Warrior's Heart ((Kolath x Heart))

Malcolm stood in the rain his cloak hood up covering his eyes and keeping the rain from blinding him even for a moment. With this opponent even a moments distraction could mean death. Malcolm was one of the greatest fighters alive, having been trained by the greatest combat master known. He was a expert at all forms of fighting, from the long bow down to the stealth of the dagger, or the brute force of the battle axe. However he was a master in one form his preferred form. Many people over the years of his training had come to Malcolm’s master and learned different forms of combat from him, however only Malcolm and one other had learned their master’s preferred form of fighting.

That was the opponent facing him now. They stood opposite each other watching the other for a hint of movement. When the battle came it would happen in blurs of motion that the normal eye couldn’t follow, but for now they plotted their attack path. Both of them could predict the others movements, so strike and counter strike would constantly be happening during this battle. Malcolm knew that this was going to be the toughest battle of his life. and it was about to start.

Rasia lay low to the ground her long leg stretched out while the other held the weight of her muscled body and deadly weapons. Her dark orbs bore into her opponent across the way, study the way his cloak clung to him checking for weapons strategically placed along his body. Unlike the man that stood a distance away she wore no cloak, no form of protection from the down pour surround the two of them. Her form required freedom from harsh wear, allowing her body to twist and move at the slightest of movements. The chill of dampness ran along her spine causing her steam breath to drift from her mouth while she ready for the explosion.

The rumors that had drifted along behind Malcolm were merely that, rumors, Rasia feared no man especially the one that stood in front of her now. Having schooled with him in her youth she knew his body about as well as he did, there skilled master giving them the gift of true fight and will. She was a trained weapon, from the top of her black hair covered head to the bottom of her soft toes, she could kill a man in a matter of seconds if she so choose it. A smirk crossing her lips Rasia arched her back, pulling forth the long light weight blade from it's cherry wood sheath, within a rain drops drip from a leave she was upon him sword rose high in angry accuracy.

His eyes had read everything as she came across the open area to him. She might have been faster than any other opponent he had fought in years but she was still just the same as others. “No matter who you are fighting never assume they are any different than the others. A drunk at a local tavern might in fact be a great master.” The lesson that had been drilled into them both by their master rang true no matter who it was they were fighting. He had treated every fight as if it was going to be this serious. Just because no one was as fast as he was didn’t mean he still didn’t need the split second timing that this fight would take.

As she was instantly across the ground and on him his sword seemed to jump from its sheath to his hand which was already in the space to block her blade. He didn’t wait for the clang of steal on steal his body twisting and slamming his fist out in a open palmed strike at where her stomach would be. If the blow connected as it would on most opponents it would combine the force of the strike as well as the speed of their charge normally enough to end the fight in a moment. With her he was already rolling to one side ready for her next attack wanting to be over prepared rather then caught off guard.

Rasia knew, from the years of training with Malcolm, he was no fool when it came to the arts of battle; in fact in all her years of being for hire as a mercenary she had never met a warrior quite like him. Rasia on the other hand wasn't a fool either, her eyes spotting his fist responding by risking her sword blow weakening. Her hand pulling up to block his fist only for her left foot to swing around aimed for his head, a move she knew he would block without a problem. Rasia was well known for her reasoning before making any move on an enemy at all. Before her blade even touched light her mind had already seen the attack, the pattern in the fighter and her moves to follow.

One of the biggest things there master had taught them, those who rush in will surly fail, but those that analyze are promised victory; and so Rasia had developed her mind as well as her body for battle. When he'd block her foot she'd use the chance, sliding her blade along his, the cruel sound of metal sting their ears, her left foot landing behind her as her body swung gracefully around to look at him. Her dark braid falling against her chest, giving a grin she looked to Malcolm from long lashes. "You haven't changed Malcolm, just as fine tuned as all those years ago with master," she pulled her blade vertical to the ground.

He had indeed predicted her attack with her foot and moved his arm up to block, letting her sword move down his only so far before pushing it off, as he came down his one knee almost touching the ground. He smirked his back was too her but that didn’t mean he couldn’t tell where she was. His sword switched from and over hand grip to back handed. Slowly he pushed up to a standing position as she spoke. “As are you Rasia, you haven’t changed at all, except for your hair. You know what master would say about such long hair.” He himself had shoulder length hair and now was swept by the wind.

There was another flash of movement, as he turned on the ball of his foot and rushed her in one motion. His sword flashed across to take her from hip to shoulder before reversing grip once again he made as though to make another slash across her neck, before suddenly switching momentum to go into a sliding kick to take her feet from her his sword at the ready to fend off any attack she might make.