The Emperor's Daughter

Chapter Eleven: Aurelia

When Caius knocked on her door an hour later, she told him to enter and waited with bated breath.

"Aurelia?" he called quietly.

She'd made sure the hall was empty. Cerberus was in Laelia's room asleep and Laelia was staying the night with Cato's wife. The guards were around the corner. It was only them.

Caius was wary though, a skill he'd learned as a gladiator and one she admired as she swung a sword right where his neck was. He fell in shock, brown eyes blown so wide they were white orbs in the fading light.

The blade stuck in the wood of the door and Aurelia picked up the second sword she'd acquired.

"I'm not a worthy opponent," she began awkwardly holding the hilt in her hand –it was obviously meant for a man's large palm. "I know you miss the arena. Maybe this will help," she said suddenly springing toward him with the sword.

Caius quickly pulled the blade from the door and crossed it over his chest, hearing the distinct "Cling!" of metal on metal.

She knew it must be nothing to him. Her small body and arms would be easy to shove off with his blade, but he didn't, instead running the metal up and down hers in curiosity of how serious she was about defending herself.

Aurelia wasn't sure she was interested in fighting for herself. She had Caius to protect her. She wasn't sure she needed more. Caius had expressed the idea that she learn though, at least enough to protect herself from thieves. And at the moment if sparring did help him and distracted her further from Avitus' homecoming; she'd take it.

"Legs further apart," he instructed, making them both grin –it wasn't the first time he'd said that to her. "You need to distribute your weight." He shoved at her shoulder before she could move, the shove strong enough to send her back a few steps.

"It's not my fault I was never taught," she complained almost losing her grip on the sword.

"I didn't say it was," Caius murmured reaching out to catch her elbow. "You should however learn," he said right before swatting her sword sideways with his.

Aurelia brought it up in a crazed fanning motion that made Caius pause long enough for her to back him up until his knees caught on a stool that sent him in a heavy fall to the floor. She acted fast, sitting on his chest with her sword to his throat.

"Ha!" she grinned leaning down to press a kiss on his lips before sitting up, the blade still pressed against the underside of Caius' chin.

"Don't get boastful," he warned, looking terribly relaxed for a man with a blade pressing into his skin.

Aurelia scoffed. "I have a blade cutting the small hairs from you chin away."

In a blink in which she didn't understand fully, Caius had hooked his leg around her ankle making her fall onto his chest –her blade falling loosely and harmlessly between them. He rolled their bodies in a tumbling blur so he ended up on top of her, his blade coming up in a flash of silver that landed a cold kiss on her neck.

"Pride is a dangerous emotion to lead you. It'll bring your downfall."

Annoyed, Aurelia tried bucking her hips against him in attempt of getting free. The result being Caius' own blade woke up against where he was straddling her.

"Is that not what you're doing now?" she challenged.

His carnal self might have been interested in other things, but clearly his duty as a guard was committed to making sure she had some knowledge in aiding to help protect herself.

Ignoring her question he grabbed her right arm. "Take your arm and bring your hand to your face. With your elbow, bring it straight down into my stomach," he instructed guiding her in a slow motion.