Snippet #1587610

"Victory" Loto thought as she changed the subject to fighting. He knew that his words, although true, would only irritate her. He expected her to attack him in the middle of his speech. His words were a sharp sword, but not even his words could cut through her clouded mind.

It was time for plan B

“I will see you fight before I judge you, human,” she told him icily, without looking back. “Then we shall see if this blade has any meaning.”

He had to think quick. The only advice the Black Hood ever gave him about Dessana was to run. He didn't know much about Elvish hand combat, but he knew he was once the best fighter the military ever trained. If his words couldn't get through, he would have to use his fists. He was trained in the way of the eight point star, fists, elbows, knees, and shins.

"How to beat her." Loto smoked on his thinking pipe. "Get her in the clinch? No that won't work, and striking was obviously her advantage. I'll have to take her to the ground." Loto's ground grappling was what won him most battles.

He reached in his pack and pulled out the numbing salve and began to rub it on his eight points. They were hardened from the constant smashing against trees. Most men hid behind metal armor, but Loto's armor was within. His eight points were hard from over use, and his bones were as strong as a Dwarf's. The salve made it so he would not feel his skin as it smashed against Dessana. "Misara be with me."

He finished stretching and took his shirt off. He pulled his hair in a ponytail and stood to look at Dessana. " You have already judged me, but like I said 'In order to judge me you must know me' and that you are far from, Diessyanya." He cracked her name like a whip as he stared at her with different eyes, "That blade was given to me by the Black Hood during my training to become who I am now." He did not care if she knew his truth, and she most likely wouldn't care either. "We are the same and just like you and Sev, I too have many names. To you I am Loto the strange Druid, but to the man who gave me that blade, I am Loto the Lionhearted."

His memory went back to that day, "Loto, I present this gift to you" the man said as he handed him a black blade with the head of a roaring lion as it's pummel. "This is not a weapon, but a beacon of your fierceness in battle, your will to never give up, and your kind heart. When they see this blade your enemies will tremble and your friends will remember."

His memory returned to Dessana, "Now you can spar me with your armor and your magic amulet if you want, but I have all I need to beat you." He stood there in just his pants in the starting stance of the eight pointed star. " If it's fighting you want then we can do it right now. Unless you feel you too good for me, Diessyanya"