25 The Rolls and the Fire (1/2)
Tylen did as he was told.
The sword barely missed the tips of his hair. He rested his hands on his knees and panted. His heart thundered to a race. The sun smothered his back with its heat. Sweat trickled down the side of his face, dripping on the grass.
Yet, none of them sounded more absurd than his thoughts about the pirate wanting to take his life.
”Now, roll to your right.”
Pain slammed through Tylen's knees as he curved away from his position. The blade swiftly came down and hit the ground where the Prince previously stood. Raz didn't rest. She spouted her next instructions, swinging, ”Now, your left.”
Once again, the rapier sliced through the air until it met resistance made of dirt.
Tylen shifted his weight onto his bottom, raising his hands in front of his face. Had the pirate gone mad? She was supposed to protