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nTrinity

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nI was prepared for this fight. I was in my fighting stance and watching as Solanum started to lunge at me, her sword at the ready. I could see the lethally sharp blade and the deadly pointed tip coming right at my throat. I wasn't going to be stupid enough to just stand there. I was going to fight and do whatever it took for me to win this.

n'Wait! Not yet.' I heard a strange yet familiar man's voice talking to me in my head as Solanum charged toward me. 'Wait until she is almost at you before you dodge. Spin out to the side when she is about to strike. Then you can strike at her and turn your dodge into a counterattack.'

nWho was it that was speaking to me inside my head? I knew the voice. I had heard it before, but it was hard to place it right now. I had a feeling it wasn't someone I knew all that well. Whoever he was, he was right. His advice about moving at the last minute was spot on.

nI followed the instructions that had been given to me. When Solanum was almost at me, I spun to my right and swung out with the sword in my hand. I slashed not once, but twice in that attack, and both of them landed exactly where I had intended. The blade of my ice sword opened two large gashes across the bitch's back.

n'YES!' I congratulated myself inside my head.

n'Well done.' The man spoke again. 'Keep going, it's not over yet.'

n'I know that.' I told him silently. 'Who are you?' I needed to know that. I was starting to suspect someone specific, someone I had spoken to only once before. But it couldn't possibly be him, could it?

n'I think you know who I am, Trinity. Hasn't it occurred to you yet?' There was a soft note of laughter in his voice when he said that.

n'But how? How are you inside my head? Aren't you dead?'

nI was having this conversation while I was watching Solanum recover her balance from my attack. She had not been prepared for my counterattack. My strikes had caused her to lose her balance and fall to her knees. A smart plan of action would have been to attack her while she was down but that would have also been cowardly of me.

n'Yes, Trinity, I am dead. Does that make a difference? I was dead when I met you.' It didn't sound like a joke, probably because it wasn't one. He was being completely serious right now.

n'OK, yes, you were dead when I first met you, but that doesn't make this any less weird. I mean, I don't even know what to call you. I already call Valerian Athair mòr, but that would be you as well, wouldn't it?' I am so confused right now. Why were there so many people 'talking' to me during this fight?

n'Calling me by my name is more than acceptable. We never knew each other in life, so a closer connection is not expected of you.'

n'But Rhinum, you are still my family.' I pointed out to him, finally calling him by his name.

n'And that is why I am here to watch over you. Now, watch out, she's coming back for her next strike. I will help you with this fight. I will help you destroy this woman once and for all.'

nI couldn't believe what it was that he was saying to me. He wanted to help me to kill his own mother. Who would want to do that? Granted, she was responsible for his death, and two different wars. So, I guess it wasn't that surprising.

n'It doesn't matter that she is my mother.' He said to me, having caught onto my line of thought. 'She is an evil woman and evil needs to be banished. Now prepare yourself, Trinity, she's attacking again.'

nSolanum was indeed attacking again. She was running at me while swinging her sword around wildly. The sword was moving in large, seemingly uncontrolled arcs. She looked like she was in just as much danger of killing herself than she was of killing me. In fact, I could see a line of black on her face that was slowly oozing after the sword had accidentally nicked her cheek.

n'She's a psychopath.' I barely had the time to think before Rhinum was giving me more instructions.

n'To your left. Spin now. Slice up.' Following what he said I was able to deal another blow to Solanum's back. It was all going so well. 'Keep on your toes, she's not down yet.'

nJust as Rhinum said those words, Solanum started to slash out at me again. This time, when I went to dodge out of her way, she hit me with the blade of her dark sword. It didn't cut me, though, but it did cut away the armor at the spot where the blade had hit. That was a close one.

n'Be careful. She is becoming more and more unhinged as this battle continues.' Rhinum warned me, but I could already tell. Solanum looked delirious and deranged at the same time.

nWhen Solanum struck at me this time, I parried her blow with my sword again, attempting to knock her back. She wasn't a large woman, she was taller than me, but not by much. And, she didn't look overly strong compared to me. However, in her furious state, she was becoming a lot stronger than I was at the time.

nWith her emotionally fueled rage, Solanum was pushing me back with each blow she landed on my sword. I felt myself losing ground and knew that if I didn't do something soon, she might get the better of me.

n'Dive!' I heard Rhinum shout into my ear.

n'What?'

n'Dive Trinity! Into the water. Now!' Rhinum sounded worried, like he thought I wouldn't survive if I didn't do as he said. Fine, I would follow what he said, this time at least.

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