7/29/2019 The Fight (Excerpt from Solace and Distress)
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The Fight (excerpt from Solace and Distress)
The competition wore on as the men fought bravely in most cases.
Bracen and Celeste shared
tales of their childhood each recalling long forgotten episodes
the other had not remembered,
the morning turned into afternoon as the warm sun beat down on
the excited crowd.
Eventually in the early afternoon it finally came to the final,
it looked to be a foregoneconclusion as one of the largest young
men, apparently from Oakenvale, had easily beaten all
before him, his finalist opponent had a much tougher journey
through the competition and
already looked hurt and bloodied. Predictably the bout only
lasted minutes as the exhausted
man conceded.
The victors arm was raised and he was presented with the tigers
head
Who would deny the right of this young man to be crowned
champion? asked referee
No one spoke, until Celeste stepped forward and said,
He hasnt beaten every eighteen year old in the village
People looked around and some gasped as the impressive young
woman confidently stepped
into the ring
Bracen tried to pull her back but she let go of his arm
dismissively.
I would fight you, she declared, if you dont mind losing to a
girl
The referee interjected, regulations dictate women are not
allowed
Celeste looked at him angrily and said,
Rules are made to be challenged, and I reserve the right to
challenge you now she said to
the mildly amused champion.
The referee had the sense to shut up without a further word
Well she said to the smiling man in front of her, can you take
the challenge?
Sure, another few seconds out of my day wont be much difference
he laughed confidently.
Facing each other now they circled, he thought she certainly
looked impressive, but still only
a girl after all. He extended his arm to grasp at hers. Celeste
quickly grabbed the arm and
pulled him forward, over- balanced he stumbled forward onto his
knees. Celeste retreated and
said grimly Not a good start!
The man looked up at her frowned and said to her (but more to
the crowd),
I simply lost my balance
Then lose it again she declared as she quickly swept her left
leg under his right tripping himto the ground,
7/29/2019 The Fight (Excerpt from Solace and Distress)
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This time she pounced on top of him, pinning him with her not
inconsiderable weight, one
arm was crushed beneath him so he was temporarily disadvantaged,
but he was not crowned a
champion for no reason and summoning his strength used his body
weight to tip Celeste over,
but she was far too quick. He had meant to roll back over on
top, that way too pinning her in
turn to the ground, but she had moved like a cat and was now
stood above him whilst hegrovelled vainly in the dust. This was
ridiculous and he was now getting angry, which was
precisely what Celeste wanted.
She taunted him, with hand on her hip asked
My mother could defeat you!
This enraged him still further and he lunged and tried to grab
at her waist to ensure she
couldnt slip away this time. Celeste expertly stepped to one
side and delivered a well -aimed
blow to his back with her elbow as the man again over-balanced
and fell forward. He got up
from the ground quickly and roared as he charged.
Fortune might have turned against Celeste, as this time he
managed to prevent her stepping
away as he held on tightly to her belt, pulling her towards him
he managed to get both arms
around Celeste as he grappled with her, but the man clearly
injured himself further in the
ensuing fall and groaned in pain as they both hit the ground
together
Celeste quickly to her feet asked if he conceded
The now bloodied champion was not going to be cowed so easily
declared, I can beat you
with one arm
Celeste again used the move she had used previously; taking his
right leg from under him, as
he fell to the floor she kicked his thigh and asked You going to
fight me with one leg too?
The man got back to his feet with a limp, he was being shown up
by a woman and this could
not be borne.
Trial of strength he declared
As you wish replied Celeste
They gripped hands each trying to bend the others wrist back to
force them to their knees.
She was strong, he had to admit, but he had never been beaten at
this game and he was sure
of the outcome. As their fingers intertwined to get a grip he
increased the pressure in an
attempt to break one or more of her fingers. He looked at the
woman in front of him; she
showed no reaction at all the more pressure he put on.
Then in a moment of horror he realised that she, a mere woman
was bending his wrists back
down, he would need to go down too to avoid his wrists been
broken, in agony he looked up
at the triumphant girl who was bearing down on him, further,
further, further, until he could
stand it no more. He dropped to his knees.
Celeste put her boot to his chest and he keeled over.
