The arena was pretty wide, surrounded by a treeline on the long end, colorful vines on the side and on the front border of the area a stage was positioned. The stage was pre-apocalyptic and adorned with impressive metal ornaments. It offered a high position, making it possible to look out over the whole area. The arena itself was not just an open field, through the middle ran a small ditch and there were some logs and boulders scattered over the area. I was training here with Edaii last week, we were joking about the vines that grow on the sides and how they inflict more damage than a knife if you'd fall in it. I was positioned at the same point where my training always started. On the very edge, slightly concealed by a large boulder on my left side, facing the largest part of the arena. It made it easy to spot my opponents, Aïda was crouched behind a log on my left, Jahu was on the far end close to the stage and Tagota was on my right behind me. I sucked my breath in involuntarily and the adrenaline gushed through my body. Every muscle was tense, I could feel every fibre in my body ready to respond. I rested my hand on the dagger strapped to my side ready to counter whatever was coming for me.

The horn sounded, No. I would not let Titus down. Or myself. With the sounding of the horn the conclave began. I leaped up, creating distance between myself and my opponents, I wanted to see their moves first. From the corner of my eye I saw a spear flying at my face, in one swift motion I ducked behind the boulder I was using as shield, effectively avoiding impact. As it flew by, I recognized Azgeda symbols on the weapon. I breathed out to create some space in my chest and drew the sword from my back when I heard a piercing howl behind me. Aïda. I turned my head only to face her with a raised arm, her hand was wrapped around a small knife, she was gasping for air her eyes were wide and her mouth was open in shock. The spear I just avoided was embedded in the middle of her chest.

There was not much time to think about it. I twirled around to face Tagota, who appeared behind me with a curved blade, ready to strike. His eyes were fixed on me and his mouth curled up in an evil grin. "Read to meet your maker, little girl?" He tauntingly asked. "Not quite yet!" I yelled at him as I crouched down in a low position and kicked his knee out swiftly. He growled in response and pushed himself upward. "Wrong, little girl." He snarled. "No, you are wrong!" I pulled the dagger that was strapped to my side and aimed it for his chest. He was faster than I gave him credit for, he dodged my move with his hand. The blade went straight through his hand, but did not hit him in the intended spot. He locked his eyes with mine and pushed me back with a snarl as if I was a puppy getting in the way. I gritted my teeth as my back slammed in the boulder. My infuriation subsided slightly when I saw blood pouring from his hand.

My smugness was not long-lived when suddenly something locked around my neck and yanked me upward. In a reflex I bent my back backwards and pushed my feet hard on the boulder. With success I managed to create a momentum, the movement and flexibility of my body allowed me to wrap my legs around the neck of my attacker. I tightened my grip as I hung upside down from his neck, with my chest to his. Jahu was taken by surprise by my counter attack and took one moment too long to find his weapon. I tightened my grip a bit more, depriving him from oxygen when I felt a sharp stab in my side. I gasped and lost my grip, which caused me to drop 3 feet. In a reflex I stretched my left arm to not drop full on my head. Sharp pain spread through my arm and the upper side of my back. Unfortunately, the struggle caused Jahu to drop me just above a bush of thorny vines. One of the 25 cm long and sharp thorns was deeply embedded in my leg, a dozen shorter thorns were equally spread over the length of my arm and in my back. My arm was bent in an awkward position and the pain caused by the poison of the vines almost made me pass out. I was only slightly aware of the fight going on between Tagota and Jahu above me, my consciousness was slowly fading, protecting my body from the pain. I struggled to resist, passing out would surely mean my death. I grabbed myself and pulled out a string of thorns. The end of the thorns were equipped with barbed hooks, causing half of them to break in my flesh. I growled in frustration and pain. The large thorn was deeply hooked in the muscle and movement caused a sharp throbbing pain. I patted my side, looking for my dagger. Empty! I gasped, I must have lost it when I was dropped. I reached for my sword which was strapped to my back and unsheathed it. I took a big gulp of air and clenched my jaw to avoid passing out. With my sword I cut myself loose from the vines, leaving the large thorn in its place. I would deal with it later, it would do me no good to pass out from blood loss.

I scrambled up and looked up to locate Jahu and Tagota and I spotted them near the small ditch that ran through the area. Watching them bought me time to recover the initial shock and more important, to find my dagger. I slowly got up and scanned the area. In the tall grass I saw a faint shimmer, there! The dagger was the only thing I had from my parents, it was sent with me when I was brought to Polis. I picked it up and strapped it back to my side, the sword was still in my hand. I was just deciding whether to sneak up on the boys or to remain hidden for a little while longer when Tagota got the overhand in the fight. He managed to work Jahu to the ground and reached for his spear. "Yu gonplei ste odon." (your fight is over) With these words he speared Jahu straight in the chest. I hear a gasp from the crowd, I totally forgot we had company. They were too far away to make out any facial features, but I could make out the red robe Titus was wearing. It was between me and Tagota now...

As the horn sounded to announce Jahu's death, I decided that surprise would be the best way to go, and I had no time to waste. I knew the arena very well, so I knew I could reach Tagota from behind if he would come looking for me at the spot where they left me. With my sword ready I crawled through the high grass, keeping eyes on my opponent at all times. Tagota removed the spear from Jahu's chest and kicked his body aside before turning around to face the area where they had left me. "Oh little girl" he called out. "Come out and play!"

I gritted my teeth. Facing him full on would not be wise, I was hurt and not half his size. As I guessed, he made way towards the builder where I fell. If I wanted to win, this would be my only shot. "All or nothing, I guess" I mumbled under my breath. I gripped my sword tighter and waited for Tagota to be near enough. I remembered Titus' words "When you are certain that your opponent is stronger than you, let them think they beat you. And then, you surprise them." How often had I been on my back with someone hovering over me holding a dagger to my throat. I never trained with Tagota, he came to Polis only a few weeks ago. Azgeda mostly trained their nightbloods themselves, even though Heda had ordered for all the nightbloods to be in Polis. The Azgeda tribe did not give up their nightblood lightly.

Tagota was only a few steps away, prodding the ground with his spear. He had a slight grin on his face, as if he had already won the fight. You haven't met me yet, I thought to myself. Everything around the arena was silent, I could hear his footsteps and counted that he must be about one leap away. Now, or never. I leaped and used the momentum to thrust my sword forward with a grunt. He turned fast as lightning and blocked the attack with his spear. The force of his blocking knocked the sword out of my hand and sent it flying a few feet away. The grass was too slippery to hold my balance, and I fell over backwards. Within a split second he was hovering over me, pinning me down with the length of the spear he was holding. The grin spread over his face in a low and husky voice he said "There you are, Leksa" He drew out my name mockingly. The way he said my name infuriated me. Who was he to think he could mock me? I reached down my side for my dagger, but he was faster. "Nah uh, little princess. We're not going to play with knifes."

I spat in his face "Kill me and get over with it, oh great king of Azgeda" I said tauntingly. His eyes darkened at my words and he leaned forward. "With pleasure, little princess" he said while he reached for his dagger. His hand was still bleeding from my earlier attack. THINK Lexa, THINK! Then, a sharp pain in my leg reminded me of the thorn that was still embedded in my flesh. Quickly I reached down and grabbed the thorn, before I pulled it out I grabbed some dirt in my other hand and threw it up in his face to distract him. "I am NOT dying today" I growled.

"AH!" he shouted and he let go of the spear to rub the dirt out of his eyes, it gave me a second to pull the thorn out. With his attention to his eyes, his back was uncovered. I prayed he was wearing traditional armour that protects the body, but that also leaves space to move. With all the force that I had left in my mangled body I brought the thorn down on his back, approximately where his kidney would be. His back arched backwards and he growled in pain. I used the distraction to wrap my legs around his lower back, squeezing the thorn further into his body. His was distorted in pain and he was not paying any attention to his spear anymore. I reached for his spear while uttering the words in a whisper, "Yu gonplei ste odon, Tagota kom Azgeda" (your fight is over, Tagota from Azgeda) and I planted his spear in chest. His eyes rolled into the back of his head and the air escaped his lungs with an audible gasp before he fell forward on top me.

The last thing I remember is a sound of the horn, before I too, passed out from pain and blood loss.