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The next night was fairly quiet at the Inn. Midnight found me meditating at the white oak on the forest's edge. My mind was set on the task ahead that I had set for myself. The diamond bracelet on my wrist gleamed in the moonlight and I stared at it silently. If he knew, he would try to stop me. As if that thought conjured him, Krolaun put in an appearance, eventually making his way to my side.I rose to greet him, but my eyes softened, coming far too close to revealing what I was about to do. Quickly, but calmly, I gathered Power as he neared me. When he stopped in front of me, I looked at him and murmured, "Please, forgive me. . ."
The sleep spell I put over him was not anticipated, and he fell to the ground in his enchanted slumber. I stood over him, looking down at his handsome features. Something stirred within me, but I shook my head and turned away. Making one final check I found the Dagger of Mystics safely stowed in its sheath at my hip and I nodded. I then vanished into the forest in search of my rival. Using the magic of the Amulet, I was able to narrow down the area of her location, and teleport myself there.
* * * My vivid green eyes scanned the area for any sign of her, even as I prowled through the brush. I sensed and felt the movement before I actually saw it, and I turned.
Sharidia stood there, regarding me with those hellish amber eyes, "If it isn't Katja the Exile."
Purposefully, I drew the Dagger of Mystics from my hip. The silver blade gleamed in the light of the moon that filtered down through the canopy of trees, "It's been a long time, Sharidia."
"Too long. It will all end here, I assure you. I will finish what the Cleansing did not."
At that point, Shard summoned her weapon, an obvious gift from Sekhmet. A sword, I observed, that was easily thrice as long as my own Dagger. I gauged the reach Shard had, and was not pleased with the result. She swung the blade with the practiced ease of a skilled fighter. I made no move; I only watched.
Finally, she made the move I had anticipated; charging towards me. Her blade sang through the air as she made a brutal slash to my mid-section. My hand stung as metal screamed against metal, reverberating through my short blade.
I scrambled to Draw the Power of Earth, but she seemed to sense me Reaching and she pounded her blade against mine. My concentration crumbled as I fought to keep her blade from my flesh. I fell to one knee as Shard continued to push her sword against mine, a metallic hiss weaving through the air.
Sweat beaded upon my forehead as I looked along the honed edge of Shard's sword that was only a few inches from cleaving me in two. Uncertainty crept into my eyes and I began to feel weak.
Do not lose faith; or you will lose!
The advice of a long-gone mentor rang in my mind, almost as if he had yelled it into my ear. My eyes turned to cold green steel as my resolve hardened. I gritted my teeth as I pushed up with my thighs, forcing Shard back, inch by precious inch.
She broke from me then, backing off a pace. I could feel the static in the air as she relentlessly pulled the Power of One, channelling it through her sword. I dared not allow her to get a full charge.
Fly true. I hurled the Dagger of Mystics with a cry to Bast. It streaked across the distance, shining like a silver arrow, striking Shard hard in the shoulder, breaking her concentration.
I could still feel that her sword was heavy with the Power. Raising her sword, she hurled the Power at me, not bothering to form it.
I closed my eyes, raising my arms in a feeble attempt to ward off the blow.
Bast. . .
Everything went so dark, so quickly, that I knew I had been slain. However, a barked word of command made me open my eyes, just in time to see another Tyberan who was garbed in white.
A blast of pure white light exploded from his hand with a sound akin to the snarl of a hunting cat. From that light, a tiger of flame formed and leap upon Shard, pinning her to the ground.
"I should kill you," the newcomer growled, "By all that is Holy, I should striked you dead as you lie, Sharidia."
He backed off, "But I will not, for it is Katja you have wronged. And it is Katja who will sentence your foul carcass."
At that moment, Shard screamed to her Goddess and the tiger was burned away by the raw Power of Sekhmet. The newcomer backs up a pace as Shard stands to her feet, her shoulders burned from where the tiger's paws had been. Her amber eyes burned in hate as she glared at him, "I will deal with you later, Bast."
Bast vanished as she spoke and Shard lunged at me. I was momentarily caught off-guard, but I recovered. I backflipped on my hands, catching Shard square in the jaw with a kick. She staggered back, roaring in anger. I felt a renewed sense of hope as Krolaun's voice echoed in my mind.
"If only I could make her mad. . ."
Oh, Blessed Bright! Thank you for grey-eyed elves!
I summoned the Dagger of Mystics back to my hand and lashed out in a vicious strike. My green eyes blazed with my fury. She managed to squirm out of the way, but I moved right into the path of her sword. I could feel the cold steel slice right through the skin and muscle of my abdomen. I could feel my lifeblood pulsing out of the wound, beginning to flow down my side. But I wasn't done. Not yet.
I raged on, ripping my Dagger across her throat in a savage backslash. Bitter tears coursed down my cheeks as my voice strugged from my throat, "Leave me forever, Shard! And take your nightmares with you!"
Shard's blood was hot on my hands, just as burning as the tears upon my cheeks. As swiftly as she was slain, Shard's body vanished in a flurry of red mist.
Is this the end? I was forced to wonder.
Somehow, I managed to get to my feet, turning in the direction of the Inn. Despite the distance, I swore I could see the lights of the inn dancing in my vision. I staggered a few steps, but that was all I could manage. I collapsed and let the darkness come.
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© 1999 E. Angeli Mansfield