Air Warrrior

The Royal Guard

The King had announced the rules again and explained to me what would happen, two Warriors would volunteer at random.

"Traditionally Prince Christopher would be the last fight. However, because he trained her personally to keep it fair, she will fight me, so she is up against a Warrior she has not faced." The crowd looked around and some of the guards who had glared at me, now had smirks on their faces. 

My nerves grew as He continued to explain to end the battle, the warrior must drop their sword and tap out on the ground. 

"Are you ready Miss?" His questioned snapped me back to reality and I released a breath I was holding. I gave him a nod.

"Yes, your majesty." I stepped out into the open field. Christopher stepped forward and asked for the first volunteer. 

A large guard stepped forward. He stood a foot and a half taller than me; I could see his beard sticking out of his helmet. He narrowed his eyes. "I'll make this quick, so you have time to polish the armor servant." He snarled at me. He drew his sword.

It wouldn't be hard to find his weakness, it's his ego. I bit my tongue to keep from saying something I'd regret. I simply raised my staff resting it against his sword. 

Christopher announced me and the knight and then returned to his father's side. "Alright warriors." He paused and then shouted. "Fight."

As soon as he said the word the man charged at me checking me with his body, I stumbled backwards. He started swinging his sword, I quickly raised my staff blocking his swings. I dropped down and took a shot at his legs. He tripped up a little bit but, he was steady. We took turns landing hits. He knocked me to the ground hard he turned towards the crowd, raising his fist. The men cheered. Never turn your back in a fight. I got to my feet and slide, gliding towards his feet. I sweep them out from under him, he fell with a loud thud. I immediately put my foot on his chest with my staff at his throat. He shot me a look at he shook his head. He dropped his sword and then slowly tapped the ground. 

I offered him my hand, but he refused as he stood. He reluctantly shook my head as he returned to the crowd. The next warrior was around the same height as me, he was only a few inches taller. He was a harder opposite to defeat but, after a while I was able to strike his wrist causing his sword to fly from his hand. He came at me with his fist, and I was able to land a powered punch to his chest that knocked him again a wall. He groaned as he rolled over. I pointed my staff towards him, and he tapped the ground ending the fight. I reached my hand out and he took it. 

"That was a hell of a fight miss_ I mean, warrior." He smiled at me as he finished his sentence. I took a deep breath as he walked to the crowd. 

Claire stepped towards me with some water that I quickly chugged. "You're doing great my dear." She gave me a nod as she stepped away. The King stepped onto the field and walked towards me. The men cheered and hollered as he walked. He waved to them, smiling. 

"As of right now, I am not your King. I am your opposite. Don't hold back, because I sure as hell won't." He smirked and drew his sword. I swallowed hard and nodded. He's not the King. Hes not the King, I repeated in my head. I placed my staff against his sword as I took a breath. 

"Fight."

We kept our swords touching as we walked around in a circle, I waited for him to make the first move. He was similar in size to Chris, slightly shorter but he was larger than him. Which meant, he would be harder to take down. He wasn't arrogant like the first guy so; I knew I wouldn't be able to catch him with his back turned. The King made the first move lunging at me, I was lost in my thoughts and barley stepped back before his sword hit me. I stumbled a little on my feet which caused a few laughs from the men as they yelled slander at me but, that didn't bother me. I steadied myself and made a move towards him, backing him towards the wall. He smiled as he saw what I was doing, quickly he reversed the fight as he charged forward. I could feel his swings getting stronger and more powerful. This had been the longest fight so far; it had been at least 20 minutes of sparring back and forth. 

He swung his sword and I stopped it with my staff. I groaned as I struggled to keep him from finishing the swing, taking my staff with it. He caught me off guard when he lowered his shoulder and checked, landing a hard bow to shoulder causing me to stumble as I fell to one knee. The king charged at me as he jumped in the air japing his sword down towards me. I leaped to the right tucking and rolling, landing in a couched position. I was breathing hard as I stood. I didn't expect the King to already be lunging at me, I was slow to react and dodged it a little late. As his sword plunged towards me it sliced my side as he pulled it back. I cried out in pain. I blocked his second swing and swiped at his feet. 

He backed away and chuckled, "Had enough?" He breathed out.

 I could feel blood trickling down my side. I heard my father's word echoing, find their weakness. I shook my head at him, lunging forward at him. 

He favored his right side slightly; my guess is he had an old injury. Knee or hip, knee or hip? I needed to get it right if I had a chance at winning this fight. I dropped down swiping at his feet, he jumped back. I stayed in my position and watched as he landed. His hand moved slightly towards his hip. I flinched as a sharp pain shot up my side as I stood, I was losing more blood than I had thought. I could feel it pooling in the armor.

 I baited him towards me, allowing him to take a cheap shot at me opening up his left side. I planted my staff in the ground using it to boost me in the air as I let the air flow down my leg and targeted his left hip landing a hard hit that caused him to stumble to the ground as he groaned. Before he could get up, I stepped on his wrist, pinning his sword to the ground and placed my staff to this throat. 

Surprised, he let out a hardy laugh as he released his sword. I was breathing hard, and I wasn't feeling very well. Black dots speckled my vision. I glanced at the Kings face; he gave me a nod as he tapped his hand to the ground. My staff slipped from my hand as I stumbled, falling to a knee and then collapsing, losing consciousness.