The Champion

Voah’s reflexes were still in high gear. She swung around in the direction of Klarïon, and the sword came down on the shoulder and back of Juni, spraying blood upon Voah’s face. The force of the blow sent her reeling back and Juni’s body tumbled off the side of a ledge, landing somewhere with a sickening squelch.

Then the man came barreling into Voah, nearly sending her free falling off the other ledge as she rolled down the sloped platform, but she was able to catch herself in time, clinging on the edge.

Heaving her legs quickly up, Voah got to her feet and ran sideways toward flatter, sturdier platforms and walls. The man swung again, just barely missing her foot as she scrambled, right, left, and right again up the corner to a higher ledge from which she immediately leaped back down on him. The sword blocked one dagger but the other gave him a good gash down the back.

Klarïon spun around angrily missing again as she rolled and sliced his wrist holding the holy sword forcing his grip to slacken and she kicked the blade out of his hand, sending it out of view over the side of the platform.

“You’re dead, bitch. The sword is mine now.” he grunted.

“May the will of Vastad prevail.” She prayed aloud, her chest heaving with excitement and energy.

He swung his heavy fists at her and she was able to deflect a few, then block a couple more before sending a few blows his way, but the man was meaty and strong. She knew she would have to aim for his face and vitals. She didn’t get that far as he grabbed her up by the throat, lifted her, and threw her down again closer to the edge again. He threw himself down on her, ready to finish the job, throttling her and pummeling her.

She couldn’t take anymore chances. Her time was now. With a well place knee and several blows to the temples and eyes, she freed herself from the pained man and rolled to her feet. Klarïon was already getting over the pain and grabbing her again. He intended to throw her off the side, but if she was going down, she was taking him with her. Voah used her weight to control the momentum. She jumped with the man’s grip and wrapped her legs up and around him so that when gravity brought her down, he would come with her and they both went sprawling over the side and tumbling down a few platforms into a pit of muddy water.

They were both filthy and battered by the melee and the fall, but still full of determination. Klarïon trudged his way over to the sword but she followed closely behind, giving him an uppercut as he turned around. He stumbled a few steps, turning and doubling over, disoriented, trying to keep his legs steady and look for the sword he had dropped again. Voah threw her arms around his throat from behind and started to choke him. It would have done the job, but he was a bull and there was still fight in him. He flipped her up and over his shoulders and slammed her down in the muck with a splat. In mid-air she had managed to see that she would land close to the sword and so she scrambled on her back just enough to grab it and thrust it forward into his abdomen as he came at her.

He let out a gasping surprised grunt and stumbled back again. Klarïon clung at it the wound and slowly pulled free of the blade, Voah nearly lost her grip due to the slickness of the mud but managed to hold on. The injury granted Voah just enough time to get up and climb onto a low platform.

She slowly backed away, putting some distance between them and readying into a defensive stance, but it didn’t last long. He climbed onto the platform enraged and
came bounding at her for a tackle. It was intimidating, but she was so far in the zone that it seemed like slow motion. She took a few big steps straight at him to meet him head on and as he dipped low to take her down, she vaulted into the air and somersaulted over him and giving him another slash to the shoulder. When she landed, she spun around with the blade and took his arm off at the elbow. He fell to his knees, wailing in a pain and anger and looked up a her menacing eyes as she slowly stabbed the sword downward diagonally between the side of his neck and clavicle.

Blood gushed forth from his neck and mouth and as she removed the blade, he fell forward onto the wooden planks.

It was miraculous to say the least, for Voah was not the greatest duelist or warrior, but she managed the victory by outwitting her opponents, not just of outfighting them. She had the confidence in herself and her faith behind her, not to mention her will to live was ever strong.

Sweat pouring, heart pounding, muscles aching, covered in mud, sand, and blood, Voah Sahnsuur hoisted herself to the top tier of the Pillar of War and Justice. There, she knelt in honor before the statue of Vastad, kissed the blade and swore an oath, "I shall sacrifice to His sword, well-aimed against the necks and hearts of the evil maleficium.”

With that she stood and raised the Holy Sword high to tumultuous roar of an overcrowded arena. She remained the Champion.

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Voah could have had just about anything she wanted in the days and nights that followed her victory in the Crucible, but she settled for her life… that and a hot bath, followed by a little “play time” with a petite brunette Aspect of Panolis who massaged her aching muscles and tended to her quick healing wounds.

Voah pulled the woman down on top of herself and reached to dim the flame of a bedside lantern, both women had desire in their eyes, ardor on their lips and breath, and tenderness in their touch.