38. The final showdown
Shirleen could hear the shouts and the music blasting through the arena when she walked into the arena. This final fight meant everything for her and she was nervous as all hell. The queen was already in the arena waiting holding a sword in one hand and a shield in the other. Shirleen walked to her and bowed a sign of respect to her and shook her hand. "I like you," the queen said, "You showed respect when you didn't have to."
"Don't take it easy on me just because you like me," Shirleen replied looking at the woman who stood before her at five foot seven, lean and well-toned. Her hair could only be described as flame haired and caught the sun in such a way it looked like it was on fire. Her eyes were green and reminded her of an emerald stone.
"Not in my nature," the queen said with her flame hair swirling around her. "I like being queen and I definitely like the perks. Though you remind me of someone."
"Who?" Shirleen asked.
The queen looked at her for a few minutes, studying her face. "You wouldn't know her," she replied smiling as though she knew a secret Shirleen didn't. "Shall we?" the queen asked. Shirleen shrugged her shoulders moving away from her and unsheathed her swords from the scabbards strapped to her back. The fight begun with both trying to test each other's weaknesses. Just as suddenly the fight gained ferocity with neither giving the other a chance to come closer. Watching two people who knew what they were doing embroiled in a fight is one hell of a show to watch. People on the stands oohed and aahed with each movement, each blow, each deflect. It was simply a thing of beauty. Both were so closely matched in skills that it became apparent to the spectators that the person to tire first will probably be the loser. They knew their queen was strong considering she had won the previous two queen's blade. But then they had also seen the girl in the silver mask who they fondly referred to as the phoenix make her way from the beginning. When she had been in pain and hurt, she had never faltered and somehow gained their respect, for she showed strength.
Shirleen blocked the sword that was aimed for her head. She rolled on the ground away from the shield the queen was aiming at her. She knew she was tiring and the wounds she already possessed curtesy of her previous fights were beginning to reopen and her body was already tiring. The queen had already managed to make a huge cut on her back which was bleeding profusely. If she continued bleeding, she will tire more and the queen will have an advantage. She had also managed to injure the queen by inflicting a deep cut on her thigh enough to slow her down and she had also made a deep cut on her upper arm. In that moment she remembered her training with Angela. "When you think you are tiring then the probability is your opponent too is tiring especially if you have inflicted as much damage as she has on you. Look for the right moment and use your best moves to end the fight. Something she won't be able to expect. There is a possibility you will catch her off guard and win or she may counter your attack and you will lose. This is a set of fighting technique my father taught me. It is not very widely known and I am hoping you won't use it unless you are desperate to finish the fight. Combine them strike immediately and do not hesitate," Angela had said. Shirleen looked at the queen who was finding her footing and started rushing towards her. Well, no time like the present, Shirleen thought to herself. She slid low to the ground avoiding the blade and quickly sheathed one of her swords. Using her momentum, she used her other sword to turn and stand in one fluid motion and rushed towards the queen before she gained her balance. She managed to surprise the queen and enter her personal space. She used momentum and her palm to hit her just below her chin with enough force to throw her of her feet. Without waiting Shirleen turned with a high kick catching the disoriented queen square on the chest pushing her against the wall of the arena hard knocking the breath out of her. Shirleen rushed towards her both her swords in hand and pinned the queen against the wall through her shoulder blades. The queen dropped her shield and sword in pain and blood trickled from her mouth. Shirleen had made sure the wounds on her shoulder were not fatal but enough to put the queen out of commission. "Sneaky," the queen smiled in pain. "That technique, I only know of one person who can use it so effectively."
"Angela taught me," Shirleen replied.
"You win," the queen said slipping into unconsciousness.