Blazebringer - A Dragon Adventure (Stone War Chronicles, Book 3) by A.J. Norfield

Author:A.J. Norfield [Norfield, A.J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: LowSea Publishing
Published: 2023-08-16T22:00:00+00:00

Trista exhaled slowly, narrowing her eyes. She tightened her grip around her staff, swallowing to wet her throat as she tried to feel the movement of the ship swaying back and forth. Xi’Lao held her own staff loosely pointed at her, a look of determination chiseled across her face.

Trista inched a foot left, trying to decide to go high or low. With the speed of a hunter fish, Xi’Lao shot forward, thrusting at her face. Trista retreated, rotating her staff around the incoming strike, knocking it away. She pulled back her own weapon, letting it slide through her hands, before bringing in the back of her staff in an overhead arc. Xi’Lao parried with ease, making a low swipe in return; Trista tried to stomp down on it but was a tad too slow.

Xi’Lao’s staff darted back toward her again. The effort looked minimal, but her strikes were nearly as powerful as Shiri’s had been. Trista blocked the strike, immediately following up with a rapid twist to hit Xi’Lao’s hand. When it did not connect, the red-headed warrior pushed through, alternating her attacks with both ends of her weapon.

Xi’Lao stepped back, blocking each strike in succession. Noticing a rhythm emerging, Trista switched it up, spinning her staff behind her back making a large swipe forward.

Her Tiankonese adversary jumped through the air, twisted her body like she rolled over a low wall and used the momentum to knock the incoming staff aside. She landed low on her feet, weapon held firmly along her arm before immediately resuming her attacks. Spinning her staff at high speed, it became a near blur.

Trista eyes darted back and forth, trying to keep up with all the rapid twists and turns as Xi’Lao advanced. Left, right, right, duck. She felt herself slip into the flow. She loved that part of training; the point where she stopped thinking and only acted. Where it all just clicked.

Xi’Lao launched an attack on Trista’s feet, she slid back as the ship shifted on a wave. Brought off-balance, she nearly tripped over a line. Trista staggered to stay upright while in front of her, Xi’Lao spun a full circle, following through in a wide arc. Trista’s ribs stung from the impact, instantly knocking the wind out of her despite Xi’Lao pulling the blow at the very last moment.

Xi’Lao flashed a smile before drawing back her staff. Annoyed, Trista thrust at the woman’s knee, but the Empire’s warrior shifted away while rotating her staff, leaving no opening to connect.

Spotting a bucket behind Xi’Lao, Trista steered her opponent toward it with a quick succession of thrusts aimed at different parts of the body. Nearly there. Trista lifted her staff to bring it down hard, intent on making Xi’Lao dodge and then trip.

Xi’Lao feigned a lightning quick jab toward Trista’s throat, making use of the opening, before nimbly twisting around the bucket. She kicked it over, the water slushing Trista’s way.

Trista shot her opponent a look. Was she aware of the bucket the whole time?

Xi’Lao briefly raised her eyebrows accompanied with a knowing smile.

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