Team of Seven Heroes Short Tales 4 Chapter 16

16.

Senior

“What does a French lady have to do to be the aide?” Abraham asked while he eyed the lady. She was dressed in the dark shade gown with a red shade on the seams that streaked down the back from the neck to the heels. The gown held a high collar that flared out to cover the ears. The blonde hair lady held a distinct contrast to the dark gown but the makeover over on the face was reddish and gave an edge to the lady expression.

“What does a Northerner do to earn the trust of the Master?” The lady queried back.

“I…”

“He gets to bed the aide which you can’t do.” Hasnah replied. “I prefer mine too.”

“I am impressed. I do not get to do that. I am perhaps more laid back.” The French lady replied. “Now the Master is busy. The Master wants to me to attend to you.”

“Tell him we declined. After all, he will be seeing us soon.” Hasnah replied. It was then Abraham intervened.

“Ladies, perhaps we can be civil about it.” Abraham voiced out. He then saw the group of demons that appeared out of the sands. They looked like Roman Gladiators. They wore the Roman armours and wielded the square shield and the Roman sword; the Gladius. That ended there; the eight of them was of different nationalities. Two were Nubians and one was a Spaniards, with the other five looking Slavish. The six parted and their leader appeared. He was armoured like them but he was huge. He stood a head above the others, and he wielded the broadsword from the Crusade era.

“The Master sends his best which is unusual to greet you.” The French lady announced. “Meet the Gladiators. They are the ones that was sent here by Mark Anthony but they did not return with their Centurion. They stayed on for immortal times.”

“Before we start the killing one more, tell me French lady who are you once more?”

“Madame Deauville. I am a believer of Imtep. I am of his cult. He had accorded me the rank of High Priestess. I am to protect his realm.”

“Hold on. When was that? You are not of this land.” Hasnah asked.

“I am half French by my father side and Egyptian by my mother. I lived my childhood here and then in Asia. I was his children by birth courtesy of my mother. I returned here to fulfil my task.”

“Good, then with the introductions over we can then battle it our now.” Hasnah replied. “I was getting bored.”

The six gladiators lined up after their leader and formed a square formation with two on each side and two on the ends. They parted in the rear for the huge leader to step in. They then marched in formation towards Hasnah and Abraham.

“Shall we dance, Northerner?” Hasnah held out her hands. Abraham found himself nodding and then he stepped his left leg back and held out his arms to the front. She ran towards him and then leapt high. Abraham rushed to meet her jump with his hands upwards. He grabbed her right leg and then assisted her in twisting her jump. She went into a body twist and then somersault with the scimitar drawn on her right hand. She swung out with her right arm aimed at the huge leader. Her move was deflected by the synchronised raising of the shields. The scimitar struck on the shield and then Hasnah used the shield as a platform to twist back on her move. She landed on her feet in a half-crouched posture and her right arm swung once more. The shields came down once more in sync and blocked her move.

“Northerner, looks like we have a tough one to crack.” Hasnah voiced out and then stepped back from the gladiator’s wall of shield.

“Perhaps, I can suggest this.” Abraham replied and then moved to the right side before he prepared his attack. He feigned an attack on the gladiator’s legs and they lowered their shields. At the same time, Hasnah took the cue to attack form her side with the scimitar levelled at the heads. The shields there went up in tandem. The duo did more attacks and the gladiators deflected each move. It was moving into a dance routine and without a warning, Abraham feigned an attack on the legs but actually moved his left greave to aim at the huge leader on the head. His hook shot out and with the claws on it, he raked the leader in the face. The later screamed and the shields went back up but by then Hasnah had moved in with the scimitar on the legs. The scimitar slashed at the Nubian gladiator legs and caused the gladiator to fall on its knees. With the exposed gap in the shield, Hasnah rushed in and leapt onto the crouched Nubian left shoulder as jump platform to slash down on the leader who was momentarily blinded by Abraham’s hook.

The gladiators’ formation scattered on the attack and the gladiators withdrew to reformed their stance. The wounded Nubian was limping with the shield as the support stand. The leader stepped out with the face bloodied and then roar a challenge to Abraham.

“I think we got them riled up.” Abraham called out while he retracted the left hook.

“Look at the Nubian.” Hasnah pointed out. The gladiator had then fallen to the knees and the wound was spreading like locust feeding on the farmlands. It was spreading from the legs to the waist. The Nubian later screamed out when the wound reached the chest and then it covered the head. The body form of the Nubian then dissipated into the sand as if it was never there.

“Your scimitar is a curse on them.” Abraham told Hasnah. “It can kill them.”

It was then the leader of the gladiator led the others into a charge at the duo, and Hasnah split directions with Abraham. The leader and the other remaining Nubian went for Hasnah while the rest chased Abraham. Hasnah stood then and faced the pursuers. She in turn rushed at the leader and took a swing with the scimitar on the leader. He blocked her attack with the shield but Hasnah had then turned her body to face the Nubian who was behind the leader. She twisted her right hand and thrust the scimitar into the Nubian’s exposed left waist. The blade on the scimitar cut through the armour and pierced the flesh. The Nubian screamed out and then fell forward when the blade cut through to the back. Hasnah had then retreated a distance to the side while the Nubian with the fatal wound succumb to the deadly blade. The leader had then swung the broadsword at Hasnah which she deflected with the scimitar. She felt the strength of the sword on her’ with the vibrations of the move coursing through her body. She retreated and held the scimitar with both hands to steady herself. 

“Stop!” Hasnah heard the call and then looked over to the one who halted the battle. It was the French lady herself. “The Master will see you now. Please follow me.”

Abraham who was hopeless in the open ground battle stopped in his strides then. He was evading the gladiators who were slow in their movements with the armour and shield. The call to halt was a relief then to Abraham. He looked over and saw the French lady stepping into the pyramid. He followed suit behind Hasnah and saw the gladiators had remained behind.