Grieve Him

Chapter 1

The sound of metal clashing echoed through the courtyard. The wind was strong today but it couldn't silence the harsh sound of two swords swinging and hitting each other.

"Be more aggressive while keeping that accuracy Mylah" he shouted at me. "There's no room for error, no room for second guessing. Be fast. Be precise. Be fierce"

I was getting backed into a corner. Gunnur was always one of my dad's strongest soldiers. A great right hand man. Always aiding my father and standing by his side. I don't have a memory of my father without Gunnur. If I had an uncle, it'd be someone like him that I'd wish for.

I felt a small incision be made on my right wrist. "Focus Mylah. You cannot let you mind wonder in combat. Keep your eyes on my sword and feel your own." He said as he backed off. I steadied myself again.

Gunnur swung at me again. I raised my sword to his and defended. I had learnt that his technique is very aggressive. Most likely why he has made it this far in his career. A firm, steady and brutal hand. Sometimes it reminds me of my father.

I don't remember a time I could land a strike on him in years. Ever since he had started taking me more seriously during training, it had become hit after hit after hit. I could see, back then, why my father wanted him to train me. Even though we train with real swords, neither of us are in any real danger.

His accurate enough to hit me without seriously injuring me and I'm just a pratice dummy to him.

"I'll make you a deal Mylah-" Gunnur said as he swiped his sword against my blade as if it were nothing. "-land one hit on me and we can end training here..." our swords clashed as we held steadily, pushing the blades against each other in a struggle for power.

" And if I can't?" I asked shakedly. He chuckled as he kicked me in the stomach, pushing me back. I landed hard on my ass. The end of Gunnur's sword point to my face. He spoke coldly, "Then I'll let your father know how weak you are."

I felt a shiver go down my spine. My father is brutal. His a good king and an even better father but at the end of the day, he does what he has to to ensure safety among his own...I can't let him down.

I hit his sword away and stood up readily, "Come at me old man." Gunnur chuckled and dashed towards me. It was so fast, but I was ready. I hit away his piecing blow and made a slash at his stomach. I had my eyes off him since I thought it was over,until I heard the sound of my sword scraping against metal...but it wasn't chainmail.

I quickly turned around and saw him holding a dagger in hand. "You didn't think I'd make it that easy, now did you?" He said mockingly.

I lunged at him, swinging my sword every which direction. It was the first time I saw Gunnur on the defense since he'd 'train' me with wooden swords when I was a child.

He held his own, then again, I knew he could turn it on me at any point.

"All this foolish behavior, for what? Give it your all Gunnur!" I shouted at him. "As you wish Lady Morgz." He said almost as if I had made a joke. He pushed back at me and completely flipped the fight. It felt like I was being pushed back into a corner again. I hated this feeling, even more so now.

I fought him off as best as I could. After what felt like forever, I had felt exhausted, but Gunnur wouldn't give me a second to breathe. He complimented my perceverance. That meant alot from Gunnur.

In a dying attempt to at least graze him, I put my all into one last him. I aimed precisely for him. And as he swung to hit my sword away, I stepped forward again, I was now in the way of his blade.

He stopped his sword as I threw the my hand at him. Landing a clean hit on him with the holt of my blade, knocking him back onto his ass for once.

I stood over him proudly as I put the tip of my sword to his face.

"What happened old man?" I asked him mockingly.

"He hesitated. And one should never hesitate, even for me." someone spoke out from behind me. I quickly turned around as Gunnur rised to his feet. He bowed down on one knee as I lowered my head and curtsied.

"Stand up Gunnur, we've known each other for far to long for you to still be doing this silliness" He spoke. "You are still king... my friend." Gunnur said as he stood up. My head was down bowed, my posture in a curtsy.

"My child..." he said as I raised my head.
"My king." I said cheerfully as I saw the smile on his face.

"Although Gunnurs hesitancy, I'm proud of you. That was very clever."