The Staff and the Sword
Posted By: Virroken<immameanbunny@hotmail.com>
Date: 12 December 2005, 6:56 am
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" Weapons Master Lekoamalee, I tire of your tutelage."
" And why is that, young one?"
" I wish to study the art of swordsmanship. The training you have conferred upon me has been most enlightening. However, I find that the way of the staff remains unused by our Covenant with good reasons."
" And what would those reasons be?"
" The way of the staff is antiquated and is inferior to the sword in every aspect."
" I will not argue against your accusation of the staff's age. You would do well to remember that age is often indicative of quality. Do the warriors more aged than yourself not possess more skill? As for the inferiority of my teachings, I have need of digressing. Has not the inferior way of the staff defeated each of the other Weapons Masters aboard this ship despite their usage of the sword?"
" The Gods favored you."
" No, Fulnamee, the Gods did not favor me. Nor have They favored any of the fools who have challenged the Demon with their great and mighty swords."
" The Sangheili murdered by the Demon had not yet mastered the way of the sword. They were weak! Fools, cowards and heretics!"
" They were not. You know not of what you speak, Fulnamee. The Demon defeated the great Fura' Kanalee. Had he not truly mastered the way of the sword? Was he weak? Was he a fool, a coward, a heretic? Had he been lax in his devotion to the Gods? If They were to favor one warrior, if They were to favor one at all, Kanalee would have been the one. And yet, despite his skill, despite his great devotion, the Demon still defeated him. Him, along with the dozen other warriors Elite accompanying him! You have seen the holovids, Fulnamee. We watched them together. The Demon is fully knowledgeable in the art and perhaps possesses a higher understanding of it than even the most skillful Weapons Master. You know it is futile to attempt to engage him with such a weapon. Better Sangheili than yourself have tried. None have succeeded."
" With a sword in my hand, I shall fare better against the Demon than ever I would with a long stick."
" The Demon will already know your tricks. It will be ready for you. The only hope for victory lies in surprise."
" Weapons Master, our new weapons were designed to surprise the Demon. They had as much effect upon it as our former methods. What is it that gives you such confidence in the eventual success of your staff? What is it, Weapons Master, that gives you the notion that I shall fare better against the Demon with your staff than with a sword?"
" The new weapons were created to battle our new enemies and not the Demon itself. You will be trained specifically to engage the Demon in combat. We analyzed the holovids of the Demon together, did we not? Have you forgotten so soon? If you remember, then you will know as well as I do that the sword has become utterly predictable for the Demon."
" Then I shall make improvements on the art. I will improvise, so the Demon will be caught unprepared and found wanting."
" Improvisations? Perhaps you would care to show me?"
" I had hoped that you would ask."
" You have improved."
" Yield, Weapons Master."
" You have practiced. It is evident. About ten cycles for each fifty that pass. Am I correct?"
" Yield, Lekoamalee, as you should. I have rightfully defeated you in duel, and it is your rightful place to admit defeat and accept dishonor."
" And under what circumstances have you defeated me, Fulnamee? I see none."
" You are weaponless and defenseless and my sword is pressed against your throat. Are these not grounds enough for my victory?"
" But you are already dead."
" What!"
" You are already dead. I killed you just before your—"
" You speak lies, you fool!"
" Fulnamee, do not be overly hasteful. Do not leave this chamber… Fulnamee!"
But the young Sangheili had already stormed away, the purple neosteel door sliding seamlessly shut behind him.
It wasn't until later that night, as he removed his armor to bathe, that Talsa Fulnamee noticed a pair of dark bruises located on his chest, situated directly over both of his two hearts.
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