All Adventure Begins with Tragedy

Chapter IXX: To the death?

I saw that the arrow was headed straight towards me. If I did not move, it would strike true. But no. This was a show. Thinking quickly, I unsheathed me sword and prepared.

Just a little to the left... and up... there! The sword was blocking the bead of the arrow perfectly. It slammed into my sword, and I braced myself as the splinters showered around me. But I knew Drew enough not to relish my victory. I began sprinting to my right. And just in time too. Three arrows embedded themselves into the ground where I had been standing.

The sizable crowd screamed in surprise and glee at my amazing feat. Cheering erupted, and cash traded hands. The bets were changing.

I saw Drew visibly grimace at the fact that he has missed. I also noticed something was different about him. I couldn't exactly lay finger on it, but I just got a feeling...

The arrows were flying thick again. I had to put my entire mind to not getting hit to avoid all of them. It was like running a maze. I decided to continue sprinting. I ran all the way around the ring until I was behind Drew. Of course he had moved to the middle and was tracking my movements so he was still shooting at me.

But now was the time to use the trick I had. He had a momentary lull when he realized he had limited arrows. He would have to collect some from off the ground. But I took advantage of that and took out my sling. My arm swung in a big loop to my right, then I let go of the trigger cord. The stone flew just how I had wanted it to. A perfect sling in most senses. The stone nailed Drew in the head. He was wearing chain mail, with a hood, right over a leather cap, just like most archers. The stone didn't do lasting damage, but I'm sure he saw stars from the impact.

He stumbled backward for a second. And a second was all I needed. I drew my sword again and rushed him. I had had special arm guards made that had wing like things to act as a sort of shield. They weren't as big or unwieldy, but they could block a blow or so if need be. My left arm was raised as a defensive measure, and my sword trailed behind me in my right. Drew came to his senses just in time to see me rushing him, almost upon him. Instead of dogging like I thought he would, he stood there in a ready position. Then I saw the dual long bladed daggers he held in his hands. In his right he held it like a sword, in his left he held it like a dagger, assassin style. Realizing I could not stop my momentum, I sprinted faster, pulling my knife from its sheath and holding it like Drew was. Then I prepared.

At the last possible second, I jumped as high as I could, and knowing Drew's tactic, I sailed right over him. He had ducked at the last second, to try to get me from below. Instead I landed behind him. I took a slash with both my blades, knife coming first, sword second. I wasn't thinking right, and my only aim was destroy my opponent.

My knife slashed over his chain mail, drawing just a slight bit of blood. My sword was blocked with both his blades stopping its swing abruptly. He then jumped up and kicked me in the breast plate with both legs, causing both of us to sail backwards.

I landed awkwardly, but soon got up and began running. The crowd booed thinking I was choosing cowardice. I ducked two arrows as they whizzed over me. Then I turned and dropped to one knee. Quickly pulling out my sling again, I began taking potshots at him. This time, he was on the defensive. The crowd booed more wanting more action.

He ducked and weaved, but he could not escape the stones hitting him. At one point He tried to line up a shot on me, but I hit his hand and he dropped the bow. I felt kind of foolish sitting there striking from afar. However, it was working quite well, and my goal was to exhaust, not kill. Suddenly it all changed. He was ducking and weaving towards me, instead of to the side. He was trying to get back on the offensive! Not actually much of a surprise, but it was still something to be concerned about. The crowd took a collective breath to see what would happen.

I dodged to the left and began orbiting the center to keep Drew further away. Drew was beginning to tire though. I knew it wouldn't take much longer before he began to break down. I waited a few seconds. Ten.... fifteen... twenty... and now. I wrapped the sling around my arm and pulled the blades. Drew had gotten close enough that I could easily close the gap. I rushed him and he was caught completely by surprise. Both of my blades were aimed right at him. He tried to defend himself, but I slit open his arm with my sword and stabbed him in the leg with my dagger.

He crumpled to the ground in pain. The crowd went wild. I had defeated him in their mind, now I was going to finish him. But I needed Drew alive, and I needed to make it a show. Acting disdainful, I kicked Drew's knifes about ten yards away and turned my back on him. I stomped away with a face as if I had smelled turned butter. The crows was surprised for a minute, then I raised my arms in victory and spun on my heal.

"Get up and fight me! Don't just lay there!" I spat at Drew.

Then I turned around and walked to the other end of the arena. The crowd went wild when they realized what I was doing, allowing the fight to go on. Suddenly the crowd gasped.

I distinctly remember me thinking, "All ready?" Then I ducked.

I will never forget how close that arrow came to killing me. If the crowd hadn't giving it away, I would have been rotting away in some grave yard. The arrow slammed into the wooden wall at the other end of the arena. I spun around and ducked once more. The second arrow missed me by a sliver. I needed to get closer again. A third arrow whizzed by me. In order to defeat him without killing him, I would need to dual him blade to blade. The fourth arrow grazed my cheek. It was really hard to think while dogging arrows. Fifth arrow slammed into the ground where I had been seconds before. He was aiming low now. A sixth arrow was headed directly towards my gut. In order to dodge, I did something you should never do I a dual. I turned my back on my opponent. The seventh arrow would have killed me. If there had been a seventh arrow. Thankfully, Drew has run out.

Knowing this was my chance, I rushed Drew. Having know choice, he unsheathed his knives and dropped his bow. Wearily, he got ready for me to reach him. I slammed into him full force and our dual began. Back and forth, back and forth, the battle raged. The only sound that rang through the stadium was that of our clashing blades. The audience watched with bated breath awed by the sword display they were witnessing. We were slowly chipping away at each other, but neither of us maintained the upper hand. And neither of us were suffering serious damage.

Until his knife plunged into my gut.

Why is it all ways the gut?