Code of Shadows

Chapter 19: Consolation

I managed to side step the first swing, but Adir had learned his lesson. As soon as his blade passed me he was back for me. He caught my shoulder, and I felt the sting as the sword sliced my skin.

I went down to one knee as another heavy blow came down. My shoulder stung, and I collapsed. Guru had been right, I wasn't strong enough I didn't stand a chance.

Adir used the butt of his sword and I hit the dirt.

Adir could have kicked me to jelly right then, but he was too busy laughing.

"So sure you are going to win still punk?" Adir taunted.

I managed to stumble to my feet. I raised my sword, but Adir slammed it aside with his own blade. Now both my hands felt numb.

"Oh, wow," Adir said. "You are so scary now, aren't you?"

"Why don't you just end this," I hissed as he pushed me back.

"Cause you made me look stupid, and now I want to return the favor." While I was busy chit chatting with Adir, Belle had been planning. Now I was really appreciating having two functional minds in the same head. I had said that I didn't want her help, but now I realized that I did. And it isn't like I could refuse it, she was a part of me. It was like refusing to use one part of my own brain, it just didn't work.

I backed up towards a gap in between the trees, and where my sword was. Adir swung up his arm and I saw the strike coming before it happened. I raised my arm and closed my eyes expecting my hand to be hacked off. Instead, There was a loud cling with sparks. I opened one eye, and saw the steel arm braces Aala had given me. I smiled, I was still alive and in the fight.

But that thought went flying into the forest as Adir slashed his sword downward and across my arm, leaving a good size cut.

Seeing the warm blood trickle down my arm made me dizzy. I had known I was bleeding before, but seeing it was different.

"No handicapping," I mumbled as I remembered what I had heard Guru say.

"Oops," he snarled. "I guess I just let the blade slip."

He pushed me back, in between the two trees I was heading towards. I landed with a groan. I figured as soon as Adir was done making fun of me, he would end the match, and that wouldn't be for a while. I had to finish the fight soon. 

That was when I got it, or should I say Belle. It didn't really matter, we got it. I scrambled to my feet with the little energy I had left. I swung a long stick I had grabbed from the ground at Adir. He jumped back in surprise. 

Adir growled and came closer to attack with more accuracy. He swung his sword and I dodged. I let his momentum keep him going. He stumbled into a tree and cursed at me. He spun around to face me, but by that time it was already too late. I had already disappeared into the trees.

He snarled. "Come out you coward!"

I laughed from above him. "Or what?"

"I'll chop down every tree and you will have to come down!" I saw the fear in his eyes start to build.

I moved to behind him. "By then it will already be too late." He spun and slashed out at empty space.

"I am no longer there dummy." He spun again.

This was fun. It was like playing with a cat. I wasn't in any danger up in the trees and I was frustrating the hell out of him. He spun in a full circle.

"COWARD!" he screamed at me.

I laughed as I dropped down behind him. He reeled and shock completely covered his face.