Warrior's Mind (Book 2 of The Warrior Chronicles)

Chapter 13

"Your brother looks angry," Jara remarked as one of the Akrepa women handed Leyla a spear.

Raphael was standing among the circle of spectators that were waiting for the fight to begin. His expression was impassive, but his body was stiff.  Leyla narrowed her eyes when she noticed several women eyeing him predatorily. The last thing she needed was to fight for yet another man today.

"I suppose I can see his point. I don't think I would be overly happy if I had to watch Asya fight, but this is you we are talking about -"

"What is it you want me to ask for when this is over?" She cut him off, having had enough of Jara's empty talk. 

"Just pass the request of prize to me," he smiled. Then he was looking over his shoulder at Pashtu and back, "Remember the battle ends at first blood or the loss of weapon. Don't defeat her too quickly, her mother might get upset."

Leyla clenched her fist around the spear, imaging it was his neck. "Anything else, Mahsap?"

Jara was on the verge of laughter again, but he managed to nod his head, "No, I think that's all for now, Mahsappa."

He was impossible. "Great, then please move aside. Your admirer isn't going to wait any longer."

Noticing her focus, Jara withheld any glib remarks and joined the spectator circle just in time to avoid Pashtu's first attack. Leyla dodged her spear twice, rolling behind the girl as she looked for a weakness.  The crowd cheered as the girl spun and continued her attack. The girl was quick, she was strong and her coordination was good; she was obviously a seasoned fighter and she was using a weapon Leyla was not used to. But that last point was more of a disadvantage than advantage. While spears were great weapons, Warriors did not favour them as they left too many openings during failed attacks.

"Bitch, don't just run, raise your spear!" Pashtu growled as she lunged once and then again. Leyla dodged both onslaughts, watching the girl's movements and noting the way she over-extended her arm just the slightest bit when she stabbed to the left.

The sand beneath their feet shifted as they circled each other. "Pashtu! Pashtu! Pashtu!" came the cheers from the circle. It was time to finish this fight and Jara would just have to be satisfied that Leyla had let it go on as long as it had.

"I said, stop running you coward!" Pashtu rushed at her.

Leyla raised her spear at the last moment, locked the wings of their blades together and pushed both heads into the sand. Her opponent's eyes went wide, as she tried to yank her weapon back out. That moment of distraction was all Leyla needed. With once forceful kick she sent Pashtu back several feet, spun and grabbed both spears out of the sand.

The silence in the camp was deafening.

It was obvious from the shock on the Akrepa women's faces, that they hadn't believed for a moment their greatest fighter could be defeated.

"You have lost your weapon." Leyla threw both spears aside and looked to the Elder.

The woman nodded her acknowledgment of the win even as Pashtu screamed her frustration. "No! I don't accept. I want another go, I will defeat you!"

Disappointing . A true Warrior had to know when to accept defeat. Leyla turned away from the wailing woman and looked for Jara in the crowd; she had done as he asked, now it was his turn to ask for whatever it was that he wanted.

"Don't you dare walk away from me!" Pashtu screamed.

Her intuition told Leyla she was in danger and she turned just in time to see Pashtu's distorted face, the glint of a blade and the broad back that blocked it all out.

Everything went eerily  quiet. 

"Raphael!" Leyla moved around him quickly, her heart racing at what she might find. Pashtu was on the floor in front of him, her face incredulous as she stared at the Prorex who had stopped her dagger with his hand. Blood was seeping down the sides of his closed fist, but his face showed no signs of pain; only fury.

"No. Honor." Raphael said the Aschian words with contempt, bringing a look of shame to many of the onlookers faces.

"Elder, how could you allow such behavior!" Jara was on Raphael's other side now, looking from the silent Pashtu to the village head. "We knew the Ashtepa people to be honourable!"

"You knew right!" The Elder replied motioning for guards to get her daughter up. Her eyes heavy with disappointment  she pointed towards her tent, "Come, Mahsap, let us speak in private. I will not let this go unpunished."

Jara glanced at the knife that was still in Raphael's grasp, his anger palpable, but then he nodded and followed the Elder into her tent.

As the Akrepas began moving once more, Leyla reached out for Raphael's hand. He moved it just out of her reach, the muscle in his jaw tight. 

"Prorex, please, let me have a look." She searched his eyes.

There was anger in the depth of the golden gaze that stared back. "You were careless."

"Yes." Her lips pressed tight with guilt. In her hurry to end the battle, she had not thought of the possibility of a hidden weapon. It was an unacceptable blunder that had caused him pain. "I am sorry."

"You made me a promise, Lieutenant. You are not to get hurt." Raphael's voice was cold.

"I know," Leyla swallowed hard. She felt ashamed in front of this man who had just saved her life, yet again. "I owe you more than an apology. Please ask of me what you will."

Raphael sighed, then let the knife drop, revealing the deep gash across his palm. "I want nothing."

He was starting to look like the Prorex she knew; calm and in collected. Leyla attempted a smile as she ripped the sleeve of her coat to wrap around the bleeding wound. "Let's treat this wound first and then you can take your time to think about how I can repay you."

An Akrepa woman approached at that moment, shaking her head vehemently. "Do not use that dirty cloth!" She was flanked by two other women who were carrying plates with what appeared to be medicine and clean materials. "The Elder has ordered us to take care of him. Please, step aside."