Chapter Eleven

Combat

It was midday and once again the women crowded around the common area. Gabrielle had selected a pair of staffs of equal length and weight. Canova pushed her way through and immediately chose her staff. And with little fanfare, the contest began.

Canova pressed her attack relentlessly, but Gabrielle’s defense was equal to the task. Knowing that Canova was stronger than she was, Gabrielle’s strategy was to let Canova tire herself out, letting her expend her energy until she made her first mistake. But Canova was no fool. After she realized how expert Gabrielle was with the staff, she slowed her pacing, looking for a vulnerability or weakness. She never found one.

As Gabrielle began to go on the offensive, Canova found herself backing away more than she advanced. It was beginning to look as if Gabrielle was going to win. So Canova changed her line of attack.  They momentarily parted, each catching her breath and deciding her best next move.

Canova stopped as if she was about to concede, then said, “I understand you ran like a lowly coward and left your precious Xena to burn to death in battle.”

The accusation, and the mention of Xena’s name momentarily stunned Gabrielle.

“What?” she asked, as if she hadn’t heard correctly. And without hesitation, Canova slammed the end of her staff down on Gabrielle’s left hand, breaking bones, and knocking the staff out of her right hand. Before Gabrielle could recover, Canova swung her staff in a complete circle, hitting Gabrielle in the head just above her left ear. Gabrielle was unconscious before she hit the ground.

“Gabrielle!” Ephiny yelled out as she ran to her.

Kneeling down, Ephiny lifted Gabrielle’s bloody head, hoping she was still alive. But Gabrielle was tough and her eyes fluttered open, trying to focus them despite the throbbing pain in her head.

Canova watched the two with a smug, satisfied look on her face. Then with a purposeful stride, she walked over to them.

“Hey!” she said. And as Ephiny looked up, Canova used the end of her staff to hammer Ephiny in the middle of her forehead.  Ephiny fell backward to the ground, and as she did, Canova used her staff as she would an ax, and cracked Ephiny’s right knee with it, coming down hard enough to permanently disable her.