System Break

Where the Red were predominately swordsmen Wreckoning took in the unwanted Rogues and Brawlers from the mix of the 250 beta players. They had a few swordsmen, but it was the smallest number of all the ten guilds.

The lone swordsman in their first team listened to the guild leader. He was a brawler and an expert martial artist outside the game.

A rogue said, "They'll think we're brawlers Rand?"

The guild leader of Wreckoning said, "That's the idea, but it doesn't matter. At this distance they're good for one shot before you can close to melee and then they're at a distinct disadvantage. We need to take out the axe maiden for the bonus. Are we clear?" he asked.

There were two rogues, two brawlers and a swordsman in the first team. They'd sustained injuries and changed personnel, but Rand and the swordsman had been together from the first match.

They faced just three from the Forest. Sakaala was in good shape and Ailen was out. His reset hit him hard, he'd lost all his skills and wouldn't be back in game for a day.

Alejo and Kysandre took up their usual position in the Duke's box.

"I think three is not enough," Alejo said. "Your favourite's journey ends here." They watched the two teams walk out onto the field.

Kysandre pursed her lips and stared at the ongoings. 

"The raven-haired girl is injured," Alejo said.

Kysandre sighed in exasperation. "I can see. And she was injured last fight."

"I'm not against them," Alejo said. "Just being realistic. I'd love nothing more than for the Svartalfar to kill these adventurers."

Her words were forceful but low. "Then you should have allowed me to join them." 

Alejo shook his head. "That would cause far too many problems. This is political Kysandre – there are many things you are unaware of taking place."

She sighed. "I have an idea. I know there is business between the Dukedoms and the gatekeepers."

The Duke clapped his hands and called out. "It's starting, pay attention everyone."

Alejo shook his head at the Duke's exuberance and his keen eye focused on the Svartalfar leader. 

"She lacks qi techniques," he said softly. "But you have to admire her tenacity."

Kysandre smiled for a moment at his words. And then her knuckles turned white as she gripped the railing. 

The two teams were twenty-five yards apart and all of Wreckoning's five had crossbows readied. 

The Forest had two archers and the raven-haired axe wielder. Reyas no longer held the shield, her left arm was wrapped and tied across her chest. It was immobile and her one good arm held an axe. 

It was quiet, then the red flag dropped, and he crowd roared.

"Her balance will be upset," Alejo said as she charged forward. The way Reyas ran looked awkward, she lopped down the field and spun as a bolt whizzed at her. It caught her in the thigh and stuck in her leathers.

Gisael's arrow landed between the eyes of their enemy on the far left while Sakaala ran to stand behind her leader. She loosed an arrow on the run but it missed its mark by a whisker.

Three bolts hurtled towards Gisael, so she dropped to the ground and they whizzed over her head. She drew her sword and crouched while the enemy charged. They covered the distance in mere seconds.

One was held by Reyas and the other three headed for Gisael. One lunged while Gisael parried and another dodged past towards Sakaala. She loosed an arrow and it grazed his neck. It wasn't a deep wound, but blood poured from it.

Gisael was fighting a brawler and a swordsman. They were Wreckoning's best.

At first Reyas thought she fought a brawler. He jabbed, kicked, and moved in for a grapple. She twisted away and a knife appeared in his hand. It sliced her upper arm while she was in mid swing.

He ducked under her axe and brought his other hand from behind his back. He tried to slice her leg open and met resistance from her pristine leathers. The wound he inflicted was his last because she finished her swing by bringing the axe down onto his shoulder. 

It sliced through his chain and severed his arm from his body. His eyes glazed over, and he fell to his knees. Blood spouted from his shoulder, the crowd roared in delight and he toppled over onto his face.

Reyas had her existing wounds, a bolt in her thigh, a cut to her upper arm and another to her leg. She limped back towards Gisael who was surrounded by three.

While Reyas was fighting Sakaala was knocked out by brawler. She lay in a heap and was bleeding from the ear.

The swordsman lunged and the brawler charged her from behind attempting to grapple her while she was occupied with his friend.

The brawler's eyes widened in surprise when she struck him from her blindside. Her elbow met his face and she pivoted behind him. She drove her sword through his lower back and into his stomach.

"Go," the swordsman commanded. The second brawler charged her while her sword was stuck in his leader's body.

