Paths of Green and Gold

Bodyguard - duel

Until now Thorn tried to conserve his strength, knowing that he still had to cross blades with his main opponent. Aware of his enemy’s eyes examining his every movement, he avoided spectacular maneuvers, relying solely on simple methodical attacks.

Seeing the blonde swordsman approaching Selena, forced the injured warrior to change his tactics. His young companion was very agile and had great potential, as she already used her sword like an extension of her arm. However, Thorn knew she was simply too young to be able to keep up with an experienced fighter for a long time. He had to conclude his current fight immediately, but he couldn't leave an enemy behind his back either. The blonde bandit would be challenging enough by himself.     

Thorn unconsciously started praying again. He didn't really ask for anything. He knew very well calling for the Goddess's help came with a price - he was still paying his from many years ago.

[My sword for Aethen... My blood for Aethen... My life for Aethen...] the voiceless chant helped him regain his rhythm.

Jumping forward he made a powerful low cut aiming at the left leg of his giant opponent. As his weapon reached the target, he felt the sword scraping the bone. He tore the blade out of the flesh, using the impact to s***h the other leg of the huge man. A roar of anger closely followed by a spiky club forced him to jump back again. 

He glanced to the right just to see a magnificent attack of the pointy-eared swordsman targeting his cousin's neck. Selena dodged with three backward somersaults. Thorn clenched his teeth. This time she made it, but how many more times he could count on? He hated being forced to use that short light blade.

Another series of his lightning-fast attacks reached his opponent but without impressing the giant much. The warrior didn't move back quickly enough and was pushed away with a powerful kick. He lost his breath as his back hit the ground. From the corner of his eye, he noticed Selena trying to climb a tree, but her enemy reached her before she could get high enough. The girl jumped away from the trunk dodging the attack and immediately countered, aiming for her opponent's flank. Thorn was proud of her but he didn't have time to admire more. He had his own problems.

Quickly making sure no bones were broken, he rolled to the side just in time to avoid the falling club. As the weapon hit the ground and the giant man was pulled forward by the force of the blow, Thorn suddenly saw an opening he was looking for. Closing his fingers tighter around the hilt, he jumped forward half cutting and half thrusting his blade in the giant's neck. The huge man froze, his eyes wide open in shock. The warrior pulled his sword out and jumped away trying to dodge the blood cascading down. As he landed softly on the grass, the huge body swayed and limply fell to the ground.

The warrior cast one more glance at the battlefield around the campfire but didn't find anyone else worthy of his attention. Wiping the blood from his face with a sleeve, he turned to the blonde bandit and Selena. It's been a long time since he had a chance to cross blades with a worthy opponent. His broken wrist kept him away from battle for much too long. Until today. 

Was he going to make it out alive this time?

[When you draw your sword, you must be ready to die. Always.] The voice of his strict grandfather resounded in his mind.

Thorn looked at Selena who finally managed to climb the tree and seemed to be unharmed and, at least for now, safe. The presence of his cousin gave him additional determination to incapacitate his opponent, no matter the cost. 

The blond elf turned to the blood-covered warrior. They both took a few steps forward, stopping at a safe distance from each other. The bandit didn't even look tired. He stood in front of Thorn, his eyes examining the warrior as if expecting a sign, a movement that would start their duel. He was tense, ready, and alert.

Thorn finally took a closer look at his opponent and the weapons in his hands. For a nameless bandit from some forest in the middle of nowhere, the blonde man's blades were of surprisingly good quality. The simple sword and dagger deprived of any gaudy decorations revealed the expertise of their maker to anyone who knew what to look for. The weapons were also used often and most probably for a long time.

With every breath the warrior was becoming calmer, trying to foresee potential attacks and prepare himself for every possible scenario. He let himself be embraced by this fleeting stillness - the other, more distant, side of the battle frenzy. Whatever happened earlier didn't matter anymore. Everything that was to happen later was just as insignificant. The whole world was reduced to the place where they were standing and the fight that would soon take place. Was this the moment Thorn has been waiting for all these years? Was this the last opponent he would cross blades with?

