Hey everyone! This chapter is short but it's basicaly to let you all know that it didn't end with the last one, oh no, it still has a few more chapters before we can call it quits! Although if you'd prefer it to have ended in the last one just go ahead and stop reading because you may like that ending better...but I'm not saying anything else. Hehe, I'm so evil... Well anyway, sorry to everyone who was glad it was over. There's much more to come! Enjoy and, as always REVIEW!
Chapter 22
Larka swung the war axe around with such speed and vigor it was a mere silver and purple blur. The sun was rising over the ash covered hills and Larka had been training all night, not stopping to rest once. Her muscles ached and she was exhausted, but while she was exercising she had a single minded focus. Nothing else could penetrate her thoughts and she was afraid to stop incase everything came flooding back to her.
The axe was a strange and foreign weapon in Larka's hands, it was generally not a favorite weapon of assassins, though her old friend had briefly taught her the basics incase she ever had to wield one in an emergency. Now she swung and chopped with vigor, recalling the lessons she had had and improving upon it with her own signature movements and footwork. She swung the blade around in an arch and twirled around with it, lifting her leg with the added momentum in an air hissing kick. Unconciously she was treating the heavy war axe as a wakizashi, although that didn't seem to cause her much trouble. She twirled the axe blade in both hands and, eyes closed, swung it around her again one handed, starting up at her head and in a spiral where she transferred it behind her back to the other hand and, eyes still closed swung it up but stopped abruptly, eyes shooting open.
Taka stood before her, eyes wide in fright, the axe blade a hairs breadth from her neck. Larka held the axe there, her expressionless eyes staring into Taka's wide sorrow filled ones. After a time Larka slowly removed the blade and stepped backwards, she had been startled out of her hypnotic state and stood speechless waiting for Taka to speak.
"Larka…" she began, making a gesture as if to reach out to her but seeing Larka's blank expression thought better of it. "Larka, I-I know you're upset, but w-we need to all pull together and discuss what will happen next…" she stammered.
"I'll tell you what will happen next." Larka said suddenly, stepping forward, her face close to Taka's, ferocious and threatening. Taka exerted her will not to back up from the horrific creature that had once been her friend. "The Legion will be told of the battle and they will send an army here to hunt us down and destroy us. Every last one."
"Larka, please, calm down you're frightening me." Taka said, her fists balling and her eyes going an icy blue. "I want Krillan back as much as you but I haven't turned into a battle crazed monster!" she said angrily her face right in front of Larka's. Larka backed up from the angry Bosmer and for a second Taka was sure she saw a flicker of sadness in Larka's haunted eyes. But another second later Larka glared and spat at Taka's feet, walking away and beginning her axe training from the beginning again.
Taka stared at her friend as she began a series of complex steps and pity overcame her anger. WhisperWing had silently come up behind her and puta hand on Taka's shoulder. "She just needs more time, let her have it." She whispered, pulling Taka away from the training area.
"I know." Taka said wearily. "But we're fast running out of that."
