Chapter 4: Enter the Fighters

Music: Sasuke's Theme

"Yo! Did you honestly believe that I would fall for such an obvious feint, bro?"

Dorian Steel propped his wooden two-bladed sword on the ground and leaned on it. Tall and wiry, he had short, spiky black hair and dark eyes. He faced off against his older brother, Dorian Steel, in a wide open-air courtyard inside the fort. Young fighters and grizzled veterans lined the balcony surrounding the courtyard, placing bets and cheering the brothers on.

"Maybe I was just testing you," replied Draegor Steel. "I wouldn't want to abuse my extra experience on you," he continued with a smile.

The two brothers looked nothing alike. Draegor was short and stocky, and unlike his brother Draegor was a quivering mass of rippling muscles. He wielded a gigantic greatsword that was over five feet long and almost a foot wide. Like Dorian's weapon, it was made out of dense training wood.

"Go Dorian!" yelled someone from the balcony. "You show 'em, captain!"

Dorian smiled and laughed. "Ha! I hardly need encouragement to defeat this big oaf." Dorian raised his two-bladed sword into the air and assumed a defensive position with his sword off to one side. He gestured his brother to come forward. "Let me see your real stuff," said Dorian.

Draegor saluted his brother, and assumed an offensive position. He gripped the hilt of his weapon with both hands and drew it low on his right side, with the blade trailing behind him. "Very well," he said, "Prepare yourself!"

Draegor let out a loud roar and charged at his brother. The greatsword came slicing towards Dorian horizontally at an amazing speed. Dorian rolled off to the side as he attacked the bottom of the greatsword, knocking it upwards and over Dorian's head.

Dorian leapt at Draegor, who was able to recover his blade and block Dorian's vicious attack. Draegor retreated backwards.

Dorian smiled. "Running away already, bro? You want to cede the match right now?"

Draegor grinned absentmindedly. "Nope, just trying to create some distance between us. Oh, look out there."

Dorian, confused, turned to look where Draegor had indicated, and was promptly tripped on the flat of his back. Laughter erupted in the balconies.

Dorian leapt to his feet, his face burning with embarrassment. Draegor had backpedaled fifteen feet away, widening the distance between the two him. This time he held his blade in a defensive position, and gestured for his opponent to come forward with a smile. Damn it, thought Dorian, I'm at a disadvantage at this range. I've got to get in close to him so he can't use the greatsword's range on me.

Dorian slowly circled around his opponent, but Draegor adjusted and kept fifteen feet of distance between them. I've got no choice, thought Dorian, I'm going to have to make a run for it.

Dorian charged at Draegor, but before he could close the distance the greatsword came swinging, smacking Dorian across the ribs with the broad side of the blade and sending him backward. The balcony erupted in cheers.

"That's one point for me," smiled Draegor.

Dorian came running at Draegor again, and this time he was able to knock the greatsword out of the way in time. He came underneath Draegor's guard and thrust underneath his opponent's arm. He scored a hit, and in response Draegor released his weapon and grabbed the hilt of the two-bladed sword.

"One point for me," grunted Dorian.

The two brothers struggled over the control of the weapon. Even though Dorian appeared to be thin and wiry, he had an unnatural strength that belied his appearance.

Draegor thrust an elbow at Dorian's chin, loosening his grip enough for Draegor to pull the weapon free. Draegor immediately attacked Dorian with his new weapon, but Dorian slithered out of the way and picked up Draegor's greatsword.

"Interesting," smiled Dorian. "Care to trade?"

Draegor smiled, but shook his head slowly. "Nah. I've always wondered if you could use my sword properly. Now's as good time as any."

The brothers charged at each other simultaneously, and their weapons slammed together in a cross formation. The crowd cheered on as the two brothers pressed against each other. Draegor started twisting the two-bladed sword, in hopes of catching Dorian with the bottom blade, but he started to lose control of the contest.

Dammit, thought Draegor, I can probably catch him with the bottom blade, but he'll come through the guard and score a hit on me at the same time. That might not be so bad, but he'll probably get me first because he's faster.

Draegor grimaced as he continued to lose ground against his brother. No choice!

Draegor shoved the two-sword upward, catching Dorian in the chest. However, in the process Dorian's weapon came through the hilt of Draegor's guard and struck a blow on his shoulder. The brothers stepped away from each other, laughing. The crowd booed.

"A tie?" groaned one of the spectators.

Draegor walked up to his younger brother and embraced him with a bear hug. "That was a good fight, little bro! You did far better than I expected."

Dorian smiled in reply, and lightly lifted his weapon from his brother. "Yeah, you too. I just hope your greasy hands didn't sully my favorite practice blade."

Just then, horns began to billow from the fort's walls. Everyone in the courtyard halted and listened to the peals of the horns. Just then, the voice of the Fort's commander, Hoskuld Kelar boomed across the fort. "Centurions, gather your troops with full battle gear and report to the southwest gate! This is not a drill!"

The troops in the balcony began to scatter, and the two brothers looked blankly at one another.

"Looks like will have some action today," remarked Dorian.

"Good," replied Draegor with a smile, "All of my fights today have been too easy. I don't want to get out of shape."

Dorian punched Draegor in the side jokingly, and they left the courtyard together.