The Prodigal Saga: The Escapee

Chapter 4: Training to Fight

I stared at Wesley when I went down to the brig, he had his sword out and a mat down.

"Hudson, it's time you learned how to fight." I stared at him.

"My father taught me to fight!" I protested. Wesley chuckled and tipped my chin up vaguely with the tip of his sword.

"Not enough to outlast my men. And I know you can't defeat me in a spar. Now...get on the mat and draw your sword." I swallowed and went for my sword, drawing it. "Good girl." Wesley smirked and shoved me over.

"HEY!" I shouted.

"Sorry, Princess. Issacs will not play nice with you, and neither will I!" Wesley stated, eyes narrowed as he lunged at me. I shrieked and rolled out of the way, sword clenched tightly in fist. "Pathetic! Get up and fight, Hudson!" Wesley forced me to my feet and I gasped.

"What the hell is wrong with you!?" I shouted.

"I'm not giving you cushy lessons because I know Issacs is going to play dirty! Be grateful I didn't smite you when you were down!" I lashed my sword out at him and growled, watching him move back with almost catlike swiftness. I kept moving, Wesley always blocking my blows and nearly hitting me with his own. Finally I fell to my knees, tired and aching.

"Get up, Prodigal! You're not done yet!" Wesley snapped. I glared up at him, struggling to get up.

"We've been at this for hours!" I shouted. "If I could just rest!"

"Issacs isn't resting, Princess!" Wesley shouted. "And I thought you could handle overexerting yourself."

"That was dance, this is different!" I shouted. Wesley smirked and helped me get up.

"That's all sword fighting is. A tango between two people...the only difference is that instead of passionate love, there is a passionate desire to destroy the other person." I blinked.

"Really?" I raised an eyebrow.

"Exactly." Wesley nodded. "En guard, Princess. Just follow my lead." I scoffed.

"Yes, Travis." I said rolling my eyes.

"Who?" Wesley inquired, raising an eyebrow.

"No one. En guard." I said, lunging at him. Wesley nodded and blocked my attack, going after me. We went like this in an odd sort of tango, where leads were constantly changing. Wesley would lead, than I would. The lead always had the upper hand.

"I was wrong, Prodigal. Your father taught you decently." Wesley said after another two hours.

"Oh, yes." I smirked. "But this one I taught myself." I tucked my sword in its scabbard and flipped, kicking Wesley's blade from his hand. I stood up and kicked his chest so he'd fall at the same time I re-drew my sword and pointed it at him. His eyes were wide.

"Touche, Merideth. Well done." I grinned and helped him up, only for him to knock my sword from my hand. "First rule of fighting, Prodigal...trust no one." Wesley smirked.

"Fair enough. Touche, Carter." I grinned, reaching over for my sword.

"Here, let me get that." Wesley reached over to grab it, our hands brushing.

"No, I've got it." I said, going for it, only for Wesley to shove me back.

"Hudson, I've got this!" he shouted, making me huff.

"Wesley, there's a time and a place, I'll survive." I stood and went to grab my sword, only to be tackled. "Huh - HEY!" I shouted, Wesley pressing on my back.

"I've got it!" Wesley chuckled. I started laughing and shoved him off.

"No, you don't!" I said, squirming my way out. Wesley grabbed my arms and drew me back, grabbing my sword.