Tracy Charles Varnell

If You Find Paradise Tracy Charles Varnell

I reached down and picked up my sword. It was light and balanced like the weapons Hemel had trained us with back in Paradise, so it at least was familiar. I rotated it a few times in my hands to get the feel of it. The restrictive, connected chain between my wrist shackles was a nuisance, but the length of it was enough to give me the ability to maneuver. I glanced around and studied the massive, well-trained gladiator behind me and sized him up. He had an amused look on his face, as if to say, 'Just give me a few moments to finish this - then we can have lunch'. I had no intentions of anything ending here. I turned my body slightly back around and smiled upward at Talena to convey reassurance, as the general suddenly gave the command, "You may begin!"The gladiator behind me left no time for second thought! He yanked up his sword and instantly sprinted my way with a bellow of intended fury!I had just enough time to barely stumble back around and see him rushing towards me! He rocketed into the air and thrust downward a mighty blow towards my head that would have been the end of me! I barely escaped the ferocity of his huge, piercing weapon as I dived to my right towards the ground! Unharmed I quickly rolled, jumped up, and then spun around to face him with my weapon in both hands! He was extremely light on his feet and instantly turned to savagely strike at me again, as I raised my smaller sword to fend off his intensely vicious blows! He struck so harshly and with such a calculated savagery that I soon understood - Hemel's training techniques were no match for this powerful warrior's expertise as a brilliant, very determined swordsman...