Avenger's Pathe

Chapter 5- Another Battle I See

Ignoring the familiar threats and insults spat at her, Suilai made her way across the village, walking as fast as possible without hinting at the urgency.

"Suilai." An irate voice called to her from across the clearing. Dyu's damn it, how did he escape my arrows? Those marques took me moons to perfect and candles to control. It seems I'll never excel in the art of binding.

"I won those knives fair and square. I owe you nothing," she shouted through gritted teeth. Why now of all times? "Now leave me, before you get one in the chest."

"You wouldn't dare try something in the open and in front of the entire village at that," Kaija responded slowly walking towards her.

He's right, I wouldn't. I'm already persecuted by most of the village. Hitting the Maiour's only son is a sure way to make my situation worse.

"We can always go somewhere more private if that's what you prefer," Suilai responded sweetly, words dripping with malice. Then I could beat you to a bloody pulp, she added silently.

Suilai kept her temper in check and walked away. Worry for her papu overwhelmed all else and she had no time to waste on the permanent thorn in her side.

Suddenly, there was a hand on her shoulder, "You're welcome to try," Kaija responded in her ear answering her thoughts. 

She jumped, how could he move without me hearing it?

"Oh I have, don't you remember?" She taunted. Kaija's thumbnail dug into a delicate tendon residing between her shoulder blades.

A warning.

"That beautiful night almost ten summers ago."

His nail dug painfully and her left shoulder numbed. Spinning on her heel, she hit his hand aside with the knife edge of her palm, causing the thick bangles to chime in warning, she said, "Look stay away from me and keep your hands off of me or you're going to lose something vital. This is your only warning." She let her gaze drop down. Loud swallowing accompanied by the faint pink blooming around his ears told her he grasped her meaning.

Taking exactly one step back he barked, "I demand a rematch. You cheated, you must have."

Ruby eyes flashed like freshly spilled blood and she snarled, "You're absolutely right I must have cheated there is no possible way that a mere slip of a girl like I, could have ever beat you." She emphasized the last three words with sharp pokes to his chest; the bangles rang in the wake of her anger. Easily slapping her hand away, the corner of Kaija's mouth curled.

Oh you're enjoying this aren't you?

Taking a step backward, she drops her pack to the ground, "All right, if you think it's within your right, come and claim them."

"No Will, no weapons." He responds and was rewarded with a swift scoot kick to the head.

Kaija, reaching the height of six hands and three fingers, knew that this was no little feat. The blow rattled his senses, but not enough to obscure the heel coming back around. He caught hold of the flying appendage and twisted sharply, attempting to throw her; but anticipating his move, Suilai used the momentum he had given her to flip over. She spun her body sharply to the left and this action only increased her inertia giving her enough speed to bring her opposing leg off the ground and jump out of the twist. Kaija staggered backward when his jaw was introduced to her opposing heel. Dropping Suilai's foot, his wits fled with the blow.

Suilai, prepared for the release, had already flipped onto her hands and neatly swung her legs to the ground.

Regaining balance, Kaija blinked once and with a slight pull of his Will, cleared his head of the pain.