Chapter 20
617 Words
Despite his taunt, the goblin didn’t rush. Instead, both of us slowly inched forward. Our blades were hidden from the other not to reveal the lengths. My opponent’s sword, although I only saw it for a moment, was handled with as much care as I handled my own. The goblins, usually so callous and carefree, were silent as they faded into the black in the corner of my eye.
The forest was gone. My men were gone. All that remained was the centerpiece of the ground between me and my opponent. The sweat that ran down his face, the slight shake in his hand and even the breaths he took materialized in my mind.
Pitter patter.
Kiran?
Rain. The landscape changed as the dirt at our feet turned to mud and an invisible battle ensued; a war of wills. Every strike was visualized and countered from every angle. I tightened the grip on my sword as it dipped under the weight. This battle could be over in one strike.
Kiran, didn’t you say that you would come back to me? Where are you Kiran? Why did you leave me?
Not now. I need to focus.
His sword raised above head.
Kiran!
I, the hero of Tanderdall would not be slain by a mere goblin.
Sweeping upward in an arc, my sword matched his.
Not by a goblin.
Clang, Clang.
The touches were light, not meant to damage but to pry, and the swords danced upon each other, looking for a deadly finishing strike.
The goblin swung left over, reaching and missing wide. Not taking into consideration of the muddy ground, he carried forward more than he wanted to.
It was an opening.
I plunged my sword forward in a piercing manner, landing the first blood grating his arm. Still, he got out of the way. He didn’t scream nor act in an angered motion.
The heinous laughs of the goblins matched the small drops of blood that fell to the ground.
It disgusted me.
Can you hear me Kiran!
The sudden distraction almost cost me my life as the goblin came back, striking with a vengeance.
I dodged, stepping left as his sword scraped my leather armor.
It was an amateur mistake on my part.
I blocked the next blow, finding my footing on the ground, and countered him with my own.
It was a wave of back and forth and slow pauses as we gauged the other. Despite his initial injury, the goblin held his own. I had gotten familiar with his style and combination now and I think I had it down. He would open with a left strike an overhead if I stepped back it was meet with a trust. If I side step back, he moved his blade in that direction. His weakness was the arm. However, he knew this and kept a great guard with two of him. I would be dead, however…
I raised my blade in a thrusting manner and pushed it towards him. He parried as he stepped backed to a side. I shifted, predicting the move, stepping forward on my dominant left foot as he was about to strike to chase me away. I parried it and grabbed him with my left arm with such force that turning caused me to follow my direction, tumbling to the ground.
It was over as his blade swung in the air, hitting into a nearby tree and falling to the ground.
He looked up towards me as my blade came down, halting midway as cheers rung out and a voice took my head.
Kiran!!
“What!!?” I shouted, answering the voice.
- Writer
