Chapter 125: Duel

"I accept the terms," Lord Quillion said.
I extended my hand to him. We shook, then I backed away. Both armies stepped back to give us space.
Liam squeezed my shoulder. "Let me fight for you."
I shook my head. "This is my fight."
He gave me a worried glance but gave a slight nod. "Good luck, Beloved."
Granite gave me a soft punch. "We're counting on you."
They both turned and stood to block the entrance to the bar. They watched me with their iron-grey eyes. I couldn't help but smile. For such cold, hardened warriors, they had such warmth in their hearts.
I turned my attention back to Lord Quillion. He stood at the center and lifted his long sword to the sky. Dark clouds appeared and swirled overhead. Blue lighting ripped from the sky on to the sword. He held pointed it toward me, then screamed a battle cry.
I cringed. It sent a primal surge of fear through me. I stood my ground as he ran forward with the sword. For a moment, I felt frozen, but I calmed my thoughts and felt for the power inside me. The stew had turned into a curry. The power was all mine now. I pushed it out through my back into my wings. They solidified as I leaped into the air out of reach of the sword.
Blue lighting jumped from the sword towards me. I dodged, but it was faster. It hit one of my wings, overtaking my pink god power. I fell to the ground, landing on one knee. He lifted the sword over his head as he ran at me again.
"Reveal," I commanded. The Aurora Sword snapped into my right hand. It flared to life-size. I drew it up just in time to block his attack.
The blue lightning sword glanced off to the side and struck the ground. His eyes blue eyes crackled with lightning. I snapped my blade up in front of me, but it was too late. His hand punched me in the face. I flew backward.
The Aurora Sword fell from my hand and slid across the pavement.
"Reveal," I whispered as I gathered my thoughts. I could see sparkly lights in my vision. I knew he was coming towards me. The Night Sword filled my hand. It grew long and dark in my left hand this time.
"Nice trick," Lord Quillion growled as he stood over me. His sword was raised, ready to plunge.
I rolled to the side and aimed for his knees. He jumped back just as my dark blade whooshed past him. I did a forward summersault to close the distance and slashed at him with the Night Sword. I rose to one knee and then to my left foot as I parried attack after attack. My wings burst out of my back again.
We danced around a circle as our swords clashed. We seemed to be fairly evenly matched when it came to swordplay. He was stronger, but I was faster. I thanked Lanie for all her years of training. Her knowledge was keeping me alive right now. And all that training was telling me I needed to gain the upper hand soon or he was going to sap all the energy from me.
I held my free hand out to the Aurora Sword. It flew across the parking lot into my right hand. I slashed with my left and parried with my right. Lord Quillion lost ground. I gained on him one blow at a time.
The sky swirled above us. Lightning struck his sword again. He attacked as quick as the flash with a chop straight down through the air. I crossed my swords to avoid the blow. The lightning jumped down my blades to the hilts. The zap sent my flying across the parking lot. I slid across the ground. I thanked any god, probably Karma, if I had to pick one, that I was wearing my leather jacket; otherwise, I would be ate up with the road rash.
The lightning tingled all over my body. It was strong and hot. It vibrated over my skin, holding me in place. Lord Quillion stepped closer. I heard him laugh.
"Little girl. Your time has come. Men, ready your swords. We will take this faction tonight." He stood looking down at me. He raised his sword to the sky. Lightning jumped down on to it.
I held my hands out for my swords. They zipped back to me. Lord Quillion drove his sword straight down. I crossed my swords again. The lightning jumped down them again, but this time I was ready. I ate the energy. I opened myself to the burst of power that shot down through them. The sudden charge swirled with my pink god power. I waited until the bolt was finished before I crafted it and molded it inside me.
Pink lightning covered my skin. It pushed me off the ground, so I was standing facing him. I pointed my two swords directly at him. I released the powered lightning through my swords at him. He flew off his feet across the parking lot. He hung pinned to the side of the second story brick building. The pink lighting crawled across his skin as he screamed out.
I held him there for some time while I watched him writhe in pain. He was finally getting a taste of his own magic. The pink lightning still covered my skin. I could feel his life energy fluctuating. I had a choice to make. Did I take it, or did I let him live?
Slowly, I withdrew the energy. I let his body slide down the brick building to the ground. The army of elves parted as I closed the distance to his slumped form. I planted my swords in the dirt at my sides then bent down to look him in the eye.
"Do you submit?" I asked loud enough for his minions to hear me.
He mumbled something.
"Say it loud enough for everyone to hear, unless you would rather die right here."
"I submit."
I stood and turned to his army. "Do you honor our agreement?"
I stared them down. After a long time, a few heads nodded slowly, then the rest of them.
"Good. Draw up the paperwork. We have a contract to sign." I snatched up my swords and started walking back towards the bar. "Boys, let's have a party for our new friends!"
A roar of growling orcs, giants, and half men sang a chorus of "Hooray," or, at least, something that sounded agreeable. They thrust guns and swords into the air as I walked through the path of them that unfolded before me. I stood in front of Liam then bowed my head, holding the pose for a significant time. When I looked up, everyone around me had bowed their head to him as well.
Liam bowed his head back to me. "You did well, Beloved."
"I'm not sure if I did the right thing, but I did what felt like me."
"You won, that's all that matter," Granite said.
"Let's make sure we get that contract signed right away. I'm ready for some god damned peace around here," I said.
Liam squeezed my shoulder. "We'll make it so."