Mythal's Favour: A Dragon Age Origins Fan Fiction

Chapter 11

Chapter 11 – The Lord's Tasks

Myaja continued to advance on the elven woman. The warrior kept her sword held high overhead with both hands. Lucjan, holding on to Phoenix's arms, looked from their quarry to his sister and back again. Both dwarves were animated in their blood-lust, neither of them sensing the rising power pinned before them.

Phoenix remained still, her breathing calm and even. The first tongues of magical fire began to lick off her skin. Suddenly, Lucjan looked down at her in alarm, catching sight of the flame. Phoenix, eyes transfixed to the ground, began slowly drawing breath into her lungs. Power swelled in her belly, growing until Phoenix refused to contain it anymore. With a visceral growl, she pushed the energy from her body in a forceful surge.

The magical burst that radiated off Phoenix's body sent Lucjan sailing through the air. He landed on the hard packed dirt and skidded to a halt, leaving a deep trench in his wake. Myaja looked over at him, horrified. She stared at the elven woman, her mouth slack. All of the Proving Grounds fell into an eerie, shocked silence. Phoenix made no attempt to rise from her knees. Steeling herself, the dwarven woman took her final strides and brought her sword down toward the other woman with all her might.

Phoenix kept her gaze focused on the ground just in front of her. She could hear the whistle of the sword cutting though the air. At the last instant, she raised her arm and caught the blade against the heel of her hand, glad that her bracers protected her skin. Myaja growled in fury and pushed the sword harder against the kneeling woman. Phoenix laughed deep in her throat and gripped the blade tightly. Her eyes flashed with pure golden light as the blade began to glow under her touch.

Myaja's sword shone brighter and brighter, until it was white hot. The woman screamed in terror, releasing her grip. Phoenix remained perfectly still, holding the sword in her hand. She kept pouring her magical heat into the blade until it started to drip onto the dirt. Each drop of the superheated metal sizzled and popped when it touched the cool ground. Phoenix opened her hand, dropping the mangled metal to the dirt beside her.

Slowly, Phoenix turned her head to look at Myaja. Rising from her kneeling position, she moved to face the dwarf. Myaja ran over to her brother and pulled him to his feet. Both dwarves looked at her with fear in their eyes. Myaja was breathing rapidly, working herself up into a frenzy. Giving Lucjan a silent signal, Myaja charged at Phoenix. Lucjan broke off in the other direction, attempting to flank their prey.

Both women were unarmed, and Myaja sent a flurry of blows at Phoenix. The elven woman merely swatted Myaja's arms aside with each punch. The dwarven woman became enraged and started swinging wildly. Phoenix scoffed at her, laughing only once, and continued to push Myaja's fists aside. Lucjan stood, mortified as he witnessed his sister's failed attempts to land any blows on the other woman. Phoenix did not turn to his direction, but remained focused on deflecting Myaja's attacks. He licked his lips nervously, but followed his sister's lead and attacked. He ran at full speed toward Phoenix's back, but at the last second, she twisted, driving her elbow into his nose. The resounding crack reverberated off the stone of the silent Grounds. Lucjan slumped to the ground, unmoving.

Phoenix felt a stabbing pain in her lower back and cried in agony. She turned back to Myaja, her eyes narrowed. Phoenix pulled a small dagger from her flesh, grunting in pain, and held it before her. The blade dripped with her own blood. Releasing an angry hiss from between her teeth, Phoenix threw the dagger into the hard earth. The force of her throw drove the dagger down to the hilt.

Myaja started backing away from the elf, fear etched in every line of her face. Phoenix merely stood for a moment, silent and watching. Her eyes glowed with dancing firelight. Myaja began to babble incoherently in her fear as she kept backing away. Phoenix advanced on the dwarf, moving steadily and slowly. She moved with a feline grace; her muscles tightening and releasing like a predator stalking prey.