Chapter 7: From the Shadows
I can’t believe it.
“Rob…”
It’s Captain Robert. The best friend I gave up on ever seeing again.
“I’ll stay behind. You go on ahead with Princess, Gideon Thorn.”
I haven’t forgotten him for a moment since the day we parted ways in that faded wasteland.
“You survived?”
Rob doesn’t answer me.
“I’m sorry. Princess was kidnapped. I’m gonna go rescue her now—” He doesn’t even let me finish my empty apology. He answers instead with a ruthless swing of steel. “Rob?”
I must’ve subconsciously heard him draw his sword, because I instinctively swung my sword up to catch his blow. Vibrations run from the hilt into my hands, up my arms to my shoulders, shaking my body.
We glare at each other behind our interlocked blades. Not even a muscle or an eyebrow on Rob’s face tenses. I’m staring into emotionless eyes, empty like glass marbles.
“Why’re you doin’ this?!”
Did the witch disguise herself? Or is this some sorta sick illusion? No, this is undeniably Robert’s swordsmanship. He’s an opponent I’ve clashed swords with many times during training. So I know.
His blade scrapes down mine…towards me. This is bad. He’ll win by overpowering me at this rate. I take the plunge and boldly jump backwards in an attempt to unbalance Rob, but there’s nothing skillful or nimble ‘bout my movements. My reaction’s slow and Rob easily overcomes the sudden lack of resistance in my blade. I’m in deep—the burns are taking a toll on me. I can’t even get the upper hand by putting distance between us!
A series of fast jabs drive me into a corner. I quickly fend them off to the right and left. Each hit is unbelievably heavy and one wrong move will cripple my already weakened body. A sudden shift in his tactics manages to swipe my sword out of the way; he’ll land the next hit on my body. I try to counterattack, but it takes everything I’ve got just to match his movements. Unlike me, Rob is fighting beyond anything I have seen from him before—I can’t throw him off balance. I’m stuck retreating, and I can’t seize the initiative.
Our swords clash to a rhythm I can barely match. But even then, I can’t hear any of those sounds. Only the pantin’ and puffin’ of my own breathing that wheezes out from my throat and scratches at my ears.
“Guh! Ngh!”
This ain’t fair. My opponent’s not even short of breath.
My heel collides with the wall. He’s cornered me. My back’s against the wall and I’ve got nowhere else to run. Losing your presence of mind gives an opportune chance to your enemy. Panic makes you forget how to move correctly, clouds your eyes, and misleads your ears.
He’ll come from the left next…
“Wha—”
He got me. I missed the timing. The sword entangled with mine pulls away and he brandishes it high overhead. Suddenly losing the long sword it was strugglin’ against, my sword hovers hesitantly out of position. Where will it come from? Above? From the side?
In that split second, I hear it—the sound of a sword’s tip skimming over dry grass. I duck down in the spur of the moment.
Right as I do, Rob’s sword slices through the air with a whoosh, missing its target. It went right through where my head had been. It was a slash meant to sever my head with a single swing. He’s trying to kill me with everything he’s got. I’ll die if I don’t face him usin’ all the skill, power, and technique I’m capable of.
Flowers shredded into pieces flutter through the air. Acorns shattered into pieces hit the ground with a dry clatter. I was saved by a flower wreath of herbs, ivy, and tree nuts. It’s one of the wreaths Princess made and hung up on the wall.
I can’t die. Princess is waitin’ for me.
My shield is lying overturned on the other side of the room. He just unleashed a huge attack, so it’ll be a moment before Rob can make his next move. Not long, but long enough. I’ll change the space between us. Get some distance!
“Whew!”
I toss myself between Rob’s legs, sliding past him across the floor with the help of the numerous scattered acorns. Did that stupid, unknightly move shake his guard? The “moment” before his next attack is takin’ too long. And his movements are sluggish as he turns around. As I scramble to my feet, I stomp on the rim of my shield with every ounce of my strength to send it spinning.
WHISH!
The round shield pops up, flipping straight into the air between us and hiding the movement of my blade. Back, front, back, front…back.
Rob is a first-rate knight. And a serious man. He’s too serious, so he can’t read my erratic actions. When the shield comes back down, I swiftly slip my left hand into its strap, snatching it out of the air to hold it at the ready. Rob moves towards me slowly, as if he’s swimming through toffee. Not to say that I’m movin’ fast myself. My blade sweeps out from his blind spot.
My sword deflects his own, but through inhuman strength he overwhelms my attack.
Vibrations and the ringing impact of steel echo through the room. His sword exchanges blows with my shield. Shields are equipment built to defend, so they outdo swords when you’re on the defensive. This time we’re evenly matched. I’m not overpowered by his sword. At eyelevel, I confirm that the face behind the gleaming blade is devoid of expression. At least furrow your brow a little, man. Show me a bit of your rage!