The Raven and the Wraith Book 2 (Completed!)

The Raven and the Wraith 2 Chapter 5

The Raven and the Wraith 2 Chapter 5

"That doesn't sound like a good idea..." Kiera trailed off.

I nodded. I didn't think it was a good idea, either. But I felt like it was likely key to our survival here. This land was simply too raw, too primal. I needed that razor, animal edge. I just didn't know how to get there.

"Now. You carry weapons. Are you a warrior?" The one who had spoke to us earlier asked me.

I looked up at him. Kiera and I had sat next to each other, our backs resting against some gnarled, twisty tree, while we rested. Now, I didn't much care for the height advantage this dark predator had over me.

I stood slowly, noting the subtle shift to his stance. A centering of his weight. A warriors move.

"I can hold my own. Wouldn't be here if I couldn't." I said.

"Good. We will fight. I will learn who you really are, before you're allowed into our city."

I didn't really understand where he was coming from but I just nodded. He wanted to fight? Well, I was ready to oblige!

"Before we begin we must trade names. So you know who you face. I am Dak, First Commander of The Queens Elite."

I felt a sinking feeling in my stomach. First commander and elite and all that didn't likely add up to an inexperienced fighter.

"I'm Rahvin, herald to The Shadowfall, First Awakened by the Great Cat." I announced, adding in as much dramatic flair as I could before resorting to flapping my hands about.

Kiera snickered behind me, earning a chilling glare from Dak. Then he met my eyes, smiled slightly, and rushed me.

My instincts hurled me to the side, not fast enough to fully dodge his downward sword slash. I rolled once, then pushed off hard, leaping up onto a tree branch, my hand coming up to touch the bloody line on the side of my head. I hadn't even seen him draw his sword!

"Good evasion for one so young." Dak said, nodding at me like a proud parent.

His surprise attack, combined with the stinging wound and his patronizing tone, set my teeth on edge.

"Now you're really going to find out who I am!" I snarled, dropping down from the branch, pulling my throwing knives in one, smooth sweep.

I saw him analyze my stance, how I held my blades, how I crouched. I saw his warriors mind preparing for a particular method, or style of fighting, based on that. And I grinned coldly. I loved when people underestimated me.

I launched myself at him, body horizontal, both blades leading the way. Like I had turned myself into a double-edged, airborne spear. And then, at the last instant, I rotated, flipping completely.

I brought one blade down and alongside my body, ready to defend against any incoming attack on that side, and my other blade was up and ready across my chest.

Dak's eyes widened in surprise, his lifting sword, ready to block my blades, began to twist as he tried to compensate. It was too late, I saw my foot cross his guard and I prepared to feel my heel smash into his forehead.

Instead of impact, I flew gracefully along. I arched my back, landing lightly, spinning to face Dak. He had ducked and rolled under my attack! I couldn't comprehend his speed.

He smiled as he saw me with my jaw hanging open like a stunned idiot, clearly understanding my amazement.

"You're creative. Excellent."

I shook my head at him, my mind whirling as I struggled to come up with a tactic to either use his speed against him, or to take away its advantage.

The problem was that I had always had the speed advantage in every battle as far back as I could remember. Now, faced with someone who was faster, I didn't know what to do.

Then he attacked. His sword hissed through the air like a demonic snake, and both of my blades were completely overtaken, as his power and speed required me to block with both blades.

The night was filled with our rasping breathing and a constant ringing of steel on steel as we circled. I refused to give ground, refused to accept that he was pressing me harder than anyone ever had before.

Finally, after many minutes of lightning fast, constant pressure, he drew back, his eyes appraising me.

"You fight well. But you're holding back."

I wheezed angrily at him. Holding back! I was sickeningly happy I had just made it through that unscathed!

"Don't hold back!" Dak growled, darting forward, his sword a lethal blur. "Show me who you really are!"

He was truly pressing me now, his attack forms flowing from one to another so fast, so smoothly, that I couldn't keep up. I couldn't read him, I couldn't understand his next motion, and after just a few seconds I had numerous small cuts leaking blood down my chest and arms.

Then, as one more of his attacks slipped through my defenses, he snarled viciously. His sword rose up, then down and in, twisting in an arc unlike any strike I had ever seen. Both of my blades were flicked out of my hands, flying away from me, and then the flat of sword slapped across my cheek.

The stunning impact sent me to my knees. I would have fallen forward onto my face but for the tip of his sword under my chin, holding me in place.

"You lie to me. You dishonor the Warriors Way." Dak gritted.

I blinked a few times, my brain sluggishly sorting through what he'd said and what might have happened to result in me on my knees like this, with cold steel under my chin.

I lifted my eyes, seeing his seething glare. Seeing the readiness to his stance, his muscles rippling and ready to deliver the killing blow.

"No. I just don't know how..." I said quietly.

It was true. I didn't know how to unleash that primal power inside of me. That power that had allowed me to match speed with the little gray things I had fought on top of the wagon in Ravenfall woods.

He stared at me for a long moment. I realized I could hear that Kiera was holding her breath. My hearing was also sensitive enough to pick up her stuttering heartbeat. She was terrified I was about to die.

Dak slowly pulled his blade away, understanding filling his eyes.

"You're young. Not even trained."

I nodded as I climbed to my feet carefully, unsure how this dangerous warrior might react.

"You bring no dishonor to me. Instead it is I who am under duty to you now."

When I said nothing he bowed his head to me.

"I have attained the highest rank in the Warriors Guild. The laws I'm held to on untrained warriors are clear. I will train you until you're set on The Path."