Sky Warriors: Poleuthan's Thief (Sky Warriors Saga Book 1)
Page 36
“Fight as if your life were at stake,” Ileana warned. “I will not show you mercy, I will not kill you but any wound that is not mortal will be fair game.”
Ange smiled devious, pleased at the idea she might have a chance to injure Ileana.
“Do not get cocky!” Showl pleaded. “She is unmerciful in battle and she will not hesitate to hurt you to test your capabilities and your limits. Remember she has centuries of experience, do not take her on lightly, be on your guard.”
“That’s fine,” Ange snapped. “Now stop distracting me!”
Showl withdrew reluctantly, displeased and worried as he let her be.
Ange focused on the dark brown eyes of her opponent, trying to analyze how she fought but she found nothing in Ileana’s eyes, they were dark, calculating, unrevealing. A lump of nervousness began to form in her gut but she quickly shoved aside, unwilling to admit that the ancient warrior made her feel fear.
They circled each other, like two predators waiting for the other to pounce.
Ange grew impatient, something she knew was dangerous during any duel but the brown eyes of the leader seemed to be goading her, mocking her with her impassive stare.
Ange lunged first, a mistake that proved to be fatal instantly.
Ileana’s right sword arced forward, over Ange’s head and catching her attention while the left sword slashed swiftly across Ange’s face.
Ange froze rolling back instantly in an attempt to dodge.
She rolled three times before landing in a crouch, her daggers resting on the ground. Her heart hammering and her breathing coming in pants. She stared up at Ileana, her gaze was cold, unimpressed and her left sword was clean.
Plip.
Ange froze and gazed down at the spot of blood on the marble floor, another one followed and she felt the warm liquid seep down her right cheek. Ange snarled furious, turning her gaze up to the girl but she displayed no emotion, no smugness, the same empty expression, no fire.
Ange leapt up, ignoring the blood and lunged again, feinting to the left then right before striking out like a snake. Her new speed caught her by surprise and she was unable to break as Ileana gracefully dodged, leaning out of the way like a willow in the wind.
Ange howled in frustration, quickly catching herself, allowing her momentum to help her lash out into a twist, metal struck metal with a horrible earsplitting screech.
Ileana displayed a spark of surprise as she blocked the furious blow. Ange smiled evilly as the dagger jerked down, letting sparks fly as she stabbed forward with her other blade to her opponent’s leg. Ileana easily parried the blow, deflecting the attack and causing Ange’s wrist to twinge painfully with the impact, almost making her drop her dagger.
Ange flipped back out of the way as the other sword made its way up to her shoulder and face. She managed to be out of range by only a breath. She got a sinking feeling that Ileana was holding back. A lot.
Ange stood straight, only several feet away from Ileana as she glared resentfully.
“Stop holding back!” she spat.
Ileana’s composed mask twisted to show a fleeting annoyance as her blades came to rest at her sides.
“You cannot handle me as it is. Do you wish to be injured beyond a mere cut to your face?” she asked with contempt.
Ange glowered furious, her lip turning up in a snarl. This girl was just playing with her, she wasn’t even attacking, only deflecting her blows and forcing Ange to retreat. She realized with sinking dread that any of the Sky Warriors were leagues away in skill compared to her and it didn’t matter if she had been the best among thieves in Cyridell, these old warriors were on a completely different level. She knew that and she hadn’t even seen anything yet.
Ange suddenly got an idea, she had to suppress a wicked grin from appearing on her face. She knew if she repeated an attack, Ileana would repeat her defense, it would play to Ange’s advantage. A thief’s most important skill: misdirection.
Ange swallowed a deep breath before pushing forward once more, low to the ground she dived for a false attack against her opponents legs just like before. Once again, Ileana slashed her blades forward, but this time they swung together, metal only an inch apart straight for Ange’s chest.
