Doctor Abbott

Untitled Part 34

It took several weeks for Ben's shoulder to heal. In the meantime he kept up on his exercise and what drills he could do. In between seeing patients in their homes he had to make time away from Lúta in order to meet with the builders and get the cottage ready.

As soon as he was better Mâvis resumed Ben's training, now handling most of it himself. Some days he drew quite the crowd and still a tremendous interest from the other humans on the island. Especially after the display in the village square.

They sat watching on the railing as the king made quick work of Ben's attempts to take him off his feet. Amusing himself with each of Ben's falls, "Come on, human, I expect better. Your arm is working well."

Ben steadied the wood axe in his good hand for a few blows and cursed as Mâvis sent him to the ground yet again.

The king swapped his axe to his other hand, "Perhaps I should fight with my weak arm, then we would be even?" He teased as he paced another circle around Ben.

"If you want to make it fair, perhaps you could remove a few inches off your height?" Ben answered with a few well meant blows before he was sent to the ground again.

The crowd was riled up and laughing at the display between the two of them. Kevin and Rob sat on the fence cheering Ben on in between comments to each other in Russian.

Ben ignored much of the conversation, instead trying to focus on the king and trying to calculate his next moves. Mâvis noticed his distracted state and plowed into him hard, sending him again to the ground.

He came up to his knees and just sat for a moment trying to catch his breath. As he heard Rob call him, "the king's little bitch" in Russian. Ben shook it off and stood to face Mâvis again for another round. He was still too distracted however and Mâvis had him on the ground almost as fast as he made it to his feet.

"Are you trying to aggravate me, human? It is working, I promise you." Mâvis circled back around and readied his axe as Ben again made it to his knees.

He sat still for a moment more, catching his breath and trying to calm his nerves as he could still hear the taunts coming from the two men behind him. Finally he heard Kevin referrence him as the 'king's whore' and he lost it. The wood axe he meant to attack Mâvis with a moment ago landed dead set between Kevin's legs nearly sending the man backwards off the fence. "You will take care in how you speak of the king."

Kevin's face was sheer white, "You speak Russian?"

Ben was on his feet already yanking the axe from the fence and shoving Kevin off. He turned to see Mâvis beaming at him, "What was that?"

"It was a warning, sir. Did you not see it?" Ben readied his axe to fight some more.

"Yes, I saw you miss." Mâvis slung his axe over his shoulder and planted his other hand on his hip.

"That was intentional. That is why it is called a warning."

Mâvis replied, "I am surprised they are still here. The next axe will be mine and I never miss." The humans immediately took that hint and disbanded from the courtyard. "Good, now you train till sunrise with Avarr."

Ben slumped down to his knees again, "Whatever for?"

"I told you already, you missed." Mâvis half growled half laughed as he strolled off. "Do not worry, I will make sure he takes it easy on your arm."

"Oh, thank you, sir." As soon as Mâvis left the courtyard Ben flung his axe into the wood pile, hitting his target dead center. He got off his knees and went into the palace to get some sleep and prepare for a long night of training.