The Troll War

Chapter Sixteen - Gauldarn's Castle

For the past several suns Leaf and Korb had been trained in hand-to-hand combat, both with practice weapons and without any weapon. Much to Korb's surprise, Vivian was one of the top instructors in hand-to-hand, but he soon got over his fear of her, and actually enjoyed it when she gave him a squeeze.

Today had been an especially hard training session, they were using real weapons, not the dull, couldn't cut butter training knife, but their own sharp blades. Leaf had gone first, and though he gave it a strong and valiant try, twice Vivian hand beaten him. On the third round Leaf didn't move quick enough, and Vivian nicked his forearm, which quickly ended that session. Looking at the nick she had created, "It's back to the practice blade for you young healer, that shouldn't have happened."

Leaf protested, "But it was only a small cut, I should have moved more quickly . . ." Vivian held up her hand to stop his objecting. "Leaf, that could have been much worse, you need more practice. Which you will get tomorrow if that cut has healed. Now sit down and take care of your wound, while I see what your Protector can do."

Korb was nervous, up to today they had used the practice blades, but now with the real thing . . . he knew Vivian wouldn't intentionally hurt him or Leaf, but that cut on Leaf's arm was real, and he needed to be very careful.

Vivian waved Korb over, and he stopped several steps short of her. Vivian put her hands on her hips, "Korb, get your cute backside over here so we can do some serious practicing."

Normally, a remark like that would have rolled off him. This time was different for some reason, this time he was determined to show her. This time he would win. He approached her slowly and cautiously, watching every nuance she made with her body or eyes, all else disappeared, all he saw was her slowly circling him. Suddenly he realized that in a couple more steps the sun would be to her back, and in his eyes. It was time to act. He dropped his defensive posture, let his arm with his blade drop to his side, then, "OK, you've got me. Go ahead and kill me, let's just get it over with." Vivian was stunned, she couldn't believe he was giving up without even trying; when her mouth opened in surprise Korb leaped forward, turned the blade so that the handle would strike her and shoved the handle into her stomach. It would have been death if he had used his blade, but the point was clearly made, she was defeated.

In shock, her mouth open and her eyes wide, "You won." She started jumping up and down saying "you won, you won, you won." She looked at him with such pride and awe, she started to jump into his arms, but he stepped back, pointed his blade at her, and held up his hand to stop her. Confused, she stopped and watched him. He put his blade away and then motioned her to come closer, when she was right in front of him, he put a hand on each side of her face, and kissed her. Long and hard. Their arms wrapped around each other as they kissed.

Leaf, with a huge grin on his face, "I guess you've decided you like her, huh?" Korb nodded his head and kissed Vivian again.

After a few more kisses, she pushed him away, "Now that tricked once, but it will be only once, so now let's see how you handle things." And she began to circle him once again, but he didn't move slowly, but did two quick steps keeping the sun out of his eyes. She nodded her appreciation of his move, and continued to keep her eyes glued on him. There were several attempts at a stab or slash by both of them, but no contact. After several trips around in a circle, Korb again relaxed, "I'm tired and hungry, let's get some food."

Thinking this was another trick by Korb, she lunged forward, but he expected it and grabbed her right arm with the blade, turned, and threw her over his shoulder to the ground. Still holding her arm, he knelt and stabbed her again with the handle of his blade.

She was without words as Korb offered her a hand up. He was grinning from ear to ear, he had bested the instructor twice. She looked at him pleased with his success, "Now I'm tired, let's get that food you wanted."

"Sounds good." As they walked towards Leaf, and now April as well, Vivian innocently hooked her thumb in Korb's belt, then with a swift kick to the back of his knee, started pulling him down, but he grabbed her and spun around so that he landed on top of her, and had the handle of his blade at her throat. "Can we please stop training", he said, "and go get some food." Vivian pulled his face down, giving him a much-deserved kiss.

She looked deeply into his eyes, "You are the first student to ever counter that trick. Looks like you've been learning your lessons very well. So, yes, practice is over", then with a laugh, "now get off me you big lug."