Shadow Master (1st Book)

Chapter 10: A Crossing of Blades

"Where are we going?" Brom asked, still being dragged by a grinning Ayleth Hadriansdotter.

"To your room, we are going to grab Alianor, and we're going to have some fun!" Alianor? Why must we get her? Leoric's taking of her. Alianor was now two years old, and she can already speak some words like,'papa', or 'Brum', much to Brom and Fendrel's excitement.

"Why do we have to get her?"

"Because, she needs to see her own brother fight!" Brom was again both delighted and disturbed at Ayleth's... much too bubbly personality.

"Fight?" He asked slowly. "And why--pray tell--do I need to fight?"

"You're going to fight me."

"Why?" Brom asked her.

"Yes, I want to test your skills,"

"Can you leave Alianor out of this?" He blurted out.

"Why?"

"I really don't want her to see me becoming an assassin,"

Ayleth responded by reaching up and knocking on his head, earning a yelp of pain and glare that could have melted ice.

"Hello? Is your brain working? Alianor is going to find out soon enough."

"I know that," Brom replied, pulling his arm away from Ayleth, who huffed in disappointment as he stopped. "It is just that I don't want her to live a life like mine."

Ayleth face softened slightly,"I know, but what can you do? You can't just leave her on somebody's doorstep, she can already walk and talk, not to mention how Fendrel is going to act if you do that. Better to let destiny do as she wishes lest you do something that can jeopardize your deep relationship with both Fendrel and Alianor," Brom was surprised, Ayleth just turned from a vibrant young woman to a serious and comforting one. Her blonde hair , that complimented her porcelain skin, hung on a ponytail, and he marveled at how lovely she looked. Her straight nose, her full cherry lips, her high cheekbones and her soft hazel eyes, and when she held his hand, he felt a jolt of electricty come over him. He smiled at Ayleth, glad on what she had said.

"I thank you for that," He told her.

"You are welcome," Ayleth responded, then blushed,"I admit I might have been too...lively during our first meeting," Ayleth softly said, matching Brom's smile with one of her own, her white teeth sparkling in their rather dark home lightly illuminated by braziers and torches. Moments passed as they looked into each other's eyes. Brom admired how beautiful her eyes looked in the light. Gorgeous. He mused.

"Well then, let us go fetch my little sister!" Brom exclaimed, surprising Ayleth slightly, who took a moment to recompose herself.

"Shall we?' Ayleth asked, holding her hand out to him, to which he took eagerly, his smile still evident on his face.

"Let's," He replied warmly, as they began walking off towards his and Alianor's room, their steps in sync, and their hands still locked around each other. Brom decided that Ayleth wasn't all that bad. 

"Are you ready, Brom?" Ayleth asked, as she held a clutched a wooden sword, taking on a defensive stance.

Brom held his own wooden sword, also taking on a defensive stance, up ahead, he saw Alianor being carried by a scowling Leoric, who was glaring at him. They were at another section of the training room, a room where they will mock fight. The rest of the Silent Ones were around them, watching. Judging. Only Terrorblade and Fendrel were absent, Fendrel because of some matters and Terrorblade, he did not know where he even is. Miasmador was out hunting for the moment. Brom briefly pondered on where the dragon went to hunt, but vanished it quickly, concentrating on his impending fight with Hadriansdotter.

Brom responded with,"Ready."

Ayleth didn't respond, instead, she abruptly rammed into him, making him stumble, which Ayleth took advantage of, aiming a slash at his chest, which Brom barely blocked. Brom pushed Ayleth back, then targeted Ayleth's side, which the woman parried, smiling widely at him. The both of them traded blows, left and right for minutes without any clear signs of a winner until Ayleth suddenly jumped back, surprising Brom. She abruptly aimed a hit at his side, to which Brom was too slow to parry. Agony was the first thing he felt, the slash was strong enough to cut through the fabric of his tunic, and a red weal has appeared on his skin, though he shook it off. He attempted a stab at Ayleth's chest, but his Silent Sister merely ducked under, though he exploited this move by, kicking at one of Hadriansdotter's knees, sending her to the ground. Ayleth attempted to stand up, but Brom held her down, aiming his wooden weapon at her neck.

"Do you yield?" Brom asked, beads of sweat rolling down his forehead.

Ayleth didn't answer, instead she abruptly kicked him away, and jumped up. She targeted Brom's chest with a stab of her own, but Brom grabbed her sword arm unnaturally fast and forced the wooden sword out of her hands. Brom then held Ayleth on a headlock, with him behind her, and his weapon at her neck, and her own sword on the ground.

"Do you yield?" Brom asked again, firmer this time.

Ayleth struggled for a few minutes, kicking and groaning, but Brom held strong. Finally, she relented,"Yield."

The group of assassins instantly cheered at Brom, though Leoric kept glaring at him, much to his discomfort, but he ignored it at the time being. He won against Ayleth! An adept huntress, a Death Maiden to boot! He released her hold on Ayleth who turned around and gazed at him. The group of assassins silenced at this, what was going to happen? But their fears and also their slight anticipations were allayed when Ayleth kissed him on the cheek, exclaiming,"Nicely done, Brom!"

Brom laughed out and replied with,"You too!"

The assassins all continued cheering, when Roggar screamed,"Who wants some ale?"

They all shouted their affirmation and went off, until Leoric, Ayleth and Brom were the only ones left in the room. Leoric stalked off, muttering,"Atleast those elves rarely drink..."

Ayleth was silent until Leoric slammed the door behind him, before letting out a huge grin,"You did well, Brom."

"You already said that, Ayleth," Mordredsson or,rather, Fendrelsson replied with a slight smile.

"I know," Ayleth said,"I just wanted to let you know."

"Well, thanks anyway."

Ayleth's grin, if possible, widened,"No problem." 

Brom and Ayleth gazed at each other again, repeating the moment that happened earlier, Brom's warm hazel eyes meeting Ayleth's own brown orbs. He, without any thought, began to lean in closer. Ayleth took a moment to realized what was transpiring, but the moment she did, her eyes widened but she held her surprise in check. Instead, she leaned as well, her pupils constricting slightly. They were inches away, their mouths about to be locked, when there moment was interrupted by Fendrel shouting,"Get your ass over here, Brom!"

The two of them, jumped away from each other in surprise, and glared at Fendrel who was smirking at them,"Let us continue our training, Brom."

"Fine," He grumbled, still glaring at the Shadow Master, annoyed at him interrupting the two of them. 

"Talk to you, later?" Brom asked Ayleth.

"Of course," Ayleth replied hastily, blushing. Brom grinned at this.

"Let's go!" Fendrel ordered, which Brom followed, grumbling incoherently. They left the room, leaving behind a blushing and also a smiling Ayleth Hadriansdotter.