Warrior Class - Sky Cutter

by S. L. Kassidy

  “She’s going to play with him,” Layla said.

  “She has to punish him. A clean death is much too good for this bastard,” the General said.

  “I bet she feeds him to your brothers afterwards,” Naren said.

  The General nodded. “Oh, yes, our brothers will feast on this rotter.”

  Nakia wasn’t sure what that meant. She couldn’t understand why they thought a woman could beat a man in combat. Yes, the Queen messed around with Layla, fighting in that basement, but that wasn’t real. They were playing, like children.

  Everyone knew men were the warriors. Women would never compare and this sort of savage play would never be allowed back in her home. No one would sit back to watch a man fight a woman, a man kill a woman in the arena.

  The Queen and her opponent circled each other for a moment before the Queen jabbed at him with her spear. Its tip collided with his shield. He swiped at her with the sword, but didn’t come close to her. The crowd continued to cheer, like some great action had occurred.

  Nakia leaned forward and rested her elbows on the cold stone railing. She didn’t understand why the crowd was so invested in this. Was life so boring they needed to see their Queen fight some criminal? Were they so brutal that they wanted to see a man destroy a woman? What the hell is wrong with these people?

  ***

  “Why would you steal from us, Pavit?” Ashni asked, her spear aimed right at him.

  “Why do you think you can beat me? You haven’t given me a chance at anything, no recognition for what I’m capable of. You don’t know what I can do.” Pavit let out a battle cry and charged her.

  Ashni gave a devilish grin as she slid out of the way of his blade and slapped him with the shaft of her spear. He grunted and fell off balance. She chuckled from deep in her throat and allowed him the chance to right himself. He glared at her.

  “I know what all my soldiers can do and I know you’re going to die in the cirque today.”

  Frowning, he moved around her and studied her. “Because of your lightning?” His eyes took a quick glance at the clear sky, but his chin remained stubbornly in the air.

  She snorted, throwing her head to the side slightly. “I would never waste my talent on you. I cut the sky for glory and honor. I will cut you for justice.”

  “You’ll have to call forth everything you have if you don’t want to die right now.” Pavit shoved at her with his shield and missed her completely.

  Ashni twirled the spear and growled. She aimed her spear at his body, which he blocked with his shield as she expected. Slashing with his sword was also expected and she was out of the way in no time. Her spear slammed against his calf and he grunted at its impact against his greave.

  Pavit came at her, even though he knew she had the advantage on reach. Ashni twisted and turned the spear and hit him on the shoulder with the shaft as he extended the sword again. Hissing, he pulled back. She continued to move the spear, twirling and dancing, watching him as he tried to calculate what she’d do next. Before he figured it out, she decided to teach him the next lesson.

  “You’re slow and you’re thinking way too much.” Ashni swept Pavit’s feet out from under him with the heavy butt of the spear.

  He grunted as he hit the sand. She tried to slam the spear down on him, wanting to bash his face in. He rolled out of the way, but as he was getting up, she smashed him in the back. He fell off balance and she cut him across the bicep with the spear tip. The crowd roared as his blood painted the white sands.

  “Bitch!” He barked and jumped at her to shove her back using the shield.

  She put the spear up to block and he crashed the shield against it. The wood splintered and the spear cracked in half. Damn, it’s even cheaper than it feels. She ducked his sword as he slashed at her head. She could hear the whizz of the blade right by her ear. She jammed the spear tip into his foot, through his leather boot and deep into the meat. He screamed in pain as she hissed and pushed the metal as far into his foot as she could. Blood splashed onto her face as she yanked the spear out and rose to her full height. He swung his sword as he fell back and she dipped out of the way.

  “No one steals from me.” Ashni flung the spear with all of her might into his shoulder.

  Pavit dropped his sword as the spear sank into his flesh. She charged him and he caught her on the chin with his shield. Her recklessness caused her teeth to click as she fell back. The crowd hissed. She quickly put her hands up and got into a defensive stance. He did the same and they circled each other, him hobbling as his foot poured blood into the sand. A grimace was set into his visage, a look he’d wear in the afterlife as far as Ashni was concerned.

  “So, when you do you plan to kill me?” Ashni smirked, wanting to make him suffer. She needed to witness his agony, mock his struggle, and humiliate him in front of the masses before sending him to the gods and their punishment.

  “I’ll beat your face in with this.” He brandished the shield as a bead of sweat ran down his cheek. His eyes weren’t as confident as they had been. His fear, his worry fueled her. His concern danced down her spine and tickled her.

  She snickered. “You’re very welcome to try.”

  He took her up on her offer, coming at her, swinging the shield with precision. She dipped out of the way and gripped his arm. He yelped as she yanked him and flipped him over her shoulder. He brought the shield up in time to keep from having his face stomped in. When her foot impacted the shield, he used it to shove her.

  Ashni tumbled back, taking a knee to gather herself. She landed next to his sword and watched as he climbed to his feet. Chuckling, she picked up the blade as he stalked over to her with an audacious glint in his eyes. This fool still thought he could conquer her. Has he forgotten I am divine, that I am Chosen?

  “You can’t defeat me, Highness, not on your own. Call forth your power, show me what you’re really made of, so I can show them all who here the real god is,” he roared.

  She shook her head. “Nice dreams you have. I think I’ll turn it into an ironic nightmare.”

  “You can’t—” His words were cut off when she climbed to her feet with a battle roar and took an upward swipe with his sword.

  He gasped as if his heart stopped, which it could have if she cared to end this now. The sword warped as it moved through his armor and right arm. He gawked at her as he backed away, eyes wide as his blood gushed from his body, splattering across the cirque’s floor.

  “You were saying something about being a god. You don’t even know the strength of a god. So, tell me more how they favor you over me. Tell me more how they prefer a lowly thief to this Chosen One?” she demanded, her golden eyes molten.

  He coughed, his face red and veins crawled up his forehead. “You’re nothing. Not Chosen. The Amir was Chosen. You’re just his bastard!”

  The crowd gasped and there was dead silence before they began to boo. Ashni snickered as she stalked over to him, her blood buzzing in her ears, her nerves popping, wanting the ultimate action. She quelled that. He wasn’t worth it. Like she told him, her talent was for glory and this was for justice.

  “You want me to get worked up and finish you quickly, don’t you? You want a death your family could boast about. They could say with my talent, I sacrificed you to the gods. I’d never allow that. You’ve stolen from us. You deserve the pain, the agony, and the suffering that only the Daughter of the Heavens can bring,” she said, and the people cheered.

  He backed away with his arm limp at his side. His retreat made her laugh more and she began to toy with him for everyone’s amusement. She huffed as she jumped at him and he swung the shield wildly. The crowd cackled at his feeble attempt. Ashni shuffled in his direction a few more times, making him twitch. Sweat poured down his face, but he dared not wipe it. He couldn’t chance missing her next move, not that he’d be able to keep up with her when she finally decided to end this. He limped and dodged, waiting for her. Then, she was in his face, punching him like he deserved.
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  A loud crunch echoed through the cirque and Ashni hoped she broke Pavit’s entire skull. His cheek against her knuckles felt good. The bastard tried to cheat her soldiers and rob her. The world would know what she did to cowards like him. He tried to put the shield up, hoping to block her onslaught. She punched it, denting the metal and making him wince. He dropped the shield, his last defense. Her fists never stopped after that. She ended the flurry of punches by knocking him on the chin enough to break his jaw. He fell to his knees before her, bruised and bloody.

  “Do you see this?” she hissed, standing over him and glowering at this piece of nothing. “This is where you and your kind belong. Anyone who troubles my home, who disturbs my brothers and sisters, who dares to try to stop the dream of the Son of the Great Eagle, will kneel in the dirt before me and pray that I show you mercy and cut off their head.”

  The people cheered and she planted her foot on his shoulder. The fool put his hand on her ankle and tried to shove her foot away. She kicked him over.

  “Feed him to the lions,” Ashni said, and then she spat on him.

  Ashni turned her back to him and headed for the exit. She heard him struggle to his feet. Some rotters never learn. Turning, she snatched up the abandoned sword as he raised his shield, ready to bash her head in. The sword slid into his abdomen with ease as he gave a choked gasp and she held his wrist to prevent him from bringing down the shield.

  “The lions,” she repeated, staring him dead in the eye. “And you will live long enough to know my brothers have had their fill of you.” She shoved him off the sword. Groaning, he hit the ground with a thud. Not satisfied, she took the sword and severed his healthy arm from his body at the elbow.

  His screaming, accompanied by roaring applause from the crowd ushered Ashni from the arena. She passed the sword to the first guard she saw and made her way to her seat.

  ***

  Nakia’s mouth refused to close, even as the match ended. She couldn’t believe her eyes as the Queen stabbed her opponent with his own sword. How could a woman do that? How could a woman fight like that? Perhaps the Queen was really a man. But, she had seen the Queen and there was no mistaking her for a man. The Queen had to be a demon, a devil, something out of the darkest nightmares of any civilized being.

  Nakia nearly jumped out of her skin as someone flopped down in the seat next to her. Turning, she saw the Queen beside her, her dusty face splattered with blood. Nakia cringed and leaned away.

  Before the Queen said anything, a slave came with a towel and a bowl of flower-scented water. The Queen sighed softly as she wiped her face, sounding almost like a content puppy, not like a beast at all. She sighed again once her face was clean and she discarded the towel. The servants vanished and the Queen propped her feet up on a stool.

  Layla frowned at the Queen. “You were too easy on him.”

  The Queen cocked an eyebrow. “He’s still alive and about to be eaten by our brothers. How is that not good enough for you, Princess?”

  “First, they might choke on such a cad. Second, you should’ve put that spear in his eye,” Layla said.

  The Queen sneered and stuck out her tongue. “The next idiot that steals from us, you can dismantle in front of the masses.”

  “There better not be another idiot who steals from us after this display,” the General said.

  Layla sniffed. “Idiots abound. They walk the world like birds fly in the sky.”

  “Then, as I said, the next one is yours to do with as you please. I imagine you’ll pull him into the shadows, rob him of all heat and light, and then watch him slowly freeze to death,” the Queen said.

  Layla smirked. “That would only be the start.”

  The conversation sounded like garbled gibberish to Nakia. What shadows did the Queen mean? Her mind reeled over how casually they discussed defeating men. How was any of this possible? She did not have the answers and felt like she would not have them if she lived a million years. Instead of trying to make sense of the Queen and her sister, she focused back on the arena as three lions were released.

  The lions roared and went for the man, teeth and claws going through flesh. His screams tore through her as the mob cheered. While she had witnessed men die in the arena, as it was common entertainment in Phyllida, she hadn’t seen them eaten alive. Wincing, she turned away, gagged, and vomited.

  “Are you kidding me? You’d never last on the battlefield,” Layla said.

  Nakia didn’t have the strength to retort. Her stomach seized again and she coughed, having nothing left in her belly to give. There was a hand on Nakia’s back, but she was not sure whose it was because she couldn’t lift her head.

  “This is predictable and I have work to do,” the Queen said.

  The screams and ovations bombarded Nakia, cutting into her, making her stomach twist. Someone picked her up, cradled her close. She groaned, and her head lolled to the side enough to allow her to see who dared to touch her as her cheek encountered soft leather. The Queen held Nakia to her chest. She groaned again, considering she might be pressed against blood and gore. Nakia opened her mouth, trying hard not to throw up again. “Barbarian…” she managed before the world went black.

  ***

  Ashni summoned Nakia for dinner. Not to join her, but to pour the wine like a good cupbearer should. She didn’t have time to coddle the little princess. She had allowed the girl to hide in her rooms since they returned from the cirque, but now she had enough.

