Warning: Blood and violence.
Disclaimer: See previous.
Chapter 19 "Waterfist vs. Eva"
The throne room was silent after Waterfist's declaration. Eva frowned and brought her cuspis into an attack posture. Waterfist stood up and grabbed a spear that lay beside the throne. The nobles backed away to give the two combatants room. Murmurs filled the air.
"I will take back my mother's throne," Eva said in a hiss. Cold metal glinted bloody red in the firelight. Darkness filled Waterfists eyes. All emotions she had had became nothing. All she wanted, all she felt, was madness. From above, the figure in shadows watched. This would be the deciding factor. He hoped the little heir would loose.
"You can try," Waterfist said and struck with the speed of a viper. Eva blocked. Sparks filled the night air. Cold wind bristled around the chamber. All eyes were on the interlocked blades of spear and cuspis. The calls of ancestors filed the air to those who listened.
The two broke away and danced around the other. Eva kept her guard up. She was I the snake pit. Any could take the chance to attack her from any angle. A stupid nobleman leapt toward her with a dagger. The wind crushed him into a bloody mess before her even got a foot from the Heir. Standing in the shadows, unnoticed by all, was a large lion with eyes full of sadness and hope. He would protect the Heir from the outside fighters. Waterfist was the one she would have to destroy on her own.
Eva and Waterfist watched each other. They felt the other's movements and dodged or parried attacks. The blades flickered in the torchlight. Waterfist lunged and forced Eva on the defensive. Swing after swing, pass after pass, Eva managed to avoid the deadly end of Waterfist's spearhead. The two danced in unending silence.
Alexander watched through amber eyes. The nobles had been stupid. They had either fallen to his claws and teeth, or the spirits of the wind that were surrounding the battle. Now, none of the watchers were left but him. Well, him and the spirits watched from afar. Alexander froze when he felt a small, female hand stroke his mane. Looking over to his side, he saw Queen Lunai in a softly glowing form watching the battle. He turned back to watch the two women dance their dance of death.
Black clothed Waterfist struck with all of her might. The battle was at a stalemate and the two were not going to tire soon, but Waterfist knew, somewhere within her maddened mind, that the little girl before her was going to be her demise. Survival instinct is one of the most powerful forces known to any race. Waterfist's had just activated.
Cold ice ran through Eva's veins. Her body felt aflame. This was what she had been brought to Elysan to do, this was what she was destined to be. This was who she was! She had finally found a place she truly belonged, and no one was going to take that from her. She loved the people, she loved the animals, and she loved the land itself. While self-preservation instincts may be powerful, no force was greater than a queen who truly loves her people and land. The planet sang the praises of the true Queen.
The two blades met once again. The window nearby exploded with the power the two warrior women were creating. Everything in nature is based on will, and both women had the will to win the battle. Only one would be living by midnight. Waterfist looked around the room out of the corner of her eye. All of her allies were dead or dying. She began to panic. Her attention was caught by the young Heir striking at her. The young girl had the strength of a lion and the speed of a falcon, but Waterfist noticed a small mistake and took advantage of it for all it was worth.
Eva went flying, her weapon falling from her grip. A shallow cut across her torso bled lightly. She looked up from where she had landed painfully on the ground. The crazed woman stood above her with her spear ready to decapitate the young Heir.
