The Reef's Treasure

Chapter 11

Knives

So here I was in this great big beautiful hall, outnumbered by a whole mess of Awoken guards and standing in the tightest black cat suit ever. Well, actually it looked identical to every other Awoken warrior, but did I forget to mention I didn't have an ally in the room and I had been injected with something preventing me from communicating with my ghost therefore disabling him from saving my butt? Needless to say, I was up shit's creek.

Somehow, feeling less scared of this than fighting in the crucible I dredged on. I mean it's not everyday that one gets a personal escort behind the secret doors of the Great Reef.

Glancing up at the Queen, I started thinking that if there was a chance of me dying on her behalf, she could at least pretend to be slightly interested. But a sudden slice across my shoulder from my opponent made me think she was starting to feel the same rejection from me. The strike along the armor side of my arm was quick and precise. It didn't hurt me but the metal scratching against metal was enough to get my attention. It was Seetra's way of getting my head back in the game.

It worked. I focused solely on her and we began our dance of two warriors facing off. Over confident she kept shifting her blade back and forth between her hands as she circled me. I think she was trying to make me believe that she could strike at any time with either hand. I'm not sure why but I suddenly remembered that Peetra was right handed.

Wait! Her sister was right handed... perhaps the chance of Seetra being right handed were pretty high too. Being an astute Guardian, I carefully study my opponent before engaging in combat; at least that is the way for a Guardian or Hunter. I'm not like a Titan after all. I don't go rushing into danger around every corner just to come running back towards the others with a band of bad guys on my ass yelling. "Oh shit! Oh shit!"

Watching the candle light flicker off the edge of Seetra's blade distracted me. I was not as experienced with a dagger as I would have liked. I was a Warlock after all. Give me a shot 100 clicks away with a sniper or soar above you using my powers and I'm golden but this? I was suddenly thankful for my hunter teammate who showed me a thing or two about hand to hand combat with knives; although he had two.

The female Royal Awoken Guard charged at me with a precision strike. Oozing with the textbook fighting style of the ancient warriors, she sneered at me. I barely sidestepped her attack. I could tell she was toying with me and had yet to fully engage in the fight.

The huntress made several lunges and a couple of them were close calls but I was able to move out of the way, and to my surprise, even faster without my bulky armor. The skin tight cat suit was proving to be more valuable then first expected. The lightweight knee high leather boots also proved to increase my flexibility and speed. Avoiding the bitter huntress' advances were much easier than had I been in my typical armor. I could see it in Seetra's face, she was getting frustrated about not making contact yet.

Someone from the crowd shouted, "Come on Seetra! Stop playing with your food!"

The Master of Crows, whom had not yet taken his seat took the opportunity to add his two cents as well.

Addressing my opponent he jabbed, "Try not to embarrass yourself." The Queen's brother continued to walk away when he paused, leaning back on the heel of his boot, "…or us."

As if on command, Seetra turned the long dagger around in her hand so the blade pointed behind her. I remembered my hunter friend saying that when a knife is held in such a manner it causes more brutal and deeper cuts. Another lunge but this time it came with a shove that sent me stumbling across the floor.

My attention had been so focused on the huge blade headed my way that I didn't see the raised knee that landed me square in the gut. Suddenly at a loss for air I staggered to get out of the way, when my watery eyes gazed up to see the Queen looking back at me. She tilted her head just slightly giving me a heads up of something behind me. I quickly turned around and narrowly avoided another attack by Seetra.

I stumbled sideways still recovering from the blow to my stomach as the elite warrior rushed me yet again. I had to ignore the pain. I had to force air back into my lungs or this would be a very short fight. I had to get it together and fast.

Growing impatient Seetra sneered, "I knew all the hoopla about how great the Guardians are was a lie."

Every second she seethed allowed me the opportunity to recover. I appeared to be worse off then I was, again attempting to steal every minute I could to catch my breath.

"Pity – I heard the Guardians were better than this."

Further driving the insult home was when the Queen nodded in disappointment.

God does she have to look so bored.

Insulted and angry I rushed the deadly warrior in a move I would later regret. Exactly as she had undoubtedly practiced a thousand times, she knelt before I reached her and brought her razor sharp blade up.

The second my knees hit the hard ground I knew I had screwed up.