Dreamwalker

16- On the Point of a Blade

"I'm going to be honest," Bell said, looking around the palace courtyard apprehensively and gripping the sword in her hand so hard that her knuckles were white, "I didn't think this was what you meant when you said 'safe'."

"Nonsense. Fighting is the best way to get your anger out, and we can talk about whatever is bothering you," Aysal replied. She was polishing her sword sitting cross-legged on the ground.

"Nothing is bothering me."

"Bell, talking it out is honestly going to make you feel better." Aysal stood up with her sword at the ready. "Alright. Try to attack me. Pay attention to how I block your sword with my own instead of dodging all the time. Go on. Talk while you attack."

Bell bit her lip. She lunged forward and swung her sword into Aysal's right side, but Aysal moved her sword across her hip to parry. "My father," Bell began, bringing her sword over her head to try to hit Aysal's neck, "kept more secrets from me than I thought. That's why I was so angry earlier."

"Parents always do." Aysal blocked the hit. The blades clanged like bells together.

"I don't mean that he lied about things like normal parents. He never told me about my real parents or where I came from." Bell tried to hit Aysal's knee, but the princess stepped back and brought her sword down low in front.

"Why didn't you ask him?"

"I did ask him. Plenty of times." Bell took a few steps forward to keep her target at close range. "He never answered me. He always avoided my questions. And now I learn that he cut people's tongues out and experimented on magic. What else do you think he lied about? He could be a murderer as well as a torturer."

"I wouldn't know."

"Of all the people, he was the one I thought I could rely on. I can't trust anyone anymore. I mean, how could he do that to me? He was supposed to be my guardian!" She thrusted the sword toward Aysal's stomach, and before Aysal could push the blade away with her own sword, Bell twisted it around to aim for her thigh. Aysal just barely blocked her.

"You're getting better. Let it all out," Aysal encouraged.

Bell gritted her teeth and tried the same attack again. Her sword was a silver blur in the sunlight from how fast she moved. The muscles in her arms ached from holding the sword up. Sweat beaded on the back of her neck and her forehead. It was much heavier than it looked, and Bell now realized that Baudouin Bain must have had the same problem. This made her feel a little better. "Soutine," she said between heavy steadying breaths, "isn't the man I thought he was. Not at all."

"Good, good!"

Bell charged at Aysal so she could swing her sword down with as much strength as she could muster. The princess blocked it easily.

"He never told me--" Bell swiped for Aysal's face, but missed-- "who I really am--" She tried for Aysal's arm. The princess dodged her and hit Bell's sword with her own for good measure. "And he took me away from my parents! I don't even know where I was born or why I lived in Terre Pur! He's a monster! I'd be better off in Solancee with my real parents than stuck with a snake like him!" In a fit of rage, Bell took the sword in both her hands and swung wildly around, trying desperately to get past Aysal's impeccable defenses with sheer luck.

"Then why are you trying to rescue him if you hate him so much?" Aysal yelled back.

"I-- I--" Bell stopped fighting. She was panting and sweating, and her hands shook. It was no use.

She sat down on the grass.

"What's wrong?" Aysal asked. "You were doing wonderful. Don't tell me you're done already."