Chapter 29 Weakness

Chapter 29

Weakness

 

                Nicole walked across the room and sat down in the Throne to the right of Sarwar. She leans back and looks out to everyone. Their faces turn to dislike and annoyance, they look as if they were ready to fight her, Sarwar looked worried.

 

“Nicole, you do realize you cannot claim the throne until the ceremony is over.”

 

“Sarwar, I really don’t care… I realize who my father truly is, I realize that I’m a blood heir. Sarwar, I’m taking my throne.”

 

                A young general from the crowd of people steps forward and walks towards her. His face red and his fists clenched. He grabs her arm and pulls her, throwing her out of the throne. She falls on her back and just smiles as she looks up at the ceiling. The general stands over her and looks down to her.

 

“You disrespectful wench, how dare you try to take the throne in such a manner. Blood Heir or not I will not let you be like that.”

 

“Then I’ll fight you for it.”

 

“What?”

 

“If I can best you in a duel I’ll take the throne, If not you can have it.”

 

“I, wait. Is that allowed King Sarwar?”

 

“It is boy, it is, but it is a duel to the death. Are you willing to do that?”

 

“Humph, it shouldn’t be hard to kill a woman, let alone a child of one. No matter what she I wearing, or who she’s related to, it doesn’t mean she can fight.”

 

                He walked over to a guard and took his sword then turned to Nicole who was still lying on the floor. He points his sword to her and gestures for her to get up. She sits up and smiles at him before standing complete up. She steps to him slowly and stops herself when about seven feet from him. He holds his sword up and readies himself.

 

“Draw girl, or do you want to die?”

 

                Nicole’s smile turned serious and she moves closer. In jest the general moves to push her. Nicole side steps and uppercuts him in the gut, letting the steel of her gauntlets rip in to his flesh. When she pulls her fist back a small bit of blood starts to stain his clothing. In anger He swings his sword to cleave her head. Nicole ducks and tackles him, sending the man to the ground. Quickly she rolls aside and gets up. She steps away from him and waits as he gets back up. He runs at her full speed attempting to thrust his sword in to her chest. Nicole turns and lets him run by, but as he runs by he throws down a ball which explodes and shrouds the area in a smokescreen. Nicole jumps back, realizing she’s surrounded in the haze. She hears the footsteps of him running at her. Nicole closes her eyes and waits. With a deep breath she focuses until he explodes out of the smoke in front of her. He moves so as to stab her, her eyes open and she thrusts her hands at him, impacting the chest. The collision’s force blows the smoke away and sends him back away from her.

 

                The crowd watches puzzled as she stands in the middle of the room unharmed. He stands back up and looks over at her. He calmly walks over to a guard and takes his quiver and bow from him. He fires an arrow at her. She lifts her hand up and lets the arrow bounce off her gauntlet. He fires another only to have her catch it. He looks in disbelief. In the delay of his action Nicole throws the arrow at him with all her force, the arrow flies and loges itself in his thigh. He reaches to grab it and take it off to hear the sound of a sword sliding out of its scabbard.

 

“I’m tired of these games General. I’m sorry but this needs to end.”

 

                The general franticly tries to pull the arrow free from his thigh as Nicole walks to him. The sword rings still as if asking for blood and Nicole’s eyes darken, losing their luster. The general starts to scramble away from her as she continues her approach. Several guards go to stop her only to have Sarwar command them to step back. This battle would end in blood. He hits the wall and whimpers as Nicole stops in front of him, looking down at the man as if he was nothing. As a last minute attempt he swings his sword, cutting a small gash along her left cheek. Nicole takes a few steps back and places hr free hand to her face, she feels the warm blood and her eyes fill with fear. She starts to walk backwards, slowly trying to get away. The general sees this and manages to get the arrow out of his leg. He quickly rips part of his shirt off and ties it to his thigh, then stands up and runs at her again, aiming for her heart. Nicole in fear lifts her left and up and faces her palm to him. Before he could strike her, an explosion of energy hits him in the chest, stopping him in his tracks. He looks up to see Nicole against the wall watching him, tears going down her face. She throws the sword at him, missing by a few inches.

 

                He smiles and runs at her full speed, watching her hands. She fires again and he steps aside dodging it. Nicole’s eyes widen as he comes within striking range. She closes her eyes and cries as he thrusts. The crowd all gasps as the sound of blood splattering on the ground echoes in the room. Nicole opens her eyes to see a sword impaled in the general’s back, the tip sticking out of his throat. Nicole moves her head to see behind him to find a shadow, faded and barely visible standing behind him, holding the sword, her father’s sword. The figure pulls the blade free and the body falls to the floor. It whips the blade so the blood slips off. It then walks to Nicole and starts to slide the sword back in to its scabbard. Sarwar runs to Nicole and the shadow, with a grin, yelling something that Nicole can’t make out. The shadow looks up at Nicole and smiles as it clicks the sword back in to hit’s home, then it disappears moments before Sarwar can get to them. Nicole smiles and looks over to Sarwar.

 

“Thank you daddy.”