Chapter
Seven Page 1
The dagger shifted in Ashi's hand without thought. For her
it was no longer simply a weapon. It was as natural to her as
a finger. The knife changed positions rapidly, adjusting to
the changes of her opponent's stance. The crowd surrounding
her in the stands roared, cheered and cursed. She had no idea
what any one person was saying and she didn't care. It was just
sound to her. The only thing that mattered to Ashi was her opponent,
Edric.
Her blade twirled, catching the light, dancing in rhythm with
Edric's breath. His blade pulsated with her heart beat. It was
a little frightening.
Edric's challenge grade was two levels above her own. Still
within the legal challenge rating, according to blade fighter's
rules, but she had never fought outside her class before. In
her class she was good; a favorite to win most of the time.
In this match with Edric she was a five to one dark horse. The
odds started at a seven to one, but when she entered the ring,
confidence grew in her ability. She was in good shape, and her
skill with the blade was something an experienced eye could
see instantly.
Edric came in fast. Her weight was on her back left leg, and
she was breathing in. He caught the mistake, and executed his
assult without hesitation.
Ashi screamed a curse and tumbled backwards, retreating to
change her stance. As she flipped over, Edric had already closed
the gap and she felt the edge of his blade slicing through the
back of her exposed thigh.
The cut wasn't deep, but it told her what she already knew.
She was out classed.
She finished the tumble. Edric was still on her, but she didn't
have room to back flip again, the wall of the arena was too
close. Edric was tall, muscular, with long black hair and dark
skin. His chest and arms were covered with thin white scar lines.
The kind of scars only the sharpest blades make. Ashi noticed
when he came into the arena and his robe was removed, that none
of the thin white lines were across any of the vital areas.
This concerned her. Everyone begins as a novice, and every novice
makes vital mistakes, exposing their body to death blows. In
the beginning everyone does that; Except, apparently Edric.
Instead of trying to escape this attack she met it, her blade
whistled as it sliced through the air between them and caught
the other blade as it cut toward her waist. A metallic scream
as the two blades ran down each others length to hilts.
Ashi landed a vicious fist attack to the wrist holding the
blade, and managed to avoid the pummeling strike at her forehead.
She slid under the large man's arm like a gust of wind, avoiding
his left knee attack, managing to maintain her blade
