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Sadu Dotharl had suggested the sparring match… not necessarily in jest, but certainly with the expectation that she would be able to astound Cirina Mol with her prowess. Indeed, in any match of single combat Sadu felt confident in her ability to emerge triumphant, with possibly a single exception in the absent Khagan.
This had brought Sadu to this moment, flat on her back, Cirina kneeling firmly on her chest with an arrow grasped in hand and pressed against Sadu’s neck just firmly enough to indicate it could have been a killing blow.
“Please yield, Sadu Khatun.” Cirina spoke as softly as ever, despite her position of overwhelming triumph. Sadu felt her pulse quicken against the point of the arrow.
“I… yield, Cirina Mol. That was glorious.” It was quite different from fighting the new Khagan, who seemed to possess endurance surpassing Sadu’s own; Cirina was fast, and nimble, and deviously precise. All of Sadu’s passion and focus when calling the forces of the Steppe to her side was disrupted, distracted, each of Cirina’s arrow’s striking true at just the right time that Sadu could never quite mount an offense; when she finally mustered the strength of will to call upon the starfall, Cirinia had simply taken that moment to finish the fight, tackling Sadu to the ground and holding her in this… position.
Cirina carefully rose. “I am glad you enjoyed yourself, Sadu. I hope that will whet your appetite for now.”
“Oh… but I still hunger, Cirina Mol…” Sadu leapt to her feet and grasped Cirina’s waist. She didn’t want her to walk away, not yet. Beneath the confident bluster there was… another urge.
“Sadu!” Cirina gasped, but her hands simply grabbed Sadu’s arms. Cirina locked eyes with the Khatun, energy pulsing in their held gaze. “You’d devour the entire Steppe through battle if you had your way. How could I possibly feed that?”
“This is something else.” Sadu all but growled. Her hands slid up Cirina’s waist, pulling her closer.
“Sadu…” Cirina whispered back. She allowed herself to be pulled forward, and Sadu noted that. For all her gentleness, her softness, Cirina was as immovable and enduring as the steppe itself. Sadu felt a shiver, and she wasn’t sure if it originated from herself or Cirina.
For a moment, their horns locked, rubbing against each other tenderly. To other races, this might as well have been a kiss.