A Second Tyranny

Friend to Foe

WISTY

"Where are we?" Pearce inquired.

I had never set foot in this place before but I thought I knew the answer. "Elsa, is this your ice palace?" I asked. We were moving around Hans in a slow orbit, watching him attentively so we could stop him in case he tried to escape.

"Yes," she answered. "Your brother may have used magic to transport us out of Arendelle, but since he's never been here before, there wasn't a destination. I came up with one."

Hans didn't seem shaken up anymore. He was back to being arrogant, important, and cocky. "Is this your mastery plan? By getting me on my own so the four of you could collaborate on bringing about my ruination?" he questioned. "Is this what you call the final showdown?"

Pearce shrugged nonchalantly. "Something like that."

I chimed in, "Your Champion is dead. Your warrior comrades are miles away. No one is here to assist you."

I instantly knew after stating that fact what his next move would be, and judging by the knowing look I shared with Whit, he knew too. The king possessed a range of supernatural powers. Teleportation had to be one of them. Fixing our eyes on Hans, Whit and I began chanting a spell. The world vibrated and flashed blue, purple, and green. The figure of Hans standing before me duplicated, tripled, quadrupled, and then morphed back into one. His feet and irises lit up in a sparkling, shimmering orange. The glow receded when we completed the spell, and Whit and I beamed.

"My sister and I have just taken away your ability of teleportation, which means," Whit explained to Hans, "you're stuck here."

Hans bellowed in rage and, as though a detonator had gone off in front of us, Whit and I shot off our feet into the air. Strands of red hair blew into my face, covering my field of vision. I crashed into something cold and hard. Supernovas of pain exploded in my spine and the back of my skull, and I cried out. So did Whit. Thick blue restraints that were similar to snakes' bodies and octopus's tentacles wrapped around me in a tight coil before I could slide down the wall. Hang on, it wasn't a wall; it was one of those columns supporting the ceiling. Whit was bound twenty feet away at the same height level as me against a neighbouring column.

Ten metres below us, Elsa sprang at Hans. Hans casually tapped the air in front of her with his fingers. She was put to sleep immediately, slumping soporifically onto the floor. Pearce charged at Hans before he could make the next move. They duelled rigorously, cutting, slashing, striking, and parrying, their attacks, defences, and footwork nicely anticipated and well-measured. They were similar in strategy and technique. Each launched vicious and calculated assaults at the other. Fighting to kill. All the witches and wizards had said Pearce was an incredibly quick learner, and this proved it. He may not have spent his whole life training to wield a sword, but heck, he was good. In fact, his prowess in swordsmanship was just as accomplished as Hans's. Or maybe it was fuelled by his resolve to beat him, but either way, Pearce had not failed to hold his own so far.

But if their expertise in sword fighting was equal, how could one win?

One couldn't.

It was down to a matter of how long both could last before one of them got tired. But neither were tired nor their moves sluggish. I had a feeling this would be a long duel.

Pearce looked like he was trying too hard whereas Hans seemed to be almost enjoying the battle. Pearce's cheeks flushed with exercise. Fiery determination danced in his clear pale blue eyes. He didn't appear to need any help, but I wished there was something I could do to help him. I struggled against the restraints coiled around my body, trying my best to wriggle free. To my dismay, the harder I wriggled the tighter its clutches became, until it was so tight I was sure it'd squeeze all the air out of me if I continued struggling. I stopped, panting from the exertion, the muscles in my hip and waist sore and fatigued. I still had an option: erupt in flames. Burning my restraints loose could work, but it'd take ages and I wasn't certain I could maintain the fire for that long. I needed to save my strength. It turned out I didn't have any options after all. I could only watch.