Deadly Beautiful (SuperCorp Medieval AU)

Part 22

or the one where Kara makes a friend and the king picks a fight

"The Lady Lucy Lane is sister to... ?" J'onn J'onzz bellowed as Kara did everything in her power to fend off the attacks of the young man she was sparring with. The swords were still steel but the edges were blunted. They hurt like a bitch anyway.

Kara grunted as she parried his wild strikes. She wracked her brain, attempting to come up with the answers, even as she tried to predict Winn's next moves. He wasn't half the fighter Kara was at full strength, but about even when she worked with her left hand. Kara discovered she rather liked the young man. He was sweet and funny, the real kind of friend material if Kara were willing to give him a chance.

Kara, however, was more preoccupied with her lessons and trying to stay away from Lena; emotionally at least. It was not going as well as she would have liked.

"Lois Lane, also a lady and daughter to Baron Lane... oof, their sigil is a quill and a sword crossed on a blue field." Kara grunted out her answers as Winn continued to attack her mercilessly.

Kara's training felt very similar to torture as of late but she was getting much stronger. Her right arm was healing rapidly and her range of motion had greatly improved as well. Kara dressed and was very nearly capable of washing by herself, though it was sad to her to think these were her new goals in life. She was having just about as much luck with learning all of the noble families and what their flags looked like. Kara still did not quite understand why those were things she needed to know.

J'onn observed watchfully as Kara continued wracking her brain over his question and fighting the young lord Winn Schott Jr. He was a good kid and one of J'onn's favorite students. J'onn thought he might be good for the young woman. She needed people in her life who were not just Lena and Maggie. J'onn hoped he might bring her out of her shell somewhat. Winn enjoyed the feel of a sword in his hand as much as she did and he was a talkative young man. He was not unskilled with the weapon, though his weapon of choice was an ax. Kara was handling just about everything he could throw at her like a champion. J'onn was ten times more impressed by her than he ever expected.

"The lady Lois lane is married to...?" he shouted over the clanging din of training soldiers. Kara had knocked all of them on their asses at least once.

"She's married into the Kent family." Kara shouted back just as Winn closed in to try to get under her guard.

"I need a name, young lady." J'onn added with a chuckle. "It was a nice try, though. Winn, if you aren't careful, young sir, she's really going to get you."

"Uh, Kent? Clark Kent?" Kara asked, choking on the hard 'K's with her teeth gritted. People had been known to bite off their own tongues at times in battle.

"Okay, you can be done now. I think we can call that one a draw." J'onn said after a half an hour of this, his eyes amused but mouth serious. "You have improved a lot, Ms.Danvers, and Mr.Schott, you continue to successfully hold your own." this was considered high praise from the Lord J'onn.

Kara turned and shook her opponent's hand respectfully. "You continue to provide me with a fair fight, Winn Schott. You do your family proud." she always said something along those lines to him after one of their bouts and he always seemed surprised. The young man seemed to be somewhat in awe of her.

"You do me proud as well, Ms.Kara." Lena called over the crowd of spectators who were observing.

"Thank you, my lady." Kara replied with a stiff bow, pulling up the hem of her shirt to wipe at her forehead. Lena could hear a small gasp at the sight from the others gathered at the sidelines. She had come to understand the feeling quite well. It never failed to impress. Deep inside, however, Lena felt a distinct sense of possessiveness towards Kara.

"Your strength training exercises have proven effective. If you continue to improve in the manner you have, you will be nearly as good with your left as your right. Your stitches were removed weekend last, correct?" J'onn asked as he accompanied Kara towards the changing rooms.

"Yes, my lord." Kara answered. "The doctor said it should be fully healed within a fortnight."

"If you are so far along, then I would like to see you at full speed, as though you meant it, as though you truly had something at stake." said another low and imposing voice from the sidelines. Kara and J'onn turned to look for who had spoken and a low rumble spread throughout the crowd.

"Your Highness." Kara greeted the king; bowing low from the waist. Who would you have me spar then, my king?"

"Someone equal to your own current strength, I think. My own skills are quite rusty, but I could do with the exercise and you seem more than capable of providing it." Lex Luthor hopped smoothly over the low fence which separated the courtyards from the training yards.

The king was clearly fit and somewhat muscular but no one had expected him to pull something like this. She had never seen him in the training yards with the rest of his forces or even noticed him watching before. If he were trained, Kara had not seen any of it, and that put her at a distinctive disadvantage.

Kara swallowed heavily. She drew the dulled version of her gladius and tossed it from her right hand to her left experimentally. Her eyes followed his movements as he removed his crown and handed it reverently to an attendant. The king removed his overcoat and undershirt, leaving his torso wholly naked. Kara was glad to be far enough away he couldn't hear her scoff.

Lena and J'onn had warned her repercussions would come from her actions, but Kara never thought she might get to have this much fun earning those repercussions.