A Duel for Two

Noble and Sarai faced off against one another in the middle of the ring, a slight smirk on each of their faces.

This was easily Noble's favorite part of the day.

While having Counsel there meant they couldn't carry on their normal routine, it did not mean they couldn't have a bit of fun and friendly competition.

The two ladies stretched for a moment, Fireshing with her [Aching Ember] and Queen Bee with the ever-faithful [Unlikely End].

Counsel watched, wondering how the two women could be so relaxed while holding weapons within arm's reach of one another.

Then, on some silent, unspoken cue, the duelists stopped stretching and burst into action.

What looked to an onlooker like a chaotic flurry of motion was actually a coordinated set of moves and countermoves that were simply the opening for a more measured battle.

It was as beautiful as it was frightening.

"Is this what they have been doing down here?" He asked the Symncus.

Kosi lifted his head, sniffed at the air, and lowered it again. He let out a few low grunts.

"I see…" Counsel pursed his lips.

As Bee flew over her opponent's head, a fireball narrowly missed her, nipping at the plume of her helmet instead.

Counsel noticed how she always had a new feather in place whenever they started. It was a curious thing.

The more the fighting went on, the more Counsel felt there was something deeply wrong with what he saw.

The women bantered as they moved about the floor, each taking the opportunity to point out when the other did well or faltered.

What's more, when the former queen received a hit, the temperature in the room remained the same. It had not fluctuated once since he arrived.

Counsel had become so used to suffering Emira's heat that the absence of it was somehow more concerning.

What was positively eerie though was the expression on the former Queen's face.

The woman in green seemed to be having…fun?

No, that couldn't be! Counsel wasn't even sure Emira could have positive emotions, let alone express them.

When Bee finally got past the spear and held the estoc to Fireshing's neck, the man watching leapt to his feet.

"What is the meaning of this?"

Startled, Noble nearly nicked Sarai with her sword. She lowered it quickly and turned to Counsel.

"What is the meaning of what?"

Sarai was equally confused, but she met his outburst with reserved silence.

Counsel remained quiet for a long time, turning over what he had seen in his mind.

"Would you battle me, Your Grace?" The man's question was polite, but his tone was dubious.

"I am not sure that is a good idea." Noble stepped between the two.

"Am I below Her Grace answering me herself?" Counsel locked eyes with the red-haired woman.

Sarai regarded him for a moment. "I see no issue with a friendly sparring match."

Noble tensed. The match was likely to be anything but friendly.

Counsel and the real Emira had a long history of loathing between them. While the protector was reluctant to hurt Noble, he was unlikely to have the same reservations toward the deposed queen.

But Sarai had already accepted. The most Noble could do would be to limit the damage that could be done. She sighed. 

"Give me the vial," the floating Queen held out her hand. "The last thing you need is it breaking and setting off a new round of chaos." 

Flushing, Counsel pulled the small bottle and handed it over to the monarch. She gripped it gingerly in front of her. 

"Both of you, play nice. If I see any hint of impropriety, that person will forfeit." After one last meaningful look at each of them, Noble moved to join Kosi.

The Symncus snorted. 

"Do you see any way that this is going to end well?" She asked the golden creature. 

He stared at her and seemed to shrug. 

"Me either..." Noble sighed and furrowed her brow. She had plenty to be concerned about. 

Her protector was becoming more brazen in his behavior. Among other things, since she had been crowned, Counsel had tried to pass a law to enslave or kill an entire group of people, made a deadly weapon, and used the garden to try it out and now he was taking a run at the former queen. 

Had he lost his mind? Or was he trying to find the limits of his new position? What even was his position as Counsel to the Queen? 

'Hm, that is something I need to figure out. Or at least something we should discuss.' 

At least his final questionable decision wouldn't end in half of the beautiful garden being consumed by poison. Sarai was more than capable of holding her own in a match. 

The floating queen hovered over the solid stone bench to watch. Things were about to get very interesting. 

A smile came to Noble's face as she watched the regal redhead take her place. 

Even in Emira's body and clothes, Fireshing's stance was unmistakable. Her grace and bearing transcended any body that the Spell could put her in. 

'You've got this.'

Sarai's sorcery aspect gave her an edge, but Counsel could not be underestimated. Noble had seen him on the battlefield. His ability to take down something the size of a hill was impressive in its own right. 

Holding out her spear, Fireshing indicated she was ready. 

Counsel tilted his head to one side, then nodded out of courtesy. 

The match began. 

Unlike the previous round, which had started fast and furious, this duel began slow-paced. The two combatants felt each other out, tentatively making advances and then retreating to avoid direct hits. 

Then all at once, everything shifted. Counsel rushed forward, his sword pointed ready to run Fireshing through at her abdomen. At the last moment, he lifted his blade, aiming for her heart instead. 

It would have been a devastating hit...if it had landed. 

But Fire was far too experienced for such a ploy to work. She stepped aside easily and sent a ball of flames to deter him from making a follow-up strike. 

Counsel grunted. 

He whirled around as soon as the heat dissipated and brandished his blade. The [Aching Ember] was more agile than it looked even at close range, and the tip deflected his sword with each turn. 

The head of the spear began to glow and Counsel opened his eyes wide. He gasped as the metal burst into flames. 

"I'd back up if I were you," Fireshing winked playfully. 

Grunting, the man retreated to dodge the first smoldering ball. 

His expression hardened. Sheathing his sword, he held up his hands. 

But they weren't raised in surrender. It looked as if Counsel might strangle the former Queen from afar. 

When the next flaming orb went soaring toward him, he was already whispering.

Around him, the wind whipped up into a whirling cyclone. It threatened to snuff out the flame as it came toward the warrior, but at the last possible moment, the wind shifted.

The ember was brought around Counsel's back and then flew toward the female duelist. It reignited in its full immolating glory.

It slammed into the emerald royal, engulfing her in flames.

"Fire!" Noble rose from her seat.

The redhead burned for a moment longer before shaking off the flames.

But Counsel was already on the move.

Before the redhead had recovered from the shock of being slammed with her own Aspect, the man rushed forward and hit her dominant hand with the broad side of his blade.

Sarai reflexively released her spear with a gasp.

Counsel eagerly scooped up the weapon and held it triumphantly in the air.

Sheathing his sword, he gripped the Ember's shaft with both hands. Cracks formed on the polished wood.

"I yield!" Sarai held up her hands. "Only please don't break the spear."

The man tossed the weapon back to the former queen.

"It's just as I thought," he scoffed. "I know exactly what is going on here. You're a fraud!"