Finding Home - The Light

Chapter Thirteen - Welcome Back

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Welcome Back

Sara tucked the errant strand of thick brown hair behind her ear as she turned from the man gasping on the ground to face her next opponent. She held her sword loosely at her side, ready to swing in whatever direction the next blow would come from. After six months training from dawn until dusk every day, she was more adept with her sword than most of the King’s best men. Even her mentor, Roderick, had admitted that she was more talented with her sword than the best he had ever seen. Though she still sparred daily, lately she had begun spending most of her studying something much different.

Her lips split into a wide grin as she met Alexander’s eyes across the ring. It had been four months since he left the castle, refusing to tell her where he was going or why. She had spent every waking moment since then training to prepare for the battles she had agreed to face, and resisting the incessant voice that kept whispering for her to travel south whenever the slightest breeze blew. Her determination had landed her in a healers hands every evening for the first week after his disappearance.

“Welcome home,“ she said, eyeing the sword he held loosely at his side, much like hers. “I hope you’ll at least leave me my dignity in tact, oh large one.”

He returned her smile, but it didn’t reach his haunting pitch black eyes. His lack of an answer only proved how serious he was as he faced her. She saw the muscles in his arm twitch before he lunged at her. She barely managed to dodge his blow, twisting to her left at the last moment. She saw a small opening under his arm as she spun around and brought her sword up blindingly fast, feeling the rush of the victory when a thin line of blood appeared under his arm.

“You should be more careful,” she taunted, meeting his deadly black stare. “The little one might best you.”

She saw the muscles in his shoulders tense before he brought his sword down on her with incredible force. She brought her own up and moved to the side just in time to deflect the blow at her face. She was beginning to think that he was angry with her when he used both hands to swing around, aiming at her neck in what would have been a decapitating strike if she had not ducked and brought her sword up to meet the arm-shaking blow. Sara swiftly kicked her leg out as she ducked close to the ground, striking him in the knee. He stumbled back and she took advantage of the opening, knocking his sword from his hand. She smiled as she gave him a chance to recover his weapon.

“Are you afraid of me, oh large one?” she mocked as she danced around him, thoroughly enjoying herself.

Alexander remained silent as his black eyes watched her every move. She gripped her sword with both hands and swung at his head, putting all of her strength behind the blow. When he blocked, she released her sword with one hand and sent a well practiced punch toward his face. He dodged her blow and backed away from her.

Taking the offense, Alexander rained blow after blow down on her almost too quickly for her to see. She was forced back a step with every strike, her concentration solely on blocking the next move. He twisted his wrist as their swords connected again, leaving Sara unarmed and holding her stinging wrist in pain. Alexander smiled as he pointed his sword at her throat.

She smiled sweetly back at him, satisfied when his black eyes widened. She twisted away and swiftly kicked upward, striking his wrist and knocking the sword from his hand. She kicked her leg out again, hitting him in the center of his chest. Alexander fell to the ground, his breath knocked from his lungs.

Sara stood above him with her hand outstretched, grinning. He accepted her help before pulling her into a warm embrace.

“You’ve learned much while I was away,” he said pulling back to look down at her.