A Path Divided by Taylor Crook & Ryan Kirk

Author:Taylor Crook & Ryan Kirk [Crook, Taylor & Kirk, Ryan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Fantasy, Action & Adventure, Epic, General
ISBN: 9781778284014
Google: poehEAAAQBAJ
Publisher: Waterstone Media
Published: 2022-12-12T18:30:00+00:00

33

Sato’s quick reactions kept him just outside the man’s first strike. His sharp gaze tracked everything, from the expression on his opponent’s face to the balance with which he cut. Livid as his enemy was, the quality of his training was apparent.

Against a lesser opponent, Sato would have stepped in and drawn, trusting his opponent would be too off-balance to respond in time. Underestimating this man would be a fatal mistake, though.

Sato assumed this was Azazel, and assumed this sudden desire to kill Sato was not due to any particular action Sato had taken. Crispin and Alonzo would be cleaning latrines for a month after this. And that was if Sato felt merciful.

Sato drew his own sword. There would be no reasoning with Azazel, not in front of so many witnesses. Besides, everything Sato knew about this man told him that Azazel was near the heart of the corruption in this city. Perhaps the means were detestable, but the action was nevertheless necessary.

Azazel attacked again, the tip of his blade moving so fast it was invisible to Sato’s sight. Sato gave up ground again. He judged himself the better swordsman, but only by the width of a hair. A shame such skill was possessed by a man with a heart so black. The magistrate would be a powerful ally if his heart was less corrupted.

Azazel snarled and added several flourishes to his next attack. The onlookers gasped as the steel flashed between the combatants. Impressive as the cuts looked, they gave Sato an opening. He thrust into the space, careful not to make the same mistake he’d initially expected of Azazel.

Azazel closed the opening in an instant, parrying with the quickness and confidence of a man who had planned the move ahead. Azazel’s sword sliced clean through the collar of Sato’s uniform.

Sato’s eyes narrowed. If he’d been just a bit more aggressive in pursuing that opening, his dreams of becoming Firstborn would have ended here, in front of the glittering masses of the spoiled. His heart beat faster at the thought. He wouldn’t die like this.

Sato’s world contracted until he and Azazel were the only two who still existed. As they passed again, he felt himself slip into a different state of mind. They weren’t two individuals fighting over whatever silly argument Crispin had started. They were two opposing forces, light and dark, battling for supremacy of this land.

For now, they remained balanced, each advance negated by the response of the other. Sato swore he could hear Azazel’s heart, could predict where the man would strike before his muscles even began to move. Sato’s sword became a part of him, a longer, sharper limb that severed life from his enemies.

They passed again, and again neither gained that moment of advantage that would decide the duel.

Azazel faltered first. It was a small mistake, too small to be anything but true. He was slow responding to a parry, and Sato pressed the advantage. The final cut sliced across the side of Azazel’s neck.

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