  Nakia came in, dressed in clean clothes. Pavit’s blood had gotten on her other outfit when Ashni picked her up. The servants told her that Nakia had torn them off when she regained consciousness. Ashni didn’t get Nakia’s clothing choices. She had to be hot in the middle of the desert wearing what appeared to be drapes.

  “Did you eat?” Ashni asked as Nakia stood before her. She knew Nakia had been served food an hour before and she had eaten a little. The earlier activity seemed to steal her appetite, but then again, Nakia didn’t eat much in the first place.

  “Some,” Nakia replied, her voice low.

  “Can’t have you waste away. I do need my gold and for that to happen, you have to at least still be alive.” She gave Nakia a smirk.

  “Does it matter?” Nakia grabbed the jug of wine.

  Ashni’s sneer quickly changed to a frown. Why is Nakia so muted now? Had the cirque been too much for her? If Westerners were so sensitive, she’d take over the whole world within a year.

  “Don’t bother, kitten,” Ashni said, covering her goblet. She suddenly wasn’t in the mood.

  Nakia’s face twitched and her eyes flashed before she stepped back. Ashni smiled. Muted, yes, but not totally off.

  “So, did you like my fight, kitten?” Ashni showed her teeth, trying to look like a hungry lion.

  Nakia flinched and put her hand to her stomach. If she vomited again, Ashni would ship the girl back to her father in a crate. Nakia managed not to throw up, taking a breath and releasing it. She stared at Ashni and her jaw twitched. There were words trying to get out. Ashni could practically see them in Nakia’s glower. Ashni waited, wanting to pounce on whatever the insult was. But, the words never came. Was Nakia scared now? Had she not believed in Ashni’s power until witnessing it in the cirque?

  “I’m going to devour the West just like my brothers devoured that bastard Pavit.” Ashni’s lip curled into a diabolical grin.

  “Our gods will protect us from you,” Nakia said, her voice still lower than usual. But, at least now she had some argument in her.

  Ashni laughed, throwing her head back. “Your gods? I will devour your gods, too. Am I not the Daughter of the Heavens?”

  Nakia gnashed her teeth and her eyes blazed like molten jade. “They would never allow a savage like you to control us.”

  Ashni chortled. Apparently, while she might have lost her lunch, Nakia had not lost her fire. It needed a little fuel and Ashni would enjoy stoking the flame. She flashed Nakia a grin so wicked she could feel the evil course th
rough her.

  “And yet they allow a savage like me to control you, kitten.”

  Nakia growled. Her eyes erupted, shining in a way that put the sun itself to shame. Ashni sat back and sipped her stew.

  “Perhaps they have placed me here to end you,” Nakia said.

  Ashni tittered. “End me, kitten? You couldn’t even take me ending Pavit. How are you going to end me?”

  “I could poison the wine.” This was a real danger and why being the cupbearer was such an important job. This was the reason her court had been shocked when she appointed Nakia to the position rather than a trusted, loyal member of the court, but Ashni didn’t worry over it.

  “Bold. Very bold, hellcat. Let’s see if you have.” Ashni gathered her goblet and raised it slightly.

  Nakia growled and trembled, making the wine slosh in the jar. Ashni beamed at her. As Nakia leaned forward, Ashni half-expected to be wearing her drink, but Nakia poured without missing the glass. As Nakia pulled away, she smirked at Ashni. The expression sent a little frisson down Ashni’s spine and made her stomach flutter. Ashni countered with a lopsided grin as she forced her stomach to settle down.

  “Bottoms up.” Ashni tipped the goblet to Nakia before downing every single drop of wine. She smacked her lips together, earning a disapproving frown from Nakia. “I think you should get a refund on whatever poison you used. Obviously, it didn’t work. Maybe because the gods favor me.”

  Nakia sneered at her and she laughed. This little slip of a girl knew that if the urge overcame her, Ashni could kill her with the goblet in her hand. Hell, Nakia knew if she felt like it, Ashni could kill her with her bare hands, but apparently that meant nothing to Nakia. Do all Westerners have this fire? Are they all so fearless? Ashni doubted it.