Rise of the Blade - Charles Moffat [84]
Chev shrugged and switched hands."I know, but it can only possess the weak minded ones. You know I am far from that." The warrior slowly uncoiled the whip from his belt.
Pierce didn't flinch. He simply drew his mother's longsword from the sheath on his back. "And what if you agree with it at some point? From what Marque Draque tells me that sword can possess you through an idea and then twist that idea until you are totally under its control. That sword would cleave through a small army in your hands before you finally fell dead."
"It's done it before," Chev replied nonchalant. "I took on the Bravepike Manor and when I left there I was the only one left standing with a sword in my hand. The only other was a cripple which I left alive deliberately."
Inside Chev's head, Pierce could see the warrior forming strategies. It was only a matter of time. The Doctor wasn't going to let him have it though. "I'm tired of this Chev. Can't we just kill each other and get it over with?"
"No Pierce. Neither of us will be quick to die. I agree though. I'm eager to get started." The warrior stepped across the fallen saber and snapped his whip forward in an attempt to entangle.
The Doctor backed off and held his weapons out to the side but at ready. "I'm not going to fall for that one. You probably haven't heard that I was once a gladiator."
Chev nodded and snapped the whip at Pierce's quick feet. "I've heard. How were you captured?"
"Magic," Pierce grunted as he jumped over the whip and landed before Chev, both swords lashing out.
Chev dropped to a crouch and parried both blades away with an overhead slash of his sword and came back with a stab to the gut.
Pierce parried with the handguard of his saber and brought his longsword down for a keep jab in Chev's forearm. He was rewarded with a spray of blood from the deep wound.
The crouching warrior dropped to his back and kicked out with both feet, connecting with Pierce's breastplate. The Doctor fell backwards and scrambled to grab his fallen saber as he rolled to his feet.
He was dismayed to find that Chev too had his fallen cutlass.
"So much for your attempt to disarm me," Chev said with a shrug and looped the whip onto the hook on his belt.
"A chance I had to take," Pierce said grimly and sheathed the longsword behind his back. For a moment he considered that action a lowering of his defenses but then he remembered Chev's respect and honour. Chev was a true duelist, and as such refused to attack even though the opportunity for a quick lethal hit had been there.
For a moment Pierce saw how Chev fought. He was utterly lethal when dealing with amateurs, but he had a level of respect for well deserving opponents that he wouldn't stoop to that level. He would sooner kill himself than let a true warrior die without honour after a well fought battle.
"I don't understand-" started Nicole.
"That's right! You don't!" Valeska said harshly. She stood before the door of her suite, blocking Nicole's path. "Perhaps I should explain it to you. Pierce and Chev are destined to fight this battle. I have it at very high authority."
"Why?"
"It involves a number of gods. Do you really want to hear the details?"
"Yes," Nicole said firmly.
Valeska shrugged. Taking her hand off her holstered crossbow, she held it out the noble. Nicole hesitated and then took it. The moment their hands connected the two women vanished from the room.
Pierce realized that he was in trouble when he noticed that Chev had cornered him in the direction of the balcony. The last time he and Chev had fought near a balcony it had resulted in a long fall. The ground below was paved with bricks and not water. That was more than one good reason to avoid the balcony.
Skipping past Chev's quick blades, the Doctor dodged around the balcony and down the grand marble staircase. Chev followed quickly, charging down the steps in quick jumps. Pierce was ready for him and the two clashed together in the torch light.
For a moment Pierce realized how