Enter Abyss

Chapter 18; Broken hearts and lethal swordfights.

When Cogs finally emerged from his bath, he reluctantly headed back to his own room, afraid of what he would find.

In truth, Pip was bad enough to deal with when she was in a GOOD mood, but now that she was mad at him, well... he simply did not need that sort of stress in his life.

But upon opening the door, he only found Archer flopped down on the bed.

"Oh. It's only you." the other boy said.

"Sorry to disappoint you." Cogs replied, sitting next to him.

"No, no. It's just that..."

"Pip?"

Archer gave him a look, "How did you know?"

"You mean other than the fact that she's being a huge pain in the arse?"

The red-haired boy frowned, and Cogs immediately felt guilty.

He wasn't one to call names, but Pip had just made him so angry. Still, that didn't give him any excuse, so he quickly appologized.

Archer only shrugged. "I'm worried about her, is all. She's always been so self-destructive. It's not healthy."

"No kidding." Cogs paused, "Do... do you ave any idea why she is like this?"

The other boy nodded. "I can't tell you-- she asked me not to. She said that when you are ready, you can ask her about it."

Groaning in frustration, Cogs fought the urge to yell at his friend; it was as if no one trusted him now days. And it was not like he could ask Pip what was her problem.

They were most likely not on speaking terms now anyway.

"I just wish I knew why she was mad at me." he said.

Archer cocked his head, eyebrow raised. "You made her mad? I thought I did." he immediately brightened, "Well, this is wonderful!"

"It is?"

"Yes! It means I don't have to feel guilty any more. Thanks, old chap!"

Cogs shook his head, wanting to be upset, but the smile on Archer's face was making that rather difficult and thus, he smiled slightly in return.

At least Archer was not upset with him; and Cogs could not withstand it if ever that happened. Nevertheless, he knew he would have to make things right with Pip.

Fights between friends cannot last forever-- or if they can, then perhaps it is time to find new friends, but that was beside the point. And the only way Cogs was ever going to find out why Pip was the way she was, would be by talking to her. By making up.

By apologizing.

And he had loved her for a good while, so forgiving her would be rather easy. But whether she would forgive him was another story.

                                .......................................

When Pip crept back into her room that night, she was relieved to see that both Cogs and Archer were asleep.

Climbing carefully onto Archer's bed, she gently lay beside him, curling up like a small kitten.

She sighed, remembering when the two of them had done such things when they had been smaller and had made the other upset. And, since neither were good with words, a gesture of companionship such as this was more acceptable. Preferred even.

So with her back pressed up against Archer's, Pip fell into a deep slumber, her dreams peaceful for the first time in years.

When she awoke, Cogs was gone-- no doubt going to see that Abyss-born girl-- yet Archer remained, his eyes closed, breathing steady, and a steady stream of drool leaking from his lips. Here, without him bouncing everywhere, he looked so untroubled, so peaceful and Pip smiled at how innocent he looked.

Borderline stupid, really.

Silently, she rose from the bed and left the room, deciding to wander the halls in search of something interesting to do. My, why was the Abyss SO BORING? At least on the surface she could find some decent boys to footrace, but after the fights yesterday, no one dared challenge her... though they looked at her with awe rather than disgust or fear.

Turning a corner, Pip suddenly stopped as the noise of steel against steel met her ears and a thrill rushed through her. Finally! Some action!

She followed the sound to a room that stood alone at the end of a hallway. And to her surprise and utter delight, it was filled with weapons of all kinds. Crossbows, cutlases, rapiers, broadswords, shortswords, maces, billhooks, and flails all hung from the walls, glimmering malevolently. Stepping into the room, Pip hesitated when she saw prince Mordren fighting some man several years older than he was.

Both were soaked in sweat, and while the other man's brow was furrowed in concentration, Mordren looked almost bored.

For awhile, Pip simply watched, but soon that grew rather boring and, blimey, she had better things to do than stand around here all day! Thus, clearing her throat, she tried to look as though she was not impressed slightly by Mordren's sword skills and waited while the two men stopped fighting and noticed her.

"Ah, Piper Bram." Mordren purred, "How lovely to see your face this morning."

"Save your charm for girls stupider than me." Pip replied curtly, "I came here to fight you, not make small talk, you idiot."

The sly grin on the prince's face never waivered and once he had dismissed his opponent, he came striding over to her. "You have quite the sharp tongue, you do realize that, don't you?"

"People've said worse about me."

He looked her up and down, something in his gaze making Pip shiver slightly. "Yes," he said, "I have no doubt they do."

Glaring at him, Pip put her hands on her hips and asked, "Are we just going to stand here all day?"

Mordren shook his head, "Of course not. Come, pick your weapon of choice."

Pip snorted and raised her fists.

But Mordren's smile only grew, "You mean to say you've only ever fought with your fists? How pathetic."

"I'd like to hear you say the same when I knock those teeth from your pretty face." Pip retorted, her cheeks going red slightly at the words 'pretty face'.

But Mordren either did not hear or chose to ignore her and instead walked to one of the racks that held a number of different swords and, upon selecting a shortsword, walked back over to where she stood.

"Fists are not good in a fight against an opponent with a sword," he said, handing her the blade. "I shall start you off with this, then we may move to a longsword if you prove worthy."

Pip looked at the sword doubtfully; it did not look like the sort of weapon you could bash into people. Not like her fists, which had been reliable up to this point. Maybe a warhammer would best suit her, but those did look rather heavy at the momet. So, sighing heavily, she gripped the sword by the hilt and strode to the center of the room.

"Right." she said, looking at Mordren with narrowed eyes, "Teach me. I haven't got all day, you know."

"The sword can not be mastered in a day."

"Well I can bloody well try, now can't I?"

This only made the prince smile; a fact that irritated Pip all the more. He shouldn't be smiling at her like that! HE HAD NO RIGHT TO BE SMILING AT HER LIKE THAT! No one smiled at her like that.

"Very well," the prince said, picking up his own sword once more, "Let us begin."

                                ......................................