The Half-Giant's Guide to Seeing the Future

The Day I Dueled My Blood

The oaths were as deadly as they were dangerous. I'd been warned before that an oath before a golden guard was binding before. We were both sworn that we would honor the outcome of the fight and that if my mother won, I would give her the information she desired.

That part didn't bother me so much. She was going to ask about my brother. There was no information to give her. He didn't exist. I just had to hope that she wouldn't kill me in the fight.

Then the golden armored giants made everyone left gather in a circle to form a fighting ring. I looked at my mother and back at where Moreno stood in the ring. He nodded and looked at my feet. Then he spread his legs into the fighting stance he'd taught me.

I moved my feet like his into position, but I kept one looser so it could move quickly. It was a modification of his idea but I felt almost certain that it could work. In this fight, I had my brain, my legs, and my fists. As long as I didn't lose the first, the rest would carry me through.

Ellenora wasn't weak. Her muscles were well defined and since she'd issued this challenge, I guessed they weren't for show. She was from a house of warriors, after all. Had she trained as a child to be in the golden guard? I didn't know, but I was wishing I did.

Pure muscle wasn't everything. According to Moreno, Alana was one of the better hand to hand fighters around the halfants and she was lean and thin. I made a note that when I had a chance, it was time to get some fighting lessons from her too.

"I'm ready, Vasil," Ellenora said to the golden armored giant who'd been refereeing so far. "What about you, daughter?"

I nodded. "Let's go."

"Ready and begin." Vasil clanged his sword and shield together in a sound that was similar to a starting gong.

Ellenora threw a punch almost immediately, going straight for a K.O. shot at my jaw. Instinct took over, and I sidestepped. Then I shifted my weight to avoid her right leg sweeping towards me. They were simple maneuvers, but ones a beginner might fall for.

I watched Ellenora carefully. She moved around me, trying to catch me off balance. I caught her arm and redirected the force to stop another blow coming for my face. Then she sidestepped and moved behind me.

A cold voice slithered into my head, warning me that this was bad form and that I was foolish. It didn't feel like a Nikone. More like a memory being jogged loose from repression.

"You'll never win if you're this sloppy, boy," the voice goaded. "Never let someone pull one on you from behind. Remember why we do this? I train you to survive. You'll never make it on your own unless you remember everything I tell you, and put it into practice until it becomes habit."

Ellenora's arm rushed for my head to draw me into a lock to pull the air out of my lungs. I pulled her arm up and rotated my body to avoid the suffocating choke. Her body was heavy, but the move felt natural even though I knew I'd never done anything like this before. I twisted away and locked her arm down, forcing it far from my neck.

"You're better than I thought," Ellenora smirked. "You know, my father's strongest officers trained me as a child. Who gave you instruction? That little boy over there?"

She threw another punch, and I realized I couldn't play defense forever. She was stronger than me and I needed to end this before she tired me out. Protecting my face and vital organs was only going to get me so far.

Ellenora spat blood when I connected a hammer fist like Moreno had shown me in an opening to her face. It didn't knock her out, but she seemed to see red the moment I hit her. I understood her rage. She was twice my age and far more skilled. She wouldn't lose to a child.