Nuala twirled the sword in her hand, checking it for balance and speed. It was a bit tip-heavy, and that would slow her down some, but the grip felt comfortable and that would help. She smiled in anticipation. She had always wanted to test her skill against a God.

Scathach saw it in her eyes and laughed. She swung at Nuala, trying her defenses, but Nuala blocked it easily. Scathach followed that with a series of blinding fast strikes that Nuala barely managed to deflect.

"You’ve got a good defense," Scathach stated in a matter of fact tone. She stepped out of range, still poised for action. She seemed to float in the air.

"My offense is even better," Nuala proclaimed, and proceeded to launch a flurry of her own attacks. She was somewhat dismayed by the ease with which The Goddess defected all her blows.

The fight continued without further conversation until sweat was running into Nuala’s eyes, and she was gasping for air. Scathach looked as fresh as when they started. Nuala was feeling the strain from the blade-heavy sword on her arm and wrist. Scathach's reflexes and actions were as fast and strong as they had been in the beginning. Nuala wanted nothing more than to prove herself, but she was becoming acutely aware of why Scathach was such a formidable opponent. She’d known before, in a cerebral sort of way, but facing her in battle certainly brought the lesson home physically.

Scathach rose in the air, somersaulted over Nuala's head, and flipped her from behind. Nuala went sprawling on the hard temple floor, and the sword skittered out of her hand. She rolled to one side as Scathach’s sword sliced into the ground where her shoulder had been, and she leapt to her feet, diving for another weapon on the wall behind her. She grabbed a spear and launched it at The Goddess with lethal speed and accuracy.

Scathach sidestepped the weapon with unbelievable speed even as Nuala grabbed a glaive* off the wall in desperation. She didn’t like fighting with glaives, or pole weapons of any sort, for that matter, but she didn’t have time to pick and choose.

Scathach closed the last steps between them with a leap and a shout, swinging her blade at Nuala's legs. She blocked the attack with the haft of the glaive, but the sword cut deeply into it, almost severing it. She swung wildly in response, and Scathach grabbed the weapon with her free hand, twisting it out of her grip. With a quick swipe, Nuala had her feet knocked out from under her, and she crashed to the floor. When she opened her eyes, Scathach was leaning over her, the tip of her sword to her neck; she was frowning.

"What was with that last attack?" Scathach queried.

Nuala gasped, trying to catch her breath. "I, I don’t like fighting with poles," she confessed.

Scathach stepped back and let Nuala climb to her feet.

"You will come to Sgoil na Healaíonaí an Chogaidh Sgáithach. You will learn all about the feminine forces of the subconsciousness, night, shadow, the moon, the Otherworld.

"You will learn amazing skills and you will be tested. If you are good enough, you may find yourself a warrior of the Craobh Sgàith.

"I will teach you, and you will learn. Don’t fail me, Nuala," she said, "I’m counting on you." And Scathach disappeared in a flash of light, her words still echoing in Nuala's head.

Nuala took a deep breath as activity and noise erupted abruptly at the other end of the hall.

A few warriors looked in her direction as if sensing something then turned away. Nuala watched as the Arms Master took in the glaive in her hands and the other weapons scattered on the floor. He turned and spoke to one of the men he had been helping, then started in her direction.

Nuala retrieved the sword and spear and was placing them back on the wall when Arms Master reached her.

"What happened here?" he asked.

*the glaive is a winged spear