The swordsman kept an eye on Reyas who approached as fast as she could and tentatively raised his sword and moved on Gisael.

She was pincered between the two and she place her foot on the guild leaders back to pull her sword free. The swordsman came, the brawler charged her from the other side, and she jumped back leaving her sword behind.

The brawler snarled and turned to chase her. His eyes were blazing until he saw the bow and arrowpoint at point blank range. The arrow barely left the bow before burrowing into his skull.

"That was quick," Alejo said to Kysandre. "She may just have this."

Reyas fell to her knees. She was bleeding from three places and now Gisael only faced one. Reyas succumbed to her wounds and flopped on her side.

The swordsman looked at the fallen raven-haired beauty.

"He has to take out the Svartalfar," Alejo said.

"Why is he attacking the axe maiden?" Kysandre asked.

Alejo whispered. "Politics."

The swordsman leaped the last few feet with his sword held high and he brought it down. There was only fifteen feet separating them when he charged but the archer was deadly and quick. He'd taken mere seconds to launch his attack, but an arrow caught him in the neck before he could finish her.

He held his sword and brought it down. His last thought was to hold on and let momentum to its thing.

Gisael, Ailen, Barrin and Nej watched in horror as the sword bit into the injured Reyas.

The adjudicator declared The Forest winners.

Gisael ran to Reyas.

Kysandre put her foot on the parapet. "I will help her."

Alejo grabber her arm. "No, don't." He looked towards the Duke and his guests. The Chancellor was smiling at the scene quietly and not partaking in the excited discussions.

"You can stop me joining a guild, but you cannot stop me helping her." Kysandre leaped off the thirty-foot wall and water appeared beneath her feet. She rode it down over the stands and onto the ground soaking a number of guests in the process.

She ran to the injured raven-haired warrior and pushed the healers aside. "Allow me," she said. The Svartalfar was busy trying to stop the bleeding with whatever she could get her hands on.

Kysandre waved her hands in circular motions and a thin stream of water followed them. She knelt and looked at the wounds. A tiny amount of water snaked out and into the deep gash across the woman's shoulder and chest.

"We need to get her to the tent and get these leathers off her," Kysandre said while the water did its work.

Gisael peered at her and nodded.

The healers put Reyas on a stretcher and marched to the tent with the two women following.

Sakaala sat up and groggily looked across the field. "What happened?" she asked the healer. 

Ailen arrived by her side. "You okay?"

"Yes, I was knocked flat but…" she said and looked across the field at the stretcher. "Is Reyas okay?"

A high-pitched grunt escaped Ailen's mouth. "No."

Sakaala struggled to her feet and the healer said, "Take it easy." And helped her stand.

"What happened?" Sakaala asked.

Ailen's eyes narrowed. "Something wasn't right. The swordsman went for her when he should've fought Gisael. He basically threw the match trying to kill Reyas."

"Was she unconscious?"

Ailen shook his head. "She was on the ground but not technically out. But she wasn't a danger, only Gisael was."

"So, he targeted her? Why? They don't know her. She's no threat to them."

"Come," Ailen said and she threw an arm across his shoulder. They walked to the healer tent together.

Gisael watched as Kysandre used her qi affinity on Reyas. They had stripped her, and she lay on the cot as the bluecloak worked on her.

On Kysandre's hip was small gourd which contained the water she was using. It flowed out and through the air as she moved her hands.

"This water is from a sacred pool," she said. "With it I will save her." The water entered her wounds and the flesh reacted to its touch. Kysandre's breathing became laboured and a bead of swear appeared on her forehead.

With a flick of her finger the sweat floated through the air and joined her water. She worked for a long time before she collapsed in a chair. 

"It is done," she said and addressed the healers. "Bandage and clothe her. Ensure she eats and drinks. She needs to refill her blood." 

She looked at Gisael. "Feed her a small qi core if you have it."

Gisael watched like a statue the entire time. Her face was expressionless, but she bowed. "Thank you. What do we owe you?"

Kysandre waved her hand in dismissal. "Nothing, don't be silly." She thought for a moment and added. "But I'd like to be friends."

Gisael met her gaze. "I am in your debt."

Kysandre smiled. "Do you have any friends?"

Gisael indicated the women in the cot.

Kysandre laughed. When she stopped her eyelids were droopy. "I'll just rest here a while," she said and closed her eyes. She was asleep in moments.