knocked him senseless. His hands found cloth and yanked. Then he spat blood from a cold, stinging tongue which had gotten caught between teeth during the fall.
Thhey were both on their knees now, stunned, dizzy. And both going for the same daggger which had fallen between them.