*Previously*
"Aros, I assume you'll keep score?" I asked trying to hide my smirk. Deep down I know I am better than him. I had seen him train throughout the last four years. He still couldn't handle his sword properly. I would win, I had too.
*end*
CHAPTER 2
Swiftly I lifted the sword from the bale of hay I had placed it on and took my slightly crouched position. Ignoring me I saw Armus breath a yawn as he unsheathed the sword from his side. He honestly looks bored to death. Fool. Irritation burned in my chest sending pins and needles though my whole body. "Ready to lose dear sister?" He taunted smirking at me. "In your dreams" I mumbled. Within an instant our swords met in a clash of silver sparks and I was thrown back a few steps, my back hitting the wall of the stable and my breath left me in a whoosh. Perhaps I too had been a bit arrogant but the pain had served its purpose and my head cleared.
The sting in my back brought a smile to my face even as I gasped shallowly. My first duel, I never thought it would be against my very own brother. "Is that all you've got?" Armus taunted, the smirk never leaving his lips. Oh how I hate that smile. It's the same smile he wore when I broke my arm after he pushed me when I was seven. It's the same smile he wore when I got tossed into the pig pen by all the towns boys when I was twelve. And its the same smile he wore the first time father closed the door with his hand on my shoulder.
"I'm just getting started" I said as I retake my position, careful not to underestimate him this time. I so badly want to crush him, to send his face into the dirt and let him choke on it.
Skillfully i use my smaller size to my advantage as I dodged to the side just as he brought his sword down, going in for a head shot. I cant help the amused snort that escapes me. That's so his style. Trying to end the fight after just starting. He's always been a control freak. Always wanting things to go his way just because. I suppose this is also my mothers fault, after years of being told you are perfection sooner or later you will start to believe it. Immediately a plan sprung into my head and it seemed that for just a moment as if time stood still and I could see everything so much more clearly that I had ever been able to before.
The sweat trailing down the side of his forehead. The way the wind ruffled his hair. 'If he continues to make those heaving swings of his he'll get tired soon' I thought as I lifted my sword to parry his thrust. Suddenly time seemed to speed up again now I finally had a battle plan in mind.
Armus had always been a lover of the broadsword and never left the house without it attached to his hip, though now I can definitely see it just wasn't his strong suite, he just didn't really have the strength for it but that didn't change the fact that he was still stronger than me and the both of us knew it. It didn't take long for me to see the difference in his attacks. Slowly but surely his blows began to slow and his breathing became harder. His cheeks seemed to flush pink and for a moment I wondered if it was from irritation because he hadn't hit me yet or if he really was just getting tired. Maybe I should just ask and for just a second a sly smirk split across my face.
"Getting tired there big brother?" I questioned smugly as I dodged to the left to avoid a blow that cloud have severed my arm had it hit me. It would seem as though those dance lessons mother had insisted upon as a child had a purpose after all. "n-no" Armus puffed swiftly wiping the sweat from his brow. His ineffective swinging continued for a few minutes when finally I saw an opening in his attacks.
There just there on his left arm I could see a muscle jumping. His sword arm was about to give out. 'Now's my chance' I thought as I thrust my sword, making a cut on his side not deep enough to cause serious pain or bleeding but just enough for him to flinch in surprise, allowing me enough time to step forward and disarm him. With a clang his sword hit the ground and I met my brothers flabbergasted look with a smirk.
"Dead" I whispered as I placed my sword to his neck. "So Airis is the winner" stated Aros as he took a stand next to us. His voice was carefully blank, just like always. Delicately I removed my sword though I did not put it down, Armus was known for playing dirty to get what he wanted. He had done it to me a few times and I have the scars to prove it. "So it would seem" Armus said as he bent down to get his sword. I could hear the bitterness coat his words heavily.
"Will you keep your word?" I asked lifting an eyebrow. "I will" he muttered as he spun on his heel and marched away. "Well done sweet sister" Aros whispered as he lightly placed his hand on my shoulder. "Thanks" I said a bright smile lighting up my face. "It's all those tips you've given me" I admitted my cheeks gaining a faint pink tint to them. "So you do listen?" He joked rolling his eyes affectionately. "Only to you." I muttered shuffling my feet almost shyly.
"Airis!" I heard my father call his deep voice booming across the field. Sighing I took a moment and looked at Aros, really looked at him. His face frozen like a statue as it always has been but his eyes I can see are tired. "You have to go" Aros whispered a small smile gracing his lips. I felt honored, I'm the only one he's smiled at since his incident.
His "incident" was what everyone called it. Because just a little less than two years ago Aros was found kissing a boy, the blacksmiths eldest son a nineteen year old,at the time, named Jozic. Dad was disgraced. Dad had demanded that Aros stop seeing this boy and aranged for him to marry Amelia, the only daughter of the village baker Mr. Monti.
She's seventeen years old, we could've been friends if I'd actually made an effort to make friends. Though that might have not worked as I'm not very popular with parents tending to steer their kids as far away from me as possible.
Aros refused and told father that he would repent for his sins. To this day he hasn't. Also to this day he still sneaks out every second fortnight to go see Jozic. 'One day I hope to find something like that' I thought, a sigh escaping my lips. "I'll cover for you tonight" I said as I turned on my heel and placed the sword on the bale of hay it usually lays on. I think this is the reason he loves me so much. I had been the only one in the whole family whom had excepted him for who he was.
"Thank you sweet sister" Aros said the smile disappearing from his face as I left my hiding spot and made my way towards the house where I could see my Dad's form filling up the doorway as he stood waiting. Apprehension and fear bloomed within me as I took many deep breaths whilst fight very hard to keep my expression as blank as possible.
*#*
(Edited 2021/01/09)
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Winds Of Change
Fantasy"It's a strange thing fate... You can't control it, you can't change it, as it walks hand in hand with destiny." - Airis Fox[the lost girl] Airis Fox is a girl whom was raised to believe that everyone has a path already set in stone since the momen...
