Checkmate

Prologue Part 1

                                                Monday, March 20th, 2023 (Spring Equinox)

                                                                                  Cork, Ireland

                                                                *Cillian Ó Ceallacháin's POV*

I straightened, lengthening my spine and turned my body so that my left shoulder and forearm were center with Rory's body. Now that I was revealing as little target area as possible I raised my left arm into position and flicked the tip of my foil in his direction. My right arm hung relaxed behind me. "What is this? Another challenge? I was under the impression you had enough arse kickin's for the week," Rory cried out, his deep sing-songy Irish-accented voice sailing on the breeze that swept across the distance between us. "Be thankful for the buttons on the tips of these blades little lad!"

Another refreshing gust of wind swept through the tall blades of lush green grass, brushing softly against my calves, tickling my skin lightly, but not taking my focus from Rory. "You know me brother, always looking for more punishment. Only way I'm going to beat you someday!" I spat back playfully.

I smiled as I watched Rory's lips part and curl into their own expression, a mix of happiness and laughter. "Ye hear that Liam? Little lad is a masochist!"

Liam, standing to my left, long slender arms folded in front of his chest. He chewed lightly on his lower lip and smiled, his auburn hair dancing with the breeze. "Kinky," he responded.

"Enough!" Rory growled, pointing his own foil in Liam's direction. "I'll kick yer arse when I'm finished with him if ye don't knock it the feck off."

Laughter escaped from me and Liam simultaneously. "Christ Rory, take a Valium!" I roared, laughing so hard my already sore abdomen muscles burned furiously.

Rory turned back to me, and readied his weapon and body. "Fight me!" He yelled.

"Waiting on you!" I replied.

Liam burst out into another fit of hysterical laughter, but I only heard him for a second before I completely tuned him out and focused on nothing but Rory. He took a few slow, calculated steps toward me. Slow, arrogant, antagonizing. He rarely took a defensive position...maybe that's what I needed to tweak about my fencing style to finally be declared the winner. Rory was the only opponent I had yet to defeat, and I wasn't going to stop until I had earned that glory. As he moved to close distance between us I matched his steps, but backward, opening the distance again. We did a footwork dance for a few minutes, blades playing here and there, then Rory came in fast and strong.

He lunged, I parried and reposted but missed as he swiftly parried and reposted. I deflected his attack once again, jumping back immediately after. "Stop retreating!" Rory shouted.

"I'm not retreating!" I yelled back, fully extending my weapon arm and pointing the button of my foil directly at Rory's chest. I slowly took a few fluid steps toward him like a cat moving into position to pounce.

Rory's body swayed ever so slightly and I lunged to hit him in the left of his chest, his 6 area which was notorious to be the less effective parry for a right-handed fencer...which Rory was. He parried, but this time I didn't follow through on my attack, instead I used the dexterity of my fingers to slightly drop the tip of my blade now aimed for his upper solar plexus and leaned further in. I had an opening, and was maybe an inch from connecting with him, but he swiftly jumped out of the reach of my blade. Instantly he dropped back into stance and began attacking me repeatedly as he advanced fast. I retreated as quickly as I could and parried fast and accurately...but I was losing ground so fast I knew I would lose if I didn't get an upper hand soon.