The One True Commander [BOOK 1]

Chapter 19: The conclave part 2

I eyed Seven with a careful eye, looking for any weak spots. I noticed a small gash on the top of his leg, leaking blood. With his weaknesses in check I returned my gaze to his face, he looked to me with hatred, but behind that I could see pain and loss for the boy he killed. Even if he was mean, he still shared a bond with the others he grew up with.

I moved lightly on my toes, both swords clenched tightly. Seven raised his blood soaked swords and charged towards me. He swung at my shoulder and I blocked and he swiftly swung with his other sword at my stomach. I jumped back to avoid the blade, but I made for a cheeky jab at his stomach. He narrowly avoided it and stepped back a few feet to regain his balance. I wiped a little sweat from my forehead and raised my swords again, ready for round two. I charged forwards and our swords clashed and we danced in a rhythm of swings and blocks, I ducked as Seven swung at my throat and while I was at his leg area, I kicked at his injured leg and he stumbled back and cried in pain. While he was caught off guard, I hit him in his brow with the hilt of my sword and fresh black blood poured out the newly opened wound.

He shook his head and regained his posture. With new found annoyance, he ran towards me and I blocked his blows with my swords and they were significantly stronger than before, so much so it took a lot of concentration to not get whacked. As I was backing up, I felt my foot slip on some liquid and my foot slid back and I landed on one knee. Seven took advantage of my fall and he kicked me in the side of the head and as I fell he managed to slice at my ribs. I landed on my back next to the dead body of Atlas and I realised that the substance I had slipped on was his pooled blood. My eyes snapped back to Seven as I heard his battle cry and saw his sword plummeting towards my neck. Swiftly, I moved my body out of the way and his sword crashed into the concrete. I swung my legs and kicked him in the knee and he stumbled down.

Ignoring my aching muscles, I got back up to my feet and retrieved my swords. Seven got back up too and wasted no time swinging his swords. He seemed to be loosing his rhythm as he swung and blocked and I waited for an opportunity to strike. Just as he was about to jab I took a risk and shoved him back with my forearm and luckily it gave me enough time to spin kick him in the face. Seven grunted and fell backwards onto his back, dazed. I looked to a pile of crates and then back to Seven as he was beginning to get back up. I took a run up to the crates and jumped up to the top and with out hesitation I leaped from the top. Seven couldn't even react as I flew through the air and sliced diagonally down his chest. He screamed in pain and fell to his knees. To put him out of his misery, I dropped one of my swords and then I stabbed him in the heart and placed my other hand around his shoulders as a sign of respect for the boy. He spluttered and coughed, but soon his body went limp.

I pulled my sword out and gently placed Seven's body on the ground close to Atlas and I closed his eyes and placed his swords by his sides.

"Yu gonplie ste odon, Seven kom Yujleda Kru." (Your fight is over, Seven of Broadleaf clan). I paid my respects to the fallen natblida.

Then I bent down and tore the two pendants from around his neck and I pulled the ones from around mine and counted them. Seven pendants, seven fallen natblidas. I held up the bloody pendants and saw the multiple clan symbols through the inky black blood. I gazed at Cree's clan symbol and I felt my eyes fill with tears, but I sucked them back because he wouldn't have wanted me to cry. I clenched the pendants in my hand and started to walk to the entrance of the arena. The conclave was over, and I had won.

***

I clenched my ribs where I was injured as I trudged towards the gate. As I got closer, I could see the many spectators talking amongst themselves, but the sound of conversation soon subsided as the gates opened to reveal me, a bloody and exhausted mess. The whole crowd went silent as I slowly walked towards Titus and chucked the eight pendants to his feet. Titus looked to me then bent down to retrieve the pendants and counted them.