Attelus dodged Raloth Arlyandor's horizontal slash and counted with an upward diagonal cut that sent the Eldar skipping back, pirouetting, then only just managing to parry Attelus' following thrust. Raloth riposted into a downward vertical blow and Attelus stepped aside it and darted for the autarch's flank, slicing for his ribs. Raloth, clenched his teeth as he desperately threw himself away from the blow, but Attelus had expected this and sent out a round kick that smashed against the wrong footed Eldar's knee which sent him falling for the floor.
Attelus spun his de-activated powersword into a reverse grip then into an upward, vertical slice which tinged off the falling autarch's armoured ribs. A blow which would've sliced through his torso if the power-field was on.
His almond shaped eyes wide with surprise, Raloth hit the floor, but in a split second was back on his feet.
'Well, that was...impressive,' said Raloth, despite being short for an Eldar Raloth still towered over Attelus, especially with his long brown hair being tied into a topknot and the pair of flags on the backpack of his formfitting green armour. 'You have improved...considerably since our last sparring match, I see. You were unable to defeat me before.'
Attelus reply was a nod as he fell into another fighting stance.
'Oh? Not interested in bandying any words,' said Raloth as he readied himself. 'That I can respect.'
Then they launched into another match. Every second they exchanged dozens of attacks but to Attelus every second felt like a minute. He could tell the autarch was now using every ounce of his skill and experience. But yet, the bout finished with Raloth's sword being flung from his grasp, clanging through the training room and the point of Attelus' blade aimed at his throat.
'I...I cannot believe how much you have improved. I cannot understand how this is possible,' said Raloth through gritted teeth.
'That's what us humans must do, we live such short lives in comparison to you, we have to improve...fast. We adapt, we evolve. It was the hell I just fought through on Sarkeath which forced me to improve so far and so fast.'
'But you are perpetual now so-'
'I'm still human, Raloth,' said Attelus. 'And I always will be. No better or lesser than any other.'
Raloth looked at Attelus with wide eyes, seemingly taken aback by the Throne Agent's intensity, then he smiled. 'I...see. Not just that but now you seem engulfed by a new and powerful determination.'
The Eldar turned away and went to retrieve him sword.
'And I'm frigging angry at you.'
Attelus' words made Raloth freeze.
'We needed you,' said Attelus. 'You and your warriors down there, you had an entire army and you just...left us to that hell.'
'I am sorry,' said Raloth as he turned back to Attelus. 'I would-'
'No, no excuses,' said Attelus. 'I refuse to be your pawn any longer, whether it's a diplomatic go-between for our species or as your spy, warrior, assassin, whatever. Next time we need you and you're able to fight, you fight. From now on we are truly allies, equals. Like you had claimed in your speech.'
'But the Farseer-'
'No, screw Faleaseen. Screw her. You said it yourself, soon you'll have to fight, you can't keep avoiding it forever. You just can't leave us with this burden.'
Raloth's face turned red, his expression curling into an ugly scowl which made Attelus take a step back, his chest suddenly crawling with cold claws of anxiety.
'I have...never...heard such disrespect for my Farseer in my entire life! How d-'
Attelus found his ground. 'Don't you dare hide behind self-righteous indignation! You know I'm right, you bastard.'
Tears welled in Attelus' eyes. 'I lost four people, four comrades I cared so much for, who'd fought through so much and Emperor only knows how many good, loyal men and women of the Imperial Guard!'
'Casualties are just a fact of war! Get used to it. Do not attempt to lay the blame upon me.'
'Then why is it any different for you than me. You're in this damned war too.'
'Because there are so few of us left. My people are nearing extinction, Attelus. Not just the people of my Craftworld but my whole race.'
Attelus sighed. 'I'm sorry, Raloth. I am, but this fight is a for the survival of the Eldar themselves, Faleaseen and Warlock Klrith both said that if that psychopath Etuarq succeeds you will all die anyway. Isn't that worth fighting for? Isn't that worth dying for?'
'We...we no longer have guidance from the skeins of fate and-'
'So what? So frigging what. We don't have the luxury of far sight but we still went down to Sarkeath and fought and bled and died for what we believed in. If we can do it, the supposed so damn superior Eldar can do it too.'
'I do not-'
'No, you don't believe that, but so many of you do, don't they? You know what I think? The ability has become a crutch, like a power-field on a powersword. You have to start moving forward without it. You have to.'
Raloth didn't reply, he just swallowed and finally retrieved his sword.
Attelus stayed silent, anxiety still in him. Had he said too much? Had he just upset the autarch so much that Raloth was going to end the alliance and kick them out of his ship to get lost in the webway forever? He wanted to apologise, but he kept his tongue pushed against the inside of his cheek.
'I understand, Attelus Kaltos,' said Raloth after what seemed like hours. 'You are correct, but there is one problem with your assertion.'
'Th-there is?'
The autarch's eyes met Attelus'. 'If we had come down with you, you would not have gone through the struggle that has strengthened you into who you are now.'
Attelus had no idea how to reply to that and Raloth said, 'I see that your skill with the blade is only exceeded by your wisdom, young Attelus.'
Raloth sighed. 'I...just let me think upon this. So please, would you leave.'
All Attelus could manage was a nod, before he turned and went to go.
Attelus paused at the door as the realisation of what he wanted to say hit him like a punch between the eyes and he turned back to Raloth.
'Do you want to know the real reason you lost our sparring matches? '
'As I recall I asked you to leave, so please do.'
'Not until I say this, you lost because you are afraid. You said yourself I have a newfound determination.'
'But I have a purpose, young Attelus.'
'You do. But have you truly embraced it?'
The autarch said nothing, just stared at Attelus with wide eyes.
'I know fear. I know it perhaps more than anyone else in the cosmos. And I recognise it in you. In your people, the trauma of losing you Craftworld has engraved it into you like the trauma of the war on my homeworld did for me and-'
'That is enough!' snarled Raloth. 'Are you calling me a coward? Are you calling my people cowards?'
'N-no. If you were truly cowards you wouldn't be here helping me, helping us, right now. But-'
'But nothing, Attelus Kaltos. Just leave. You have had your peace.'
'No! Frig you, by preventing your people from fighting you're not protecting them! Not any more! You're just making it that they're unable to fight for what they believe for, for their people and their craftworld.'
Raloth's face darkened, but he stayed silent.
Attelus nodded. 'That's it, that's all I had to say. I'm sorry if it upset you.
Then he left.