She sprang up, the strain pulled at the ligaments and muscles of her legs as she skyrocketed up, Ileana stared after her surprised, her swords stopped as Ange landed on them, precariously keeping her balance on the tips of her feet. The metal didn’t even bend with her weight as she quickly slashed forward, her right dagger scratched Ileana’s cheek just as she was crossing her blades away to force Ange to lose her balance. Instinctually, Ange leapt off with a back flip, her feet kicking Ileana’s chin, forcing her to tumble back as Ange landed on her feet facing the Sky Warrior’s leader with a smug grin.
Ileana’s composed demeanor shattered as fury lanced across her face and her lips parted into a snarl, she furiously glared at Ange as blood leaked down her left check, dripping and staining her white armor. But the girl ignored the blood, her hands gripped tighter the hilts of her swords with angry force as the fire of battle burned in her eyes. If the gauntlets had not been in the way, Ange was sure veins would have been bulging furiously under her skin.
For once Ange noticed the stares of those assembled, they balked at her with horror. The pit of fear in her gut started to tug for her attention as she met the gazes confused. Amaris especially looked stricken, even her partner Corvus’s blank expression broke to show concern and shock.
Before she could think, Ileana launched from where she stood, her swords coming down furiously in Ange’s direction with blinding speed. Ange barely managed to jump back as the swords lashed the air where she once stood, but Ileana did not pause, her swords began to dance into complex patterns, her expression cold and brutal as each blow struck against Ange’s blocking daggers or smashed into her armor painfully.
For minutes all Ange could do was evade and block, Ileana had her on the defense, and she was not relenting.
Ange’s breaths began to come in heavy gasps and her arms became sore with the exertion of blocking the powerful blows and trying to match Ileana’s speed as well as dealing with the blunt blows against her armor, bruising her skin underneath. Sweat beaded on her brow and dripped down her face and neck. Her anger was gone, she could only react but during that simpleminded focus to keep herself out of harm’s way, her fear began to grow.
She hated that fear, she despised the fact that Ileana could ignite terror in her, that anyone could, it made her feel weak and that alone burned energy back into her body to retaliate.
Immediately the battle turned as Ange disregarded her safety, scratches were of no concern so long as she could hold her own. She struck back with the same complex patterns she had picked up from blocking Ileana’s, she modified them, altered them in dangerous news ways.
As their blades met, blocking each other’s moves, Ileana’s expression began to calm, it became calculating, thoughtful as if she parried blows and returned them in kind. They were locked in a dance of screeching steel as the minutes ticked heavily by.
Finally, something changed in Ileana’s expression that made Ange pause with shock, respect. In that brief moment Ileana disarmed her with a swift flurry, sending her tumbling back and her daggers flying in the air before clanging on the ground before her feet.
Ange landed on her backside with a heavy gasp, she laid there panting, staring up at the blue sky as she tried to calm the adrenaline surging through her veins that hammered of her heart out of control. Her throat burned and so did her entire body.
Slowly and sorely she sat up to see Ileana equally panting, sweat on her forehead and dripping down her neck. She cleared her throat and sheathed her blades, her brown eyes calm and concealing as she look at Ange.
“You can come,” she declared, her voice not indicating even a bit of exhaustion.
Ange stared dumbstruck for a moment before a gleeful and excited smile spread across her face.
Ange’s smile grew wider with disbelief as they disappeared behind the stone doors. She looked up as a shadow casted over her, blocking out the sunlight.
Showl shook his head in despair as he offered her his hand. “Hopeless, truly and utterly hopeless,” he sighed as she took his hand and he hoisted her up to her feet. “I told you not to anger her, and what did you do? Now look how many cuts are across your face! I won’t be surprised if you’re bruised all over under your armor as well.”
Ange grinned, unbothered and unworried. She had held her own and Ileana had agreed to let her come along.
“He’s right you know,” Amaris chipped in as she presented Ange her dropped daggers. Her brown eyes were filled with concern. “Not that I’m not happy that you got Ana’s approval but did you really have to go so far? She could have really hurt you!”
