Dancing Blades

JP with Winteroak and Omni

Voah wasn’t looking for a fight more than she was looking for information, but neither party knew the others true intentions.

Ever on the defense, Voah was ready for the strike to come and steel to clash, though she had never fought against a curved blade like that. Now there were two blades.

He faked lunged at her with the sabre towards her right flank only to seek an opening with the dagger on the left.

The sword in her hand was clearly designed for war, for maximum damage, but likely much less effective in a duel. He smelt no fear, her pulse was calming, she did not panic.

This was a warrior he faced. He grinned, his white pupils boring into her eyes.

He moved, his sabre snaking forward pushing her back.

The man was quick on his feet but so was she and it was a good thing she was used to combat. He was toying with her a little, smiling as he pressed her back. Parrying and blocking a second blade was going to be difficult so she would have to evade and disarm.

She wondered if he knew unarmed fighting as well as he could duel. Voah’s bastard sword was technically a little heavier and broader than an arming sword but it felt lighter due to its balance. The handle was longer to allow for versatility between one handed and two handed fighting. As she moved backward, she began using the blade with only one hand and soon she found the chance to send a kick toward his midsection.

The man easily avoided the attack spinning out of reach, like a dancer, bringing his dagger closer for protection and extended his sword arm. Voah stopped herself from pushing on as his blade whistled inches from her face.

The fluidity in which he moved was certainly different from almost anything she had encountered before. As their two blades clashed she quickly realised that the curved shape served two purposes; it concentrated the force of a blow at the point of percussion and it ensured that the blade would slide along her own bitting and slicing into the enemies flesh. She jumped back his blade rolled over her forearm bring blood forth.

Voah cocked an eyebrow and smiled herself, impressed by the man’s performance, which felt something akin to the gracefulness of a dancer. If she was being honest, her own style would be complimented better by a smaller blade like the one he carried and she was now feeling the benefits of using a curved blade.

Her arm stung. She couldn’t afford to take on injuries as freely as she had in the past now that her boon was gone. In the past, doing so used to be a part of her dueling and intimidation tactic. She would defend for a while to learn their techniques, pretend like she was not as skilled as she was to lull them into a false sense of security and cockiness, and then she would strike.

That had to change. Voah had to take this man more seriously. The bite from his blade would cost him.