This anxiety shit really be kicking my ass. Anyways. Enjoy <3
*****
Whack!
Roman whapped a stick against my back.
"Hey!"
"Come on! If you're going to help me, you need to learn how to defend yourself," Roman said matter-of-factly, with another soft strike towards the stick in my hand.
"First of all, I don't want to help you. And second, I know how to use a sword, how is fencing with some sticks in the woods going to help? I was trained by the royal guards. I can handle myself just fine." I snapped.
We left town three nights ago and every night when we made camp, he embarked on this endeavor to train me.
It started with cutting and dying my hair so I wouldn't stand out so much. Any time we met some traveler on the road, he would say I was his mute cousin, because apparently my manner of speaking would somehow give me away. He said the clothes I had 'liberated' were good enough but he ripped small holes in them to make them look lived-in, very rude. Then he found two sticks and is using them for sword practice. Next, I bet he's going to tie some string to a twig for make-believe archery!
I have trained with real swords and real guards even since I was just a little girl! I may prefer a bow, but I'm not exactly helpless with a sword, or even a dagger. My opponent always underestimates me, that's their first mistake, and the only one they tend to get to make.
"You know the 'official' way to use a sword, and if you were training with the royal guards, they were undoubtedly going easy on you. If they had hurt you, they probably lost more than just their job. And anything we come across out here, they're not going to care about good conduct or form, like your palace playmates," he paused for a moment. "Raise your back arm a tad higher and rest your weight more towards the back."
He lunged again, but this time I met his stick with an equal swipe of mine.
Fast as lightning, I swung at him. Pushing forward, I dealt 3 attacks. He blocked the first two with ease but the third grazed his shoulder. His face made it clear he wasn't expecting me to make my own rules.
"That's enough for today. I'm going to find some firewood." Roman, seeming quite flustered, turned and walked into the trees.
Jeez. I thought he wanted me to actually put in some effort. If I knew he'd act all prissy, I wouldn't have tried, or at least tried less. This was his idea anyway. He's the one that dragged me out here and threw a stick at me! If anyone gets to be mad and walk off, it should be me. We're supposed to be going to the castle, not fencing in the woods.
"He should go easier on you." A wispy voice called out from behind me.
Pulling my dagger from my hip, I spun to face the sound.
"Woah! No need for that, it's useless against me anyway, and I'm not gonna hurt you. I just wanna talk, without your wannabe soldier-boy interrupting." The voice continued.
"What'd you do to Roman?" I asked.
"He's fine, he's just meeting some of my friends." The voice said.
It seemed like the voice was coming from the trees themselves. There wasn't anyone standing there but I could hear their voice, clear as day.
"Show yourself. I refuse to talk to someone I can't see." I edged forward with each word.
"There will be time for that later. But right now, I just wanna talk. I have a message for you," they said.
"Can I at least know your name? That's just common courtesy." I stated.
YOU ARE READING
Between Two Vines
Aventura(Formerly The Forest of Life) Saviors aren't always as expected. They're people too. They make mistakes. But how they choose to live with those mistakes is what matters.
