Behind the Mask of Alexandria Drear

Fight For Her Hand (Chapter 35)

Salem has lead Rocco out to an opening in the garden, looking around he pieced together this was the spot where Alexandria stepped in to take on Nicholas. A shiver ran down his spine as he recalled that bloodlust look in the woman's eyes that day, he'd never seen anyone he knew look that way before. At that moment he couldn't help but wonder what personality was created durning her time of torture, her mind had to find a way to cope or to deal with that kind of assault every day. He shook the thought from his head, looking at the elder man. "You really were not kidding when you said to fight you, I suppose not even I can get past this tradition as most would call it." Rocco sighed to himself standing a good distance away from the other.

"What fun would it be? I do recall you being the fighting type anyway, it will be more of a spar really. It is not all that often I get to have a little practice, the women really are not one to take these chances. Not as if they can not hold their own if needed, but what you do not use you lose after all." Salem replied taking the time to stretch. "I am more curious to see what you can do, the last time we had a spar was about what? Three decades ago, surely you have had time to improve. I would be more inclined to see how you can face off with my daughter, seeing she is not the brawler you were." He smiled a bit.

Rocco shrugged. "That sounds about right, but since then, I have been in many many brawls. That is what pubs are for right? Taken a few nasty hits, but nothing I could not recover from. Some people have no clue what they are getting themselves into." He replied scratching at his cheek. "Then I suppose we should have at it then, not sure about you, but I could really go for some lunch. You might get me to the point that I might not think right.. Which I can assume is what you are going for at this point, make me an easier target?" He joked taking the time to bring his hands in front of him, folding them into fists. Figuring in that bit of time, there wouldn't be much preparation on his end; not that he really went into fights really thinking, which at this time wouldn't be the best.

"Bar fights? Those honestly would be more fun to watch, getting on the nasty side relative fast. I do expect to know your win loss record on those." The elder Duke replied with a small smile, sliding his right foot behind him more, giving himself a solid stance. Keeping his hands flat and out stretched, ready to take any hit that could be thrown his way, knowing more than likely the other would be taking the first move. "Easier target or not, it truly does not matter to me at this point. That is not the point of a spar, do not get to caught up on irrelevant motives. Show me what you are capable of and we can move on, I do believe last time you were not able to land a hit. Surely you have gained something from your brawls, or was it merely luck? I will give you the first move."

Taking a minute, Rocco studied the mans stance, being something new he wasn't sure what to expect. Taking in a breath and taking a few steps froward, Salem don't move an inch; only causing himself confusion, surely someone would move a little. In weight alone, the younger warlock could easily win, having a broader build helped; as if his body was built just to be able to fight. Testing the waters, the brunette took a few more steps forward, being an arms length away easily. It was silent besides the natural sounds around them and a light breeze, even then a bit of tension laced the air. Taking a shot, Rocco took his weight into his punch, being close range it would deal a good amount of damage. The straight on punch was moved to the side, missing Salem's face by an inch, with a simple move of the mans right hand that was still stretched flat. In return giving an upper cut kind of hit with the end of his palm, letting the bone under the skin to deal the damage. Startling Rocco enough to take a few steps back, holding his chin as he blinked a few times. What was that? He didn't even see Salem move, when did he have tome to deflect such a fast punch and even counter?

Shaking his head the warlock cracked his knuckles, having a good idea of what would happen if he tried going up close again. What if he added more speed and weight? There had to be a way of testing out this new fight style, it's not as if he could attack from a long range that just wasn't happening. Being the same height didn't help much on either end, being even in that at least. Taking a few more steps back, making it seem as if he was evaluating the other, wondering if Salem would come at him in that time, yet he stayed in place. Being the brawler he was, Rocco really didn't have any special moves that would get him anything. He'd always won his battles just by taking the hits and returning them at double, if not triple what was dealt against him.