"I have no idea who you are and what brought you to my camp," the bandit's voice was calm. He lowered his weapons as if he lost interest in fighting. "But I hope that you sincerely believe in whatever made you murder my men, and in the Deity you will soon be able to praise at the very feet of their throne." A cruel smile sharpened the man's features making him look like some predatory animal.

Thorn calmly listened to everything the thin swordsman said.

It wasn't important who he was or why he attacked the bandits' camp. His reasons for fighting or the Goddess he devoted his life and his future death to were nobody's business. In a short while, either his opponent or him would take their convictions and knowledge to the grave, so it seemed irrelevant to discuss them now. 

"Your woman will not be a problem after I'm done with you," the bandit added, his smile deepening.    

Thorn heard his cousin's angry snort from the tree but he didn't look up. His eyes were still focused on his opponent. At the mention of "his woman" an image of the only Woman that he wanted to be close to flashed briefly in front of his eyes, but he brushed such thoughts aside. It was not the time. 

He knew the more they would delay their fight the worse the outcome would be for him. The injuries he received earlier were slowly coming back to him as the adrenaline rush subsided. He felt blood dripping down his neck and throbbing pain in his chest. 

His opponent didn't seem to be disturbed by Thorn's silence or the lack of answers to his questions.

"Shall we dance then?" he said with a smirk, raising his blades slightly.

By now the warrior realized the bandit was also looking forward to their duel and was planning to do it properly. Not taking his eyes away from the elf, Thorn knelt down and put his short blade on the ground by his side. He took off the two-handed sword from his back and got rid of the remains of his blood-soaked shirt, revealing spiky vine tattoos and numerous scars covering most of his arms and chest. 

The bandit waited, watching Thorn's actions. His nonchalant pose didn't hide his alertness.

Thorn picked both weapons up and gently placed the bigger one under the nearest tree. He returned to his previous place, holding the short elvish blade in his left hand again, his right wrist and forearm tightly wrapped in a bandage now covered in blood.

He nodded declaring his readiness to fight but didn't raise his weapon just yet. 

[...Ready to die. Always.]

They stood at a distance that allowed for an effective attack - close enough to reach the opponent and cut in one blink, but at the same time far enough to allow their trained bodies to react by dodging or parrying to prolong the fight. They watched each other in complete stillness trying to find any weakness or opening that would allow them to finish the fight almost before it started.  

A sudden breeze pleasantly cooled Thorn's muscles heated by the previous fight, as the concentration of both swordsmen seemed to crystalize in the air between them.  

The elf blinked first.

His sword hissed, cutting the air heavy with bloodlust. The thin man jumped up and, surrounded by a halo of his blonde hair, fell on his prey like an attacking falcon. Two blades - predator's claws - gleamed in the sunlight, diving with lethal precision towards Thorn who still didn't move. 

Suddenly the tattoos seemed to come alive and close even tighter around the warrior’s muscles, as, in a lightning-fast movement, he turned around executing his own attack.

Selena gasped among the branches realizing her cousin didn't even try to dodge or block the two blades.   

The elf's sword missed the tattooed torso and sliding down slashed the warrior's thigh, marking its path with a line of crimson. The dagger-wielding hand hit the tattooed shoulder, too far for the blade to reach the flesh. 

The curved blade struck the bandit just under his arm, tearing his shirt and leaving a wide mark of sudden death in its wake. Finishing the deadly pirouette, the warrior cut again. His enemy was now behind him, but his sword was guided by years of training and the infallibility of the harsh Goddess he worshipped. Steel ground between the neck bones of his opponent and the impact of the attack tore the hilt from Thorn's hand.  

The warrior tripped and fell to his knees, his injured leg unable to support his weight anymore. He saw his enemy's limp body hit the ground like a rag doll.

"Aethen... May my offering be worthy..." he managed to whisper before darkness embraced him.