Sorry this has taken so long to post. Dunno when the next bit will be up. It's all a work in progress. (And for those interested there is also the side story.)
Oct 2003
Part 2
***
Braith was furious. He hacked away at I'LuThiael, but was blocked every time. I'LuThiael was another opening and slashed Braith's arm.
"What was it you said about a hot temper?" I'LuThiael beamed and jumped back to get out of Braith's reach.|
Stephanie watched in a daze as the two men in front of her fought it out, dodging back and forth, and jeering at each other. As they fought, they slashed the bamboo, sending it flying every where. She saw that Braith was tiring, while I'LuThiael had barely drawn a sweat. I'LuThiael's attacks were gaining more and more power behind them. Every now and then he would slice Braith in through an opening, but it never went any deeper than the skin. Braith was still to break through I'LuThiael's defence. She could see Braith's frustration growing. She decided that these guys were crazy. It would be best if she escaped while she could, and ran home before either of them even noticed she was gone. The problem was, what about that drunk bastard? He could still be there waiting for her to come by all unsuspecting and alone, and then he could make a grab at her again. With that in mind she really did not want to walk home all by her self.
"Excuse me?" She called out. I'Luthiael turned his head slightly at the sound of her voice and Braith managed to trip him up. Stephanie slapped her forehead when he hit the ground hard. Once I'LuThiael was down, Braith pinned him there with a sword point to the chest. Both panted heavily. I'LuThiael's sword returned to the form of a bamboo staff.
"It's a simmilar thing to cockiness." Braith muttered and started puting pressure on the sword. "You're getting predictable." Then he changed his language to one that Stephanie had never heard before. "*So, I'Lu,*" Braith smiled dangerously. "*Will you give up Thiael?*"
"*You know that is something I can not do.?*" I'LuThiael replied in the same language, with a voice that was more confident than he should be considering the sword pressed against him. "*I guess you will just have to dispatch me now while you still can.*"
"*Maybe I will.*" Braith looked around at the scattered bits of bamboo on the ground around them. "*First, let me speak to Thiael.*"
I'LuThiael blinked a few times, then looked up at his opponent solemnly. "Right here."
"Thiael, how do we do this? You need to tell me." I'LuThiael lifted one hand as though it was the heaviest thing in the world. "She... If you find her and take her... please..."
Braith continued to search the ground. "Which one is it?" He was getting very frustrated now.
"I do not know." He gasped, starting to shake. "Hurry." All Braith's frantic searching was in vain as I'LuThiael bagan to laugh with that confidence seeping into his voice again.
Braith did not look at all amused. His eyes narrowed as he realised something. "Damn it I'Lu! I thought it was agreed this was to be a fair fight! This is NOT fair! We agreed no hidden teks!" He knelt down and grabbed I'LuThiael by his shirt and shook him until I'LuThiael himself grabbed Braith's wrists in an attempt to get the bigger man to stop. "*I beat you fair and square you bitch! Thiael is rightfully mine now!*"
"*So should I just hand the creature over to you with out a suitable replacement, and before he has become? How stupid do you think I am? Pathetic Clark. Fine. You may have your fun with him, but if you try to force a separation, or if you damage him in any way, the entire Waymyn population will be called to arms, and you will be hunted down like the Clark you are.*" I'LuThiael arched up, a strange gurgling sound ripping from his throat, before he settled back on the ground again, eyes closed.
"Bitch." Braith hissed under his breath, before nudging I'LuThiael with the toe of his boot. "Oi. OI! Who am I talking to now?!"
I'LuThiael's hand opened and his sword suddenly appeared there. He rolled forward and struck upwards at Braith's chest. "Me!"
Braith's sword dropped to the ground with a thud, and he looked down at I'LuThiael who was holding a piece of bamboo not a sword. Braith dropped to the ground next to him. I'LuThiael laughed with delight, then went serious. "I could have killed you now, you realise?"
Braith nodded.
"But I didn't. You need to practice, practice, practice, child. Your timing is way off, although it has improved. I could have struck you more than just twice. Stop opening yourself up so much."
"Then why didn't you strike more times?" Braith panted.
"Because I don't like to kill." He replied simply, then turned his head away as something flashed in his eyes. But then it was gone. "You can turn off the shadow thing now."
The shadow turned like smoke and dissipated into the air. Bratih suddenly was a much smaller being. And ordinary looking, slightly balding man in his mid thirties. Wearing jeans and a t-shirt. And sneakers?! Stephanie squeeked when he became normal. This place was a bit wierd for her.
"Don't forget I tripped you up!" Braith grinned at the younger man beside him. I'LuThiael shrugged nonchalantly, then jerked his head towards Stephanie's direction like that explained everything.
"Come on inside," I'LuThiael jumped to his feet and helped Bratih up. "And then you can tell me all about what you have been up to for the last few years."
"What about her?" Braith pointed towards Stephanie.
"It is her decision as to what she would like to do." Braith followed beside I'LuThiael as he slowly approached Stephanie. She stood, raising her nose at them defiantly. I'LuThiael bowed his head to her. "If you desire it, I can escort you back through the gate and to your, uh, friend, or you would be welcome to come with us..."
Braith gave a disgusted snort, and I'LuThiael shot him a shocked look. Braith leaned down to whisper into his ear.
"REALLY?!" I'LuThiael shrieked, then looked from Stephanie to Braith, then back at Stephanie, utterly bewildered. Stephanie tried to cover herself more, uncomfortable with the way I'LuThiael was staring at her.
Braith shook his head slowly. "You really should come visit ME some time." He whispered. "Meet some girls."
I'LuThiael's eyes widened with horror and he span to run to the hut hidden further in the trees, leaving Braith and Stehphanie to watch.
"I... think I better go." Stephanie said cautiously. Braith grabbed her shoulder, firmly but not painfully.
"I don't think so miss," He said softly. "I need your help. Thiael really needs a girl to talk to. He's got some serious issues that need delving into, that I can't help him with."
Stephanie snorted. "I bet. I'm not surprised. Some psycho kid with a sword fighting another psycho with a sword does indicate some issued somewhere. Why were you fighting anyway? I take it both of you are friends or something."
"Yeah. We're friends." Braith was looking off in the direction I'LuThiael had run in.
"Great. Friends that want to kill each other. Are you sure you're not enemies? IT looked like you were trying to kill him!"
"Yeah, but that's what he wants in a fight."
"Hmmm." Stephanie looked sceptical.
"He say's it keeps his reflexes sharp, or something." Then he muttered under his breath. "Not that he needs to worry."
"You're both cracked in the head. I'm out of here." She made to go, then remembered that drunk bastard just as Braith stepped in front of her, desperation evident on his face.
"Please," He begged. "Please come talk with him?"
Gee, let's see... Stehpanie thought to herself. You've just narrowly escaped being raped by some pig, now you're going off with TWO -not one but TWO- complete strangers, who also happen to be psychotic, sword wielding, sick, alien, freaks. Not to mention they are men? Are you INSANE?!
Obviously.
Stehpanie shrugged. "Okay." And followed Braith to I'LuThiael's hut.
to be continued...