Temple Hill - Drew Karpyshyn [54]
But how could he get this creature off balance? How would he even know when he had a tactical advantage?
As the naga's head swooped in from the side, Corin ducked underneath. From the other side the tail stabbed forward, but Corin was able to deflect the poisoned barb with the flat of his blade. He threw his shoulder into the elongated body of the beast, trying to drive it back, but the muscles of the creature twisted and curved their form around him, threatening to wrap him in their grip.
A slash from Corin's sword deflected harmlessly off the scaled underbelly of the creature-though it did cause the thing to recoil, giving Corin a chance to scamper away and reset himself for the next attack.
The naga shot forward again, still leading with the head. Corin slipped to the side, but this time he was watching for the tail. It whipped in belt high, and Corin calmly stepped back out of range and hacked at it with his sword as it swished past. He put the full force of his weight behind the blow, and was rewarded as the blade bit through the scales into the soft meat beneath, bringing up a small spurt of blood.
The creature slithered back quickly, stinging from the wound, trying to lure Corin into pursuing it, but Corin held his ground. He was beginning to understand the pattern of the creature's aggression. He knew how to avoid the attacks and retaliate with his own. If he took the offensive now, he'd have to begin a new strategy. Corin was content to fight a war of counter blows.
The naga hesitated, Corin could sense the bewilderment on its alien face. It was uncertain, hesitant. Like Corin, the naga could read the developing battle. It knew it needed new tactics to survive.
Corin braced himself for a different approach. The creature slithered forward, keeping its head low to the ground. It brought its tail in high, arching its back so the stinger could drop straight down on Corin from above. The warrior's blade arced through the air, a huge sweeping slash designed to intercept and sever the creature's tail.
There was nothing there. The attack had been a feint, a way to distract Corin while the creature darted past him toward Lhasha.
Corin expected to meet resistance with his wild swipe. When he caught only air he was left stumbling to the side. He took two steps to recover, and another to get his momentum heading back toward his opponent. Less than a second, all told. Far too long.
The naga was bearing down on Lhasha, who had heeded his earlier warning to stay out of the way by retreating toward the stone room when Corin had engaged the creature. Now she was trapped against the stone wall, unable to get away. She had her short blade drawn, but the way she held it told Corin she was inexperienced in combat.
The naga sensed Lhasha's vulnerability, and attacked with reckless abandon.
A quick head strike, two sudden lashes of the tail, another bite. Lhasha ducked and twisted and spun away to the side, but with no fear of counter blows the creatine kept pressing forward.
Corin hacked down at the thing's back, leaving a deep, oozing gash on the scaly torso. Quick jabs from the naga's tail forced Corin back again as he parried the blows of the poisoned barbs, leaving Lhasha at the mercy of another round of attacks.
The half-elf stabbed her tiny blade into the naga's underbelly, the point pierced the skin and drew blood, but the naga was oblivious to her efforts. It slammed its writhing body into Lhasha, driving her back against the outer wall of the stone room, momentarily stunning her.
Before she could recover, before Corin could come to her aid, the naga stabbed its tail deep into her thigh. She opened her mouth in a scream Corin was glad he could not hear and dropped to the floor.
Corin was on the naga again, chopping and slicing at his enemy from behind. He rained short, quick blows onto the back