Can't Cheat Death - Brennan Sorrengail

IX: Cassian Moren Pt. 3

"Isla Riorson, Cassian Moren, you're up next!"

I can't help but sigh, watching Isla sudden tense up, her face pale as her eyes meets mine from across the mat. She couldn't take a fucking hint, could she? I'd done my job and kept up my end of the bargain, it's not my fault she was too stupid to listen. I shrug, watching her anxiously wipe her palms on her pants.

Moren looks about ready to jump Isla right here and now, his fingers twitching for one of his blades, and I can't quite say I blame him. Isla has a certain way of bringing out the worst in me, and theres nothing more that I'd like to do than pin her to this mat and finally shut her up.

Her friend, Iosaph, says something and slaps her so hard across the back even I cringe away. Iosaph is almost worse than Isla in many ways, and keeping the pair of them at arm's length is probably my best bet, even with the ongoing agreement I have with Riorson. I wish she'd just go ahead and come up with something for her 'favor' she likes to dangle over my head, even if it's running butt naked through the quadrant, I don't care.

Isla steps onto the mat, one hand placed along her blades and she somehow even paler now than she was a minute ago. If I didn't know any better I'd say she'd somehow died and come back as a wraith. 

"Weapons?"

"Fine with me," Moren says, his eyes locked on the woman across from him.

All Isla says in return is a quick, "Fine," and her fingers steel around her dagger.

"Ready? Fight!"

As soon as our instructor makes the call Isla lunges forward, dagger in hand. Before she can meet her mark, Moren side steps the blade before meeting it with his own dagger. There's a sharp clang as the blades meet, which reverberates across the stone walls, but the two don't let up. Isla's arm is practically quaking as they press into one another, and my throat squeezes when Moren reaches for another dagger at his thigh and swings forward. At the last second, Isla pulls away, just barely avoiding a stab to the gut.

 They're a good match up, that's for certain, each time one reaches they parry and return the attack, flinging themselves into fast paced movements, poised to kill one another. I don't recall Isla struggling this much with previous match ups, not that I care for who she fights, in fact, I'd be glad if one of them would finally put an end to her and I could stop worrying about keeping her up to date. 

You don't mean that, there's a small, chastising voice in the back of my mind that reminds me too much of my mother. If you wanted her dead you would have killed her that night.

I try to force the cursed thoughts from my mind and focus back on the fighting, tunning in just in time to watch Moren draw first blood, his serrated dagger brushing her shoulder with enough force to slice through her training clothes and leave a trail of red in it's wake. Their blades meet again but before they can lock into another battle of wills Isla shoves against Moren's blade with enough force to send him stumbling back. My brows jump up. 

So, the little girl has some fight after all. 

I may have spoken too soon, because just as quickly as he's forced away, Moren's charging Isla again his blade poised to strike at her neck while his other dagger was inches from her abdomen. At the last moment, Isla throws her arm up, barely block the first blade from slicing her jugular, but wasn't able to fully avoid the second blade, earning herself another tear in her clothes.

Isla's face is bright red when she lunges forward again, obviously trying to just hit her opponent and not thinking clearly. He drops to the ground, rolling beneath her blade and between her legs, popping up behind her. She leans forward, dropping into a roll just barely missing the blade Moren had attempted to slash her neck with. 

She lunges forward again, forcing him to yield a few steps as she slams her blade into his again and again and again. In his retreat, Moren stumbles over his feet, and she aims her blade for his sternum. His arm lifts up just in time to shove her elbow off course, avoiding a direct stab to the gut, but she's managed to draw blood. 

Pulling her arm back again, she doesn't notice Moren's own arm reeling back. In a second, the room is filled with shouting and Moren is standing over Isla who's curled over on the ground, her fingers clutching at her face.

Iosaph and Alill are screaming the loudest, the twins and Naolin holding the pair back while voicing their own displeasure. 

"The fuck is wrong with you!" Iosaph howls while Alill chooses more, colorful vocabulary to spit at her still grinning opponent.

Moren looms over her, and a sick feeling fills my stomach as I watch him raise his serrated dagger, poised to drive right into her skull when our instructor seizes him by the wrist. "That's enough, Moren."

It's almost impossible to hear over the shouting of her friends, but from where she's writhing on the mat, Isla is crying.

"Stop!" She weeps, the heels of her feet digging into the mat. 

Alill rushes the mat, his fingers shoving their way beneath her hand and pulls it away. His tan skin goes ghost white and I'm half sure he's going to throw up all over the mat. "

"Stop, please!" She's shouting now, drawing the attention of all the mats in the room. "Make it stop!" 

Finally coming back to his senses, Alill hauls Isla into his arms and he's practically sprinting out of the training room. Iosaph tries to follow after them, but Hugh grips her arm. The two exchange a few heated words but reluctantly, Hugh lets her ago, and Iosaph follows the trail of nearly black blood soaking into the floor.

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A/N:

Hey y'all

So sorry this actually sucks I've been losing my mind since thanksgiving break since most of my finals have been this week. Thankfully I only have two in person exams next week so updates should be back on schedule! I didn't plan for this to be the chapter I post but oh well here we are, I didn't want y'all to go too long without an update or a note from me.

Also, THANK Y'ALL FOR 1K READS! Y'all are so incredible, and I hope y'all are enjoying this book as much as I enjoy writing it!

Lastly, if y'all are interested I posted a Hobbit Fan fiction over the holidays after rewatching the movies, so if you're interested, I would really love for y'all to check it out!

Love y'all lots!