*

The women of the Phoenix-angels, Busara and Yafeu all sat down in the shade of the veranda. Rukiya placed her hands on each side of her mouth to amplify her voice. “Good luck, big brother.”

“Shut up. All you brats get out of here,” Neema shouted from the courtyard.

“Aww, we want to watch,” Yafeu spoke.

Dayo stood across from Neema. “Oh, I don’t mind.”

Neema quickly turned toward the prince. “But, your highness, they will only serve as a distraction.”

“If you get distracted so easily than you clearly have some work to do.” Dayo unsheathed his dual swords and twirled them into his grip.

“If that is your wish.” Neema struck out one hand toward the deck. “Spear.”

A eunuch who stood on the veranda tossed the short pole wrapped in crimson with a sword blade attached to it. A golden phoenix head spread oven the bottom of the blade that attached it to its pole arm. Neema caught it with ease and held it in both hands.

He slid one foot in front of the other which moved back. His knees bend as he slightly lean forward.

“Show me what your family graces can do,” Dayo said.

“That is a bit much is it not?”

“Underestimating me. Then show me why I am not worthy of you using your grace.”

“That is not-”

“Come on.”

“Right.” Neema launched himself forward. He thrust his spear right toward the prince’s chest.

Dayo crossed his blades before himself that blocked the strike. The prince took a leap back. He swung one blade to knock the spear aside and threw his other sword straight at Neema.

Neema swiftly pulled his pole arm in front of himself to deflect the sword. The blade spun into the air.

Dayo caught it on its way down, learning from his previous battles with his brother. He swung his blades one after another that forced Neema back. Neema blocked the assaults with his spear.

“Is that all you’ve got?” Dayo slammed both his blades into the pole of Neema’s spear. Both gritted their teeth as Dayo stared at Neema in amusement. “I told you I want to see you take me seriously.”

He slipped one foot between Neema’s. He swung it back around to trip the noble.

Neema rolled backward as soon as he fell, returning to his feet. Only a small distance separated him from the prince.

Again a blade flew at him that he barely deflected.

Dayo stepped in close with his other sword.

Fire burned in Neema’s eyes like an inferno. They captured everything about the prince in mere seconds. Every detail moved in slow motion. The blade of Neema’s spear danced around the prince’s sword, ripping the second weapon from Dayo’s grip.

This time, Dayo moved back. He stuck his hand out toward the veranda. “Spear!”

Another eunuch tossed Dayo his spear. Dayo caught it and twirled it above his head into both hands. He took up a proper stance as he studied Neema.

Both began to circle around one another likes wolves searching for the slightest weakness to exploit.

Neema stepped one more time before moving in. He launched forward and closed the gap.

Dayo stepped to his rear so he could dodge. He pulled back on his spear as he slid his hand further up.

Dayo thrust the shorter length at Neema with great speed due to the steel spear’s prefect balance. The two spears clashed over a dozen times.

The strength behind the weapons so strong they would kill the other if they made contact with flesh.

Dayo’s spear rushed for Neema’s heart. Neema once again reacted to the prince’s force. The blade of his spear burned with flames. The two weapons clashed with an explosion.

Everyone gazed wide eye.

Both men slid backward with thick black smoke rising up between them.

Neema narrowed his eyes with seriousness. “So that is what Prince Kovu meant. You have a grace.”

Sparks shoot off Dayo’s body and spear. He set himself in a battle stance with both hands on his weapon. “You are the first one to get this out of me besides my brother.” A beastly smile rose on Dayo’s face. His eyes glowed bright with his excitement.

“So Prince Dayo also has a grace,” Busara said.

The other women looked over at Busara. “Also?” Fujo asked.

“That would mean Prince Kovu has a grace as well. We were starting to fear the angels had abandoned the royal family,” Lady Taariq said.

Dayo took a step to the side. “Now show me just what your graces can do against mine.” More lightning sparks blasted off the prince’s body. He charged forward with an extra burst of speed.

Neema readied himself for the attack.

Flames and lightning clashed.

Spears slashed against each other.

Eyes fixed to kill.

The two combatants spun around each other, trying to get the upper hand.

Dayo held his spear near its end with one hand. He sliced it around, using the superior length to keep Neema at bay. The spear moved swiftly through the air as Neema blocked and parried the strikes.

Neema slashed his spear up in a crescent shape that knocked the prince’s spear into the air. Finishing his spin, he used his toes to push himself up to Dayo. He stopped his blade directly in front of the prince’s face who had tried to regain himself.

Dayo dropped his spear. He caught his breath and sighed at his defeat. “I suppose I still have a ways to go.”

Neema lowered his spear. The flames in his eyes died out and return to normal. “I had no idea you held a grace. How come you never told me about it?”

Dayo scratched the back of his neck as he kept one eye close. “I will admit both my brother and I do not know how to use our powers and that failure General Abdul kept restricting us so we never learned properly.”

Neema stabbed his blade into the earth. He placed both hands on the bottom of his spear and leaned forward. “Of course, a non grace user has no understanding of such things.”

“It certainly is troublesome not knowing how to use my power.”

“Prince Dayo, if you like I am sure Neema can train you in the art,” Lady Taariq said.

Neema looked to his mother for a moment then back to the prince. “If you wish, your highness.”

A smirk rose on Dayo’s lips. “Indeed I would. I knew there was a reason I like you phoenixes.”

Neema let out a light chuckle. “The Phoenix-angels are the greatest of the four, Prince Dayo.”