Ange grinned wider as she took her daggers and tucked them away.
“I must say I am impressed,” Corvus commended by Amaris’s side. “The only other human to have ever caught Ileana by surprise is Amaris.”
Ange’s eyes grew wide as she looked at her friend. “Really?”
Amaris shrugged though smugness tugged at her lips. “It’s no big deal. Ana likes to fight honorably and by the rules and I will fight to win, being raised among the Sky Warriors, trickery wasn’t encouraged in battle but I never really listened,” Amaris admitted with a sheepish grin. “She only breaks the rules when she feels it’s necessary.”
Ange smiled. “I never learned any rules,” she joked.
“I can tell! You were amazing! We have to duel sometime soon,” Amaris insisted.
Ange blushed with a giddy laugh and nodded in agreement.
“You should instruct her in the arts of combat developed by the order,” Corvus added as he turned his white eyes on Ange. “We will teach you all forms of postures and techniques, with the old training you will be a force to reckon with in any battle.”
Ange smiled looking forward to such lessons with gusto.
“But for now you should shower and let Showl or Grace heal your wounds. We can go to a party looking like we just came from a street fight!” Amaris laughed.
Amaris and Corvus turned away, leaving them alone on the balcony as Showl picked up their bags and indicated to the stone doors.
“Let us get to your room so I can heal your cuts,” he stated quietly, he looked agitated and Ange wondered why.
“What’s wrong?” she asked concerned as they entered the castle.
Showl sighed as they walked the corridors to her room.
“I’ve told you before that I hate seeing you injured.”
“But that can’t be all that’s bothering you,” Ange pushed, feeling his reluctance to share.
He frowned, staying silent till they reached her room.
“I had hoped Ileana would deny us the opportunity to join the mission,” he admitted quietly.
Ange whirled on him furiously as they entered the room. “Why?” she demanded, enraged and hurt. “You know how important it is to me to go back to Cyridell!”
He frowned as he set the bags on the bed. “I know,” he stated quietly, his yellow eyes meeting her own. “But at this time the danger to you cannot outweigh anything to me, even your desires,” he admitted truthfully.
“We’re both at danger here, not just me,” Ange retorted. “With the others by our sides, I don’t think we have anything to worry about. Of course, everything would be better if my powers hadn’t been locked away,” she pointed out hotly.
Showl removed his gauntlets, his hand reaching up to cup her bloody cheek, catching her by surprise and making her freeze.
“My safety is of no concern unless it affects you,” he replied gently.
Ange felt her face flush, confused by his words and pushed his hand away as she averted her gaze. “I’m going to take a shower,” she moved away, keeping her gaze away as she entered the bathroom and closed the door behind her. She stared blankly at the luxurious tube carved straight out of the marble surroundings and the metallic shower head that accompanied it to the sink and toilet, she admitted she had missed the fine commodities.
She mindlessly took off her armor and ran the warm water, she paused by the mirror surprised as she looked over her body. Several cuts were across her face, a particularly nasty cut across the bridge of her nose appeared worse than it actually was. Her ribs and arms had molten bruises, the purple marks stained her white skin prominently.
Ange stared at herself for a minute blankly, no anger existed in her as she stared at the wounds. She felt strangely out of place after Showl’s words, confused, she hadn’t even been able to argue after his statement. She sighed and entered the water, washing away the blood.
The wounds stung sorely during the entire ordeal, she left the water and took a towel, realizing she hadn’t brought any clothes. She cautiously opened the door and peered into her room.
Showl was gone and he had left a set of clothes for her on her bed.
She frowned even more perplexed by the sight and the feelings that it ignited into her. She found herself becoming frustrated with the enigma of emotions. She swiped the clothes and quickly got dressed despite the pain that every movement caused.
The wounds were truly starting to aggravate her and considering their extent she knew she would have to seek out Grace to heal them, not because Showl couldn’t heal them but the mere fact she wasn’t about to take her clothes off in front of Showl as well as the anger it would most likely create in him.
