BLACK BLOOD. [DAENERYS TARGARYEN.]

XXII.

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO.
"THE HEIR"

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"And again, boy." Barristan commanded Sorlo, after he had knocked him into the snow covered ground.

"I'm not a boy." Sorlo muttered as he picked up his sword, raising back onto his feet.

"You want to be a man? Stop fighting like a boy, then."

Both of them trained in the courtyard of Winterfell, alongside many soldiers who prepared for the war to come. Still, Sorlo had his troubles with a sword. He was a decent fighter— but a bow and arrow was his true talent.

Barristan tried to get under his skin, push his buttons and motivate him to give his all. It was his way of teaching.

"Are you going to fight like a boy when your sisters life is on the line? Or the queens?" He pushed.

Sorlo clenched his jaw and gritted his teeth, holding the sword with both hands until his knuckles turned white. He swung his blade precisely, with a rush of adrenaline, clashing it with Barristan's blade over and over again until Sorlo had a small window of opportunity, and managed to knock the knights sword out of his hands.

The adrenaline faded out of his body, and he lowered his sword from Barristan's neck, who only gave a satisfying smile.

"Can I practice with you?" A voice beamed from behind Sorlo, and he turned on his heels to see a smiling Arya in front of him.

"If you'd like to. I'm not the greatest at it, though." Sorlo warned her with a smile.

Arya only shrugged, twirling her thin blade in her hands, "You just beat Ser Barristan Selmy. You might be better than you think."

"Sheer luck."

The Stark girl got in position, one arm behind her back as she held a steady stance and a steady sword in her other hand. Sorlo stood across from her, holding the sword with both hands again, eyeing every move she made.

He swung first, but she swiftly dodged his strike and hit her blade against his leg, then his side.

"Dead." She only said.

With an impressed smile, he shook his head and got in position again. Every time he'd strike, she'd successfully block or dodge it, and hit him in return.

"You'll have to train with my sister, once she gets here. She is a better match for you." He told her between heavy breaths.