27 A Battle To Be Won (2)

He quickly attacked nocking her blade out of her hand. Causing it to land at too far a distance from her for Diana to grab it.

'Damn it,' she inwardly cursed as her sword clattered to the ground. Commander Dolosus quickly took the opportunity to continually strike at Diana causing her to have to dodge his blades.

He was herding Diana into a corner so she wouldn't be able to block his attacks.

"Clever strategy commander," she praised him but not even a shadow of a smile crossed her blood-covered face.

"Thank you," he said with a smile tugging at the corners of his lips, "I thought so as well," he agreed praising himself.

"However," Diana began wiping away the self-satisfied smile that had painted it's self on his face "not good enough."

He looked at her with a questioning look in the depths of his eyes but instead of a response, Diana leapt up into the air. Leaping over his head and drawing her other blade from its sheath.

Landing just behind him before she quickly turns on her heel leaving her blade at the back of his neck.

"Your very talented," the commander commented feeling the blade of her sword levelled at his neck "however, may I ask you a question?" he asked quickly turning to attack Diana with one blade and attack her torso with the other.

Duana moved swiftly to parry his blade and dodge the blade aimed at her torso however, it caught her just as she turned to the side slightly cutting her left side.

'Luckily it's not too bad,' she thought as Diana engaged in battle with him once again.

"What's your question?" she asked emotionlessly as they continued their battle.

"What's your name? After all, you know mine so it's only fair I know yours," commander Dolosus asked.

"I wonder if you're worthy of knowing," Diana answered before quickly attacking him.

They continued battling even after the sun had passed the horizon neither of them waining. Diana attacked him swiftly but he turned his blade to block her before attacking with his other blade.

Diana swiftly changed the direction of her blade hitting his left blade out of his hand causing it to land near her sword on the ground. As well as give him a gash along his hand where his blade used to be.

Now they've each got one blade 'Good,' she thought 'that's one less blade to worry about.'

"Bravo," he smirked, "I guess you are a much more exceptional fighter then I presumed you to be at the beginning of our battle."

"Well, you can never judge a book by its cover," Diana answered plainly continuing her relentless attacks.

"Indeed," he agreed with a bemused smile on his lips. They quickly continued their battle as if the one raging on around them didn't exist as they paid it lit to no attention as if it's just a leaf carried upon a passing breeze.

The sound of their clashing blades echoing continuously around them as their attacks relentlessly follow one after another.

"Who are you?" after a while commander Dolosus asked once again.

"Why do you want to know?" Doana replied with her own question aiming an attack at the right side of his torso. Which he blocked with his own blade before using the momentum to push Duana back and quickly attack her.

Diana quickly blocked his blade continuing their battle.

"Well, you know my name so it's only fair that I know yours," he reasoned "don't you agree?" he asked, however, she belueves it's related to the look he and his men have been giving her.

"That's true," she agreed as a twinkle entered his eyes resembling something like hope that she'll tell him hername. "However," she continued before that hope could grow anymore after all hope is the most dangerous thing. It can let you down and lead you into a place of such despair and pain. Hope is cruel. "are you worthy of knowing?" she asked him pushing him back and trying to come up with a way to defeat him.

As theur blades continued to clash she maintained her focus trying to find a way, any way to defeat him.

'Commander Dolosus is an exceptional fighter but I do remember hearing horrid rumours about him and some of his despicable actions apparently he's on his last warning and if he acts up he'll lose his rank.' Diana thought to herself 'Everyone has an Achilles heel but what's his?....wait, his left sides weakest maybe that can be used to my advantage.'

"How about if I defeat you, you give me your name?" he proposed.

"You'd have to beat me for that to happen," Diana responded her demeanour not portraying any sense of emotion in any way.

"That can be arranged," he replied a smug tone entering his voice.

"You're confident," she said her face and eyes still emotionless but her voice is mocking.

"Well, I'm an honourable man so what would you like if you win?" he asked as they continue clashing blades.

"The truth," she answered without a second thought.

"The truth?" he repeated questioningly.

"The reason if you will," Diana answered vaguely.

"The reason for what?" he asked.

"The reason for this war," she answered simply "it's been raging for fifteen years and yet only people in Noblis know the reason as to why it began, I have my suspicions but I want to know exactly why not just rely on mere rumours or my suspicions," Diana explained to him so that he won't have to answer any tedious questions.

"That's a fair enough request," he answered as she attacked his right causing him to swiftly block her advance however, Diana used the opportunity and gave a swift and powerful kick to his left leg. Causing him to grunt in pain from her attack.

Quickly following it up she kicked him in the left side hearing a "crack" sound from his ribs.

"Ahh.." he hissed with her action.