Steel Roses

Promise Three: Fencing

"Another win to me!" Beldon shouted in triumph a week later, holding up his sword as both Julius and Daniel sat up, grimacing, both having been knocked off their feet and defeated in quick succession in their latest sparring match against Beldon.

Daniel, who looked exactly like Julius, only with black hair, had been brought in several days before to give Beldon a challenge – fighting two opponents was supposed to slow him down – and at the beginning it did. Suddenly having to watch out for both threw him... and then he had caught up and the wins returned to him, meaning it was now fifty-six wins to Beldon verses fifteen to Julius – twenty-five if he included the defeats won with Daniel.

"I think I should find a third fencer for you," Julius said, standing up and brushing himself off, pulling Daniel to his feet.

"My winning streak with decrease rapidly," Beldon said, dropping into one of the chairs that littered the ballroom they fought in.

"That is the idea, Sir," Julius said, his smile obvious from his tone.

Beldon laughed, putting a hand to his mouth to cover his coughs before finishing the laugh.

His fever, headache and sore throat were long gone by now, but the cough insisted on clinging on though Beldon hoped to shift it soon.

"Another match, Sir?" Daniel asked, nursing his arm where he had fallen on it.

"No, no," Beldon said, waving the suggestion away, "No, go and attend to that arm instead; we can be done for the day."

Daniel, relieved, bowed. "I'll be with Jasper if you need me," he said, bowing before departing.

"Maybe best to give him a day or so before the next match," Beldon said.

Julius nodded. "I shall be sure to check up on him," he promised just as the doors opened.

The Beast walked in and Julius quickly bowed, backing away to stand behind Beldon.

"Hello," Beldon said, smiling at The Beast, "I thought you were working."

"I was," The Beast said, waving Julius away. The masked servant bowed again and quickly backed out, closing the doors behind him. "I finished."

"Oh good," Beldon said, leaning back in his seat, pushing the chair back onto it's two back legs and gesturing to one of the chairs nearby, "What do you intend to do for the rest of the day?"

"Well, I was going to come offer to repay you for staying with me during the storm," The Beast said.

"Repay me? Why?" Beldon said surprised, "All I did was talk and laze around and eat far too many chocolates."

The Beast laughed slightly. "It still meant a lot," he said, looking around, "I recalled that I had promised to spar against you at some point, I had come to offer you a fencing partner but I see you have already practiced today so perhaps—"

He didn't even manage to finish his sentence before Beldon jumped up and grabbed his hand. "No, no, I can fence still, easily," Beldon said, dragging The Beast to his feet, "We can fence."

The Beast blinked in surprise, but stood up as Beldon walked to the swords that had been left on the floor. He picked up his usual but The Beast quickly took it from his hand.

"No, no, not that one. Use a blunted one."

Beldon looked up at him.

"I can't fit into any of the protective gear, remember," The Beast said.

Beldon looked at him, then looked at his chest; the perfect strike zone was too broad to fit a protective plate over, of course it would have to be blunted.