Two Warriors.

Chapter 3: The Conclave.

Many wars in our past had been fought for control of what we call The Flame, the Spirit of the Commander. The introduction of the conclave no matter how barbaric it's seemed maintained order amongst the clans.
The strength of each participant would be tested to its limits, a battle to the death until only one warrior remained.
That day the arena was full of spectators from all over the lands. Leaders of each clan attended but it was an especially poignant day for those clans who had a natblida fighting. The army of Polis remained ever vigilant over rival clans that now occupied the same space.
Including Lexa there were nine nightblood warriors fighting that day all aged between sixteen and eighteen, all prepared to fight to the death. Lexa won her first round against a boy from the Blue Cliff Clan. It was a clean battle and a quick death. Her second round came with some controversy. She was to face Luna Kom Floukru, but after Luna killed her brother Aten in her first round she became overcome by grief and fled the conclave. Luna was branded a traitor and marked for death, not all who carry the sacred blood are prepared to kill for it.
Lexa faced two more rounds, a girl from Rockline who fought hard but eventually became the second natblida to fall by Lexas sword. The final round of combat saw Lexa face Oshawa, the nephew of Queen Nia of Azgeda. Due to many years of rivalry between Trikru and Azgeda tensions burned hot in that arena.
Both nightbloods had fought hard and had sustained injuries from past rounds but there would be no rest that day. A warrior must always fight through pain and fatigue until death takes them or they are victorious.
Standing, waiting to fight both Lexa and Oshawa faced their destiny. Azgeda called for Lexa's head, Trikru called for Oshawa's corpse. I watched in silence as both warriors blocked out the politics of their clans and focused on one thing, the drive to be the last one standing.

Titus rose to his feet and readied the nightblood warriors for their final battle. The tension was unlike anything I'd ever felt before. Both stood proudly never once showing fear.
As the battle horn sounded the crowd roared like thunder. Oshawa wasted no time in attacking. Lexa held her focus and deflected every blow from his sword. She seemed to gain the upper hand after crashing the hilt of her sword down upon his face. His nose was broken, his vision was blurred, but  a momentary lapse in concentration for Lexa, saw Oshawa swing his sword, slicing at her flesh. She reeled back as the black blood flowed from the cut across her body.
Oshawa rushed at the Trikru warrior, the full weight of his body sending them both hurtling to the ground.
He had Lexa pinned and began an onslaught of brutal blows. Nightblood splashed across the arena as the crowed screamed for a life to be taken. My heart sank as I watched Lexa take such a beating, all the time thinking this would be the last time I'd see my Trikru warrior alive.

As fatigue began to set in, Oshawa's attack slowed. It was this moment as his fist came crashing down towards Lexa's face, she grabbed it stopping the collision.
Through the blood that seemed to cover her face I saw a glint in her eye, a look that told me she had been in control all along. Oshawa  had been led into a false sense of security. She returned the attack, delivering a debilitating blow to Oshawa's throat. He fell from Lexa's body, gasping for air.
She got to her feet and slowly walked over to her sword. Pausing over her opponent she uttered the words we say when a life is about to end, "Yu gonplei ste odon!"
Lexa slid her blade through his body. As the blade travelled deeper she dropped to one knee and pulled the Azgeda warrior towards her. Lexa held him close has his life ebbed away, a mark of respect for her fellow nightblood. His fight was over.
Lexa Kom Trikru had won the right to become Heda. The legacy of Becca Pramheda now residing with my warrior of the forest.