She left her room and walked down the halls to a lower level in the castle.
Grace and Ileana were scientists and expert healers, they had studied medicine and as Ange understood it they were also researchers into many medical mysteries, trying to regain what their civilization had lost so long ago.
She found the metallic door and entered cautiously, she stared around the giant laboratory like room in awe. The rest of the castle may have looked rustic and of an older time, but this room was filled with the most bizarre and advance technology she had ever seen. Glass like objects displayed images and text, constantly changing, beakers, flasks, and other odd objects dotted the shelves of the room. Her eyes even fixed on a microscope, an oddity Daren had always wanted. The other machines in the space were daunting, with flickering lights and strange buttons.
She looked up as Grace walked over to her from one of the strange screens. Rather than armor she wore a long white coat. It wasn’t so odd to see her in casual clothing, only she and Corvus were comfortable walking around without armor unlike the other dragons. Ange suspected it was because they didn’t feel vulnerable in their human shapes, they could simple disperse their forms into shadows or light at any given moment if threatened. The other dragons couldn’t they depended on their scales for protection.
“I thought you might come by,” Grace greeted with a smiled. “Did Ileana injure you badly?” she asked gently.
Ange swallowed her pride but she didn’t feel uncomfortable admitting it to Grace, she was very kind.
“I know Showl could have healed the cuts on my face but…there are a lot of bruises under my shirt. I don’t think he would have taken kindly to them,” she muttered, only revealing half the truth.
Grace nodded understandingly, indicating to a low flat bed.
“Sit and take your shirt off, I will use energy to heal the cuts but an ointment to heal the bruises, are you alright with this? I do not want to use too much mana on you, the cuts will not heal as quickly with medicine in time for us to leave but the bruises should be fine by the time we arrive in Cyridell.”
Ange nodded. “Why don’t you want to use psionics?” she asked as she sat on the gurney and gingerly pulled her shirt off.
Grace walked to a large cabinet and shuffl
ed through its contents as she replied with a smile.
“Showl came by before you did and informed me that you might be susceptible to foreign energies once again.”
Ange frowned, pensively considering her words. Showl was always looking out for her.
“Thank you,” she hesitantly sent through their link, feeling odd for being grateful.
A dim acknowledgment flickered back to her and she swore she could somehow tell he was smiling, wherever he was.
“Ready?”
Ange flinched surprised, she hadn’t realized Grace had approaches her once again.
“Close your eyes,” Grace instructed.
Ange took one glance at her glowing hand and closed her eyes obediently. A moment later a warm sensation began to hover over her face, it soothed her weary flesh and she sighed in relief. She could feel the pain ebb away and the skin slowly repair itself. A moment later the warmth left and her face was itching. She opened her eyes and smiled as she touched the bridge of her nose, it still felt warm.
“Thanks, Grace,” she thanked relishing the soft feeling of her unscarred skin.
“How do you feel? Dizzy? Feverish?” she queried, her bright eyes looking her over in concern.
“I feel fine,” Ange assured.
Grace’s lip puckered contemplating as she opened a small jar that smelled like herbs and burned her nose like cold air.
“It would seem my energy had no diverse effects, but I did use very little,” he rubbed a fair amount of the light lime colored cream into her fingers and stated. “Let’s rub this in and join the others in the Council Chamber.”
She generously rubbed the cream on every one of Ange’s bruises, her long fingers were gentle and didn’t aggravate her sore flesh which Ange was undoubtedly grateful for. Afterward Ange pulled back on her blouse and quickly followed Grace out of the lab after she washed her hands.
They entered the Council Chamber to see the others already assembled around the giant table and the vessel of metallic liquid. Chrysaetos and Adam where nowhere to be seen.
Grace and Ange quickly walked past the two giant basin like seats that flacked their path. Ange paused surprised to see Showl, Corvus, Amaris, and Ileana dressed in expensive clothing.