All I've Ever Known

Chapter 9

Third Person POV:

*Time skip*

The past few weeks Zumra and Aleddin have been training with Osman and Certukay. For Aleddin, this new routine was quite a shock to him as he knew how to fight but after training with Osman and Certukay he was starting to think maybe he didn't know how to fight all that well. But, he's started to get the hang of it now and is able to once in a while knock the sword out of Certukay's hand and also have the opportunity to put his sword against Osman's throat but somehow his father always gets out of that position. 'I have a lot to learn' thought Aleddin tiredly.

However, for Zumra she was finding it very difficult as well but not in the same way as Aleddin, no she was finding it difficult for a completely different reason. She knew how to fight well and could hold her own against both Certukay and Osman but whenever they pin her down, her mind goes blank and she stays still in that position until either Osman or Certukay let up. Then, she can fight perfectly fine, so Zumra thought 'if I can keep them away from me during training I'll be fine'

At least it's what she thought until their first training session.

Flashback - First training session

After Aleddin's training with Osman and Certukay was done and they told him what he did wrong, he came and sat down next to me. "Don't worry Aleddin, I'll show them not to underestimate us" Zumra said arrogantly with a wink. Aleddin was skeptical at first but then remembered how much more Zumra was skilled with a sword than him and whispered to her "if you have an opportunity to pin either Osman or Certukay down, then do it." Zumra nodded back at him determinedly and she walked up to where Osman was standing.

She asked him "so, how are we going to do this, attack or defen-" but Osman interrupted her by slashing his sword at her, which she managed to dodge thanks to her quick reflexes. "Hey we hadn't talked about which style of fighting we're going to be doing yet and you didn't warn me." Zumra stated with shock and and irritation. "The enemy won't wait for you to think about what style of fighting you want to do or warn you that he's going to kill you." Osman said exasperated.

"Ok now I'm ready, let's go." Zumra said while gesturing towards him. Osman rolled his eyes but swung his sword towards her, which Zumra managed to block with her own sword. Osman looked in shock at the move and looked towards Zumra in surprise. Aleddin sat up happily and started cheering loudly, while Certukay, who was leaning slumped on the wall, stood up straight abruptly and stared bewildered at Zumra, as no one has been able to block Osman's sword that quickly before.

Zumra looked toward the side at Aleddin and said arrogantly "I told you, I'll teach them not to underestimate us." Aleddin had a small smirk on his lips which he tried to hide behind his hand but it was still clearly visible. Osman raised his eyebrows at Zumra surprised at how she let her guard down quickly. 'As much of a good fighter she is, she's too arrogant while fighting and that will be her downfall.' Osman thought knowingly as he took advantage of Zumra being distracted to hit her sword out of her hand and swung his leg behind hers to trip her up and once she fell down, he placed his hands on either side of her head.

Zumra was vehemently ignoring his face hovering over hers and his body on top of hers. Zumra saw her sword had fallen down next to her and went to grab it but as she raised her arm, Osman followed where she was looking and once he saw Zumra about to grab her sword, he pinned her hands next to her head and raised his eyebrow with a small smug smirk on his face. Osman said "not acting so proud now, are you?" Zumra didn't say anything and kept on trying to break free from Osman's strong grip and was wiggling around but Osman pointed his sword toward her throat and subtly pressed more of his body weight on top of Zumra.