Date: Sun, 12 Jul 1998 18:00:35 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [ffml] [MW] Lady and Bacca duel From: Sky H Ainsworth (Note: happens the day before the attack on Nikeah) Lady Paladin sat in her tent, pouring over her healing books, memorizing passages when a voice called to her. "You may enter, Bacca," said Lady with a smile. She turned to face her warrior. "How are you?" Beaming with a smile, Bacca said, "I am feeling better then I have in a long time. How are you?" "Very well." "Ah, that is good. I was wondering if you were up to that little weapons practice we talked about?" Lady's eyes widened in excitement. "Oh yes, I would love to do that." She immediately grabbed her pike and sword belt. Bacca chuckled softly. "Here, let me help you." Bacca reached down and fastened Lady's sword belt on and adjusted her armor. Stepping out of the tent, Bacca looked at her, marveling. The two walked out of the camp, Bacca picking up a shield before they left. Entering a small forest a short ways from the camp, Bacca led Lady to a clearing. "Will we be safe here?" asked Lady, eyeing the woods. "Do not worry," said Bacca. "If trouble arises, I will take care of it." He smiled. Bacca had his patrols through the forest and even all the way outside of it. The whole area was clear of dangers. "Oh, you will, huh? Even after I beat you with my pike and wazachi?" Lady smirked at Bacca. Bacca took on a mock bravado. "Well, I might let you handle a few enemies as well to let you prove yourself." "Ha," retorted Lady. "You do not think I can handle myself?" Bacca studied Lady, a slight smile on his lips. "Well, let us see what you can do with that pike of yours." Lady realized the challenge had been laid down. She lowered her pike and readied herself. Bacca unslung his shield and drew his wooden, long sword. He casually stood at ease, looking about the forest. Lady charged. She drove her pike straight at Bacca's body. The High Lord of All That Kicks Ass stepped aside and drove his shield down, forcing the rubber pike head into the ground. The shaft struck hard and Lady almost lost her grip. Bacca stepped away. Pulling the head out of the ground, Lady immediately swung low at Bacca. The warrior jumped over the shaft and did a few quick steps in the other direction, landing the flat of his blade on lightly and Lady's backside. "Always watch your back," instructed Bacca. Lady grunted. Recovering from her swing, Lady feinted a lunge and Bacca blocked it with his shield, pushing the pike back. This caused Lady to take a step back. She reacted and did another feint, but this time following up with a kick. Bacca deflected the pike with his sword and barely managed to catch the kick with his shield. Lady's foot was stunned. Retreating, Lady took the defensive as Bacca chased her down. Using his shield to deflect the pike, Bacca would dive in with his sword, seeking a weak point. Lady had a hard time not keeping the pike with the shield and instead following the sword. As a rhythm started, Lady realized that something might happen and before she could react, it did. As Bacca made a swing and Lady deflected it with her pike, Bacca side-stepped to his left, his shield side. Lady tried to follow, but Bacca's sword shifted and pushed her pike away. Extending his shield arm out, Bacca grabbed Lady's right shoulder, continuing to push her counterclockwise. He then grabbed her left should and pulled her towards himself. The pike got pinned between the two. With his left hand grabbing Lady's left shoulder and his sword brought up before Lady's chest, Bacca held Lady at his mercy. He panted softly and the breath brushed Lady's ear. "You are doing very good," whispered Bacca. "Now let's try that sword of yours." He kissed Lady on the cheek. Grabbing the pike, Bacca wrung it from Lady's grasp and tossed it aside. At the same time, he pushed himself and Lady apart. Lady quickly drew her wazachi and faced Bacca. Bacca discarded the shield and drew out a wooden practice dagger. With his two weapons at the ready, Bacca advanced slowly. Lady was on the defense, but she swung her weapon as Bacca got close. With each swing, Bacca deflected the weapon and drove it away. This opened Lady up to attack and she had to retreat. Being pushed back, Lady noticed that Bacca was circling her around the clearing. Finally, Bacca made a lunge and Lady managed to avoid it by bending her body. As she did this, she swung her weapon and it ran across Bacca's chest. "Ah," said Bacca, surprised. "You got me. Very good." He smiled broadly and Lady returned the look. Bacca then took the defense. Lady this time swung and feinted. Bacca lightly deflected each. At one point, Bacca crossed his dagger and sword and caught Lady's weapon. Pushing them to his left side, Bacca continued to deflect the blade and rushed his body up towards Lady's. He caught her in an embrace, her weapon off to the side. The two were panting, their hearts beating almost in unison. Lady stood in a state of shock, her arms thrown back. Bacca stood embracing her with his left arm. Lady was almost tempted to hug Bacca back, to rest her head against his chest. "Have you had enough, or do you want to practice some more?" whispered Bacca into her ear. Lady placed her left hand on Bacca's back and moved her left leg around his. She then tripped Bacca, sending him back. As the warrior landed, Lady swung her weapon down at the warrior. Bacca barely managed to avoid the strike by rolling away. He recovered, a broad grin on his face. "I guess not," said the swordsman. Lady laughed. The two exchanged weapon blows, neither giving ground. Their weapons locked at one point and Lady was pressing down with her weapon and Bacca up with his. Lady removed her left hand from the hilt and pulled out a dagger from behind her back. She made to strike at Bacca's midsection and he had to do a quick motion. His weapons pressed up and his body went out. The whole motion bent Bacca in half and managed to avoid the healer's follow up stroke. Lady then swung with both weapons in hand and Bacca dropped his weapons. Grabbing Lady's right hand with his right, he pulled her into a swing. He then grabbed her left wrist with his. Bacca held Lady. But Lady swung her head back and tried to connect. Bacca stumbled backwards as he retreated and fell over a rock. With a loud "Omph!" Lady landed atop of Bacca. The warrior was a little dazed. "Okay," said Bacca, panting. "I think we have had enough." "Yeah," said Lady, who was also panting. "I agree with you." She released her weapons and turned over. She embraced Bacca and hugged him tightly. Bacca did likewise. As the two laid there, Bacca took notice of the sounds of the forest. The birds chirped, an occasional rabbit scurried, and the wind rustled the leaves. Bacca and Lady felt at peace in the forest glen.