The Queen's Thief

Chapter 4: Sword fighting and drinking

*12 years old*
*Enchanted Forest*
~Sam's pov~

"Sam! You know how to do this, you just did it yesterday." Caps Hook yelled at me as I worked on trying to pick a lock.

He was irritated because I was having a hard time with the lock.

"Tomorrow I have a job for you, but you have to be able to do this." He sounded like he almost cared, but I could still hear the harshness in his voice. "Here take a break from that. Show me your stance."

He tossed me a sword, which I caught but almost dropped it in the process.

As soon as he saw I had the sword he started to swing his sword at me.

I tried to remember what he taught me while avoiding his attacks.

I had to find a weakness. I began to take mental notes in my head about his preform today.

He wasn't fully stable walking, probably because of the rum from last night still in effect, but he was still alert, and him missing a hand wasn't a weakness he used that to his advantage.

I continued to fight against his slashes. I knew I wasn't strong enough to over power him, even though the rest of the crew say I'm strong for a rat. My only way to beat him would be out smart him somehow or wear him out.

"Do you know why I haven't lost a duel since I lost my hand?" He asked as I blocked one of his blows and caused him to start back. "I use to let my weakness blind me and my defense, now I use it to fuel my attacks."

"What's my weakness?" I asked as I dodged his blade causing it it get stuck in the mast. In that moment I took advantage and hit his elbow with the hold of my sword making him let go of his sword.

Just because he didn't have his sword didn't mean the fight was over. Instead he began to use different tactics.

He used the surrounding area to his advantage. He jumped over crates, moved behind barrels, used ropes and anything he could throw at me. Before I could attack again after dodging a cup full of some liquid being thrown at me he used his hook and flung my sword into the air.

Before I realized I no longer had the sword he snatched it out of the air and firmly pressed it against my throat. I could feel a small steam of blood trickle down my neck.

"You have many weaknesses. Today's was you thought it was over before you thought through what else is possible." He moved the sword and wiped the small bit of blood off it and onto my sleeve. "But you have gotten a lot better." He handed me back the sword. "Here, you're going to need this."

"Aye, aye captain." I said proudly as I held out the sword.

He didn't seem very amused by what I said. He turned around and began o walk away.

"Eat and get some rest. We're going to main land I'm the morning." I could tell by his voice he was smiling a bit.

He left be completely alone to admire my new sword.

I was amazed, because I've used this sword a thousand times but I never actually got to take the time to look at it.

It was a highly polished steal blade. The hilt of the sword was decorated with various wild life in gold, silver , and green, but all of the gems that were placed to be the eyes of the creatures were small rubies. The butt of the hold was a silver skull with two decent sized rubies in the eye sockets.