Two – The Prodigy

Shendelzare flinched as the giant blade stopped an inch from her throat.

"Again!"

Gasping for breath, she stumbled back into position. Beside her, her opponent gracefully returned to a guard stance. Her elegant broadsword held effortlessly in front of her.

"Go!" said her sister, her blade flicking towards the start of Arc of the Moon.

Shendelzare's tired limbs clumsily performed Lion on the Hill to block. The blades clashed and locked. The younger elf took a step back before trying to rush in again with her blade directed at the abdomen, a good move to draw first blood or inflict nonlethal damage on an opponent – Parting the Silk.

Motred countered with Lightning of Three Prongs, followed by a quick Grapevine Twines to disarm her.

Shendelzare fell to her knees, her head hung in defeat. Her blade now lay three feet away from her. She waited for the lecture, but the customary commentary on her training didn't come. She looked up to see Motred with her sword raised facing away from her towards the forest.

The forest was silent. Not even the sound of birds in the morning.

"Show yourself stranger, I have no patience for your games."

"Well well well, so perhaps the stories of a prodigy amongst the Silkwood Clan are more than just stories after all." a drawl came from the forest. "I must say I am quite surprised you detected my presence at all."

"Who are you? Show yourself!"

A Night Elf un-melded from the shadows and strode towards the sisters. Her face was painted with markings, and her long cloak wrapped around her trailing to the ground. A Templar – one who was considered one of the best amongst the Wardens.

"Motred isn't it," the new comer stated. It wasn't a question. "There are always rumors, some are hard to believe. So I wish to see for myself, the strength of the Silkwood Phantom." Stepping up beside Shendlezare, she took the customary bow beginning a duel.

Motred bowed back cautiously. Then immediately leapt backwards sword raised back into a guard position. Shendlezare recognized it as Leaf floating in the Breeze. A good guard form against many different types of attack.

The Templar smiled and sent a dagger towards Motred which she dodged easily. The dagger thudded into the tree behind her. Motred charged in. Cat Crosses the Courtyard turned to The Swallow takes Flight as Motred slashed downwards towards the Templar who still hadn't drawn a second weapon.

The sword passed cleanly through the Templar -only the Templar wasn't there. Immediately switching to Swallow Rides the Air, Motred blocked the dagger from behind –barely. Backing away, she regained distance from the Templar.

"I must say I'm a little disappointed in you Motred." taunted the Templar. "You're slow!"

Shendlezare could see a small twitch on Motred's lips. For any other elf, it meant they were laughing. She was obviously enjoying this.

"I am surprised such simple tricks allowed you to obtain a Templar title." Motred replied. "Basic light distortion: Such a pity you need to rely on such petty tricks."

"Oh, I have more than just petty tricks, young Warden."

"Show me then," Motred roared and swung her blade in a large downward arc. A moment later, shadows enveloped her and her form blurred. The Phantom reappeared to the right of the Templar.

Shendlezare caught a brief glimpse of the Templar in invisibility before she disappeared again. The blade swung downwards through thin air.

"I told you I had more than petty tricks, young Warden," said the Templar from the shadows. "If you are considered a prodigy amongst the Silkwood, then I would hate to see—"

She was cut off midway, as her own dagger was hurled back at her. Leaping deftly sideways she came out of her stealth only to find the young prodigy known as the Phantom behind her again with her broadsword slashing downwards.

The slash was blocked by twin daggers held together in a cross. The Templar had twisted herself at the last instant to do so. Sliding the daggers down the blade, the Templar knocked the broadsword out of Motred's hands and sent it spinning away. Taking advantage of the temporary opening, Motred's left fist shot out towards her opponent's face -only to be caught by the Templar as the blades jutting out of the Phantom's wrist guard were fractions from her target.

"And you have the nerve to call ME petty," snarled the Templar.

Motred grinned back.

The dueling pair stayed like this for a few seconds before the Phantom freed her wrist, leapt backwards and blinked back at the Templar whilst still in the air.

The Templar met the attack with a twisted Unfolding the Fan. Her newly drawn blade glowed faintly, almost transparent. Its jagged edge almost invisible in the daylight.

"Enough!" the Templar said, "Your reputation is well deserved young Warden, perhaps one day, you will become one of us."

Once again, Motred disengaged and leapt backwards. Her eyes were narrowed, calculating look on her face. Shendlezare didn't think the Templar noticed, but she wasn't sure.

"What do you want?" asked Shendlezare, speaking up for the first time.

The Templar vanished and reappeared before her with a scroll in her hand. "I have a message for your father, General Silkwood is it not?" she said as she handed the scroll to Shendlezare. Once again, it wasn't a question.

"I wish you both luck then, it looks like you're going to need it. Ande'thoras-ethil." The Templar said grimly as her form started to distort and fade as she walked away.

"Wait!" Motred called. "I don't have your name!"

The Templar paused, then continued walking, disappearing into the shadows of the forest.

"My name is Lanaya," the shadows replied.