"Exile" (book two of the Storm Decology)

"And you've stayed the same"

"One on one," Percy challenged. "What are you afraid of?"
    Luke curled his lip. The soldiers who were about to kill us hesitated, waiting for his order. Before he could say anything to Agrius, the bear-man burst onto the deck with an all black pegasus.
    "Sir, Your steed is ready"
    "I told you last summer, Percy," He said. "You cannot bait me into a fight." If Percy were to fight him, he would surely die. I knew Percy was a great swordsman, but Luke was better.
    "And you keep avoiding one" Percy piped up. "Scared your warriors will see you get whipped"
    Luke glanced at his men, and he saw how easily he had been lured to Percy's trap. If he backed down he would look weak. If he fought he'd waste precious time.
    "I'll kill you quickly"
    "No," I said. I stepped in front of Percy and grabbed my swords out. "You will fight me, for I have been your only match in skill, remember?"
    "What?!" Percy yelled.
    "Quiet Percy." I snapped. I twirled my swords in my hands, stretching my wrists out. Unlike Percy I had not been resting all year.
    Luke lunged, aiming for my side, I parried and knee-slided, slicing the inside of Luke's thigh open. I stood quickly, my back now to Luke's men, It was not a good position but an upper hand all the less.
    "You've gotten better" Luke said, he limped to me. He slashed downwards on my shoulder, slicing it open. The wound stung as It bled. I kicked Luke in his knee and then the shield. He crumbled before me.
    "And you've stayed the same" I snarled. Punching him in the face, his sword slashed across my ribs. I kicked him in the throat. He rolled away from my kick and kicked my legs out from under me. I grabbed his leg and unleashed some of my power, sending electric courants up and down his spine. The vein in his forehead looked as if It would explode.
    I punched him in the face again, feeling my knuckles crack against his nose. I slashed my sword downwards on his back, over and over again. I looked to Percy, who seemed as If he was yelling for me. In that split moment of distraction, Luke drove his sword into my shoulder. I fell to my knees and dropped my swords as the pain overwhelmed me.
    "Goodbye Victoria"
    I shook my head and with the last strength I had, I picked my sword back up and stabbed it through his stomach. He too fell to his knees.

    "Near death again Victoria?" Chiron said quietly. "It is not a good look"
    "Oh I suppose not" I laughed, my voice was hoarse and sore.
    "You're shoulder shall be good as new in a few days of near constant ambrosia and you will be fine"
    "So what now?" Percy asked. He was sitting next to my bed just as Chiron was. "We just let Luke sail away? He's got Kronos aboard that ship. Or parts of him anyways."
    "I'm afraid Percy, that today has been something of a draw. We don't have the strength in numbers to take that ship. Luke was not organized enough to pursue us. Nobody won"
    "But we got the fleece!" Annabeth said. "Clarisse is on her way back to camp with it right now."
    Chiron nodded, still looking uneasy. "You are all true heroes. And as soon as we get Vicky fixed up, you must return to Camp Half-Blood. The centaurs shall carry you"
    "You're coming too right?' I asked, sitting up and feeling my shoulder scream in protest.
    "Oh yes. I'll be relieved to get home. My brethren here simply do not appreciate dean martin's music. Besides I must have some words with Mr.D There's the rest of the summer to plan and I want to see . . .I'm curious about the fleece."
    I laid back down and looked up at the ceiling.