The Weapon Masters

Beginning

"Are you ready?"

"I'm always ready."

"You don't have to be."

"Please," her voice was strained. "I know that I am ready, this is what I've trained for. I want this, I want blood."

"Blood spills on both sides."

"Not anymore, welcome to the new age."

"You will see, blood will spill while you are lapping up the victory over another. A confident fighter is a dead fighter."

"A confident fighter knows what she is doing."

"A confident fighter has a history of turning her back on the enemy."

"I did it only twice in training."

"Kid, out here it only takes once. No, it only takes a second. The enemy can see your hesitation."

"Then I won't hesitate."

"Too cocky."

"I'll use my strength and my power."

"One mistake will be your death and the death of the people you protect."

"I won't mess up."

"Can you really promise something like that."

"I didn't promise you anything. I said I wouldn't. I will not mess up, that's a guarantee." She was gone before he could tell her to hold back.

"Just one slip, just one toe out of place and they have you, they slash your throat. I fear for you my dear, I fear for what lay beyond, in the sun and fire of hell. What will you find there my dear? What lies for you in that plume of dust and smoke, surly it cannot be your undoing, you are far too powerful and trained too well. Yet the great fall, it is not an uncommon story. Hercules fell, but you are not him my dear, you are careful and calculating. Far too much of a solider and far too less of a lone hero. One can only hope that she knows what she's doing."