A Noblewomen's Duel by Kardie (Patreon)

The sounds of clashing swords and haggard cries of exertion echoed through the castle; a grand duel was taking place in the great hall. The two combatants were both masters of their craft. Fencers of great talent and skill. Both from storied noble houses. On one end, Lucia Whitewolf, eldest daughter of House Howler, faced off against Countess Desiree Bebutov.

The eldest daughter of Duke Ludomir Bebutov, Desiree had all the skill and grace of a master fencer and several years of experience over Lucia. Though House Howler had been well known for producing some of the finest warriors to ever wield the blade in their long history, the Bebutov's were equally as adept; but more battle tested.

Desiree, like he father before her, served in the Belkin Vanguard; their motto was 'First to Fight'. Desiree was an experience soldier, duelist and commander with more than seven campaigns under her belt. She was a key figure in the unification war, helping King Yul Belk gain control the Timberlands. She’d fought in Salice, Ederdale and Saxon. She’d even fought under Lucia’s mother during the battle of Kerynea, gaining notoriety as a cunning commander. 

Lucia on the other hand lacked practical battle experience. Though she was an experienced adventurer, she’d never fought in battles and skirmishes like the Countess. Lucia made up for this by being a phenomenal duelist and a prodigy with the blade. An adept, she could tap into her own quintessence to give her speed, strength and even magical advantageous over her opponents. Quick thinking and tactically brilliant, Lucia had defeated masters of the blade from all over in single combat. Here and now however, the two women seemed evenly matched.

The duel was an intense affair, both women giving their all. Neither wishing to relent. It had started as these things tended to; with an invitation and an insult. Lucia had not joined her mother and House in support of their King’s ambitions. Instead, opting to make a name for herself as an adventurer. She spent her days exploring the lost kingdoms and forbidden lands. Many nobles within the Belkin aristocracy had openly criticized her for it. Desiree had been one of these critics. Still, Lucia accepted an invitation to dine with the Countess when she passed through the city of Derdall. The meal was fine enough until the question of Lucia’s life choice became a topic of discussion. One inference of cowardice and disloyalty later, the two women were clashing swords.

Servants and attendants squinted as sparks flew between the blades of the two noblewomen. Lucia’s strikes were quick and calculated. She would strike to force movement and anticipate defenses. Then using her preternatural speed, try to capitalize on any openings in Desiree’s movements. The Countess however was not so easily led. She took what the young wolfess gave her and counterered her strategy with precise movements and excellent anticipatory thinking. Every advantage Lucia thought she had created was nullified by the nearly flawless footwork and sterling defense of Desiree.The chipmunk wasted no sway of the body, no flick of the wrist or step of the foot. Every movement was deliberate and meaningful. Her defense simply couldn’t be broken. Not in the way Lucia was attacking.

Frustrated, but unwilling to let that be her opponents advantage, Lucia changed tactics. Striking forward and then using her control of the mana around her to propel herself back, Lucia created a great deal of distance between herself and Desiree. Like she anticipated, Desiree would move to immediately close the distance, falling right into Lucia’s plan. Almost subconsciously, the wolfess focused her quintessence to push back against the external force of mana around her. Creating a push and pull of energies. Using every bit of her natural speed she, darted forward to meet Desiree. Erasing the space between them.

In Lucia’s mind she could see Desiree’s options. She would not go over her. The Countess’ style was not acrobatic. Graceful and nimble as she was, she wasn’t a blade dancer. She would likely attempt a parry and spin left or right depending on where her back foot pivoted. Lucia would have a split second to figure out which direction, but when she did, she’d have her. Lucia planned to draw deep from her spirit well, igniting her ethereal energies into one massive push against the flow. She’d release the grasp she held on the mana about her, creating a small pocket of force. Theoretically, if done right this would catapult her in a controlled dash to the side of her choosing. She’d cut off the surprised Countess and either disarm her or draw first blood, winning the match.

It was a sound plan if one had the skill and control to pull it off. However, Lucia learned quickly the old adage; ‘No plan survives contact with the enemy.’ Lucia was aware that Desiree too was an adept. Like her, the Countess could reach out and manipulate the natural forces of the world, but since Desiree had not used any preternatural abilities thus far in their duel, Lucia had assumed she had little talent for it; preferring to rely on her superior technique and experience. So it came as a small shock when Desiree’s speed suddenly increased. She did not close the distance between herself and Lucia. She instead thrusted her sword quickly down into the floor and took what seemed to be a fanciful stance.

Unable to stop the moment of her sword swing, Lucia’s blade struck Desiree’s and the resulting impact caused light to flare between them. Desiree had poured her quintessence into a defense, imbuing her blade with her energies and repelling the energies of Lucia’s. The wolfess had been so certain of a parry or a dodge that the resulting impact almost disarmed her. Her sword hand flew back as pain shot through her body.

At this point two things happened. One, Lucia’s focus faltered. Not because of the pain, of course. She’d dealt with worse. No, her focus faltered as she cursed her own hubris. She’d been tricked by Desiree. The Countess’ chosen style of combat had lured her into believing she held an arcane advantage. Having felt the push of Desiree’s power against her own, Lucia was certain that they were more even than she’d believed. The cunning chipmunk had planned this all along and Lucia was furious with herself for falling for it.

The second thing was an effect of the first. Losing focus caused her to lose control of the flow. She’d let the energies slip and could not regain control in time to aid in her fall. Though swift and agile, without the aid of her abilities, she could not hope to escape Desiree’s counter attack in time.

In a desperate attempt to keep herself from losing the duel, Lucia swung wide and off balanced, as she tried to regain herself. She hoped to slow her opponent’s advance. Alas, this would not work. The parry and dodge that she’d expected from the Countess before came then. Desiree was able to gracefully spin about Lucia, gaining position behind her. Now at a dangerous disadvantage, it was up to Lucia’s physical gifts and determination to see her through; and so, throwing caution to the wayside Lucia awkwardly dashed toward Desiree.

The insane tactic took Desiree by surprise. She hesitated for a moment, confounded by how the usually controlled and cautious fencer could be so reckless. This hesitation was would prove costly and rob Desiree of her victory. Both women would flare up their quintessence to aid in the exchange of attacks, increasing the speed and power of their strikes. Both women would aim true and both would simultaneously hit their mark, drawing blood. Desiree’s strike went across the side of  Lucia’s neck. Lucia caught Desiree on the cheek, just below the eye.

‘A draw I see...’ Desiree would note in her sultry voice. With a smile she turned and tossed her blade to a squire.

‘Very good Lucia, very good.’ she praised. Lucia however did not smile. Her expression was blank for a moment, before looking incredibly disappointed.

‘Yours would have been a fatal blow...’ Lucia stated matter-of-factly. The Countess shrugged as one of her Clerics came to tend their wounds.

‘Maybe, but yours would have been life altering one. My eyes are too alluring to lose, don’t you think?’ She chuckled. Lucia sheathed her sword and shrugged.

‘That deception would not work twice.’ the wolfess noted. Desiree shrugged again and gestured to the wound on Lucia’s neck.

‘A deception only need work once on a battlefield, as your mother is fond of saying. You’d know that had you taken up arms with us instead of galavanting across the lands, looking for adventure.’ Desiree admonished. Lucia rolled her eyes and refused the care of the Clerics.

‘I’ll tend my own wounds, thank you.’ She said shooing them away. 

The two women stood opposite one another in the great hall, light shining down through its massive windows. For a moment, no words were spoken. Then in a whisper, just loud enough to be heard by Desiree, Lucia said;

‘I am my own woman. I don’t need to chase my mother’s shadow or the favor of the King.’ With that she gave the Countess a respectful bow and turned to leave. The Countess would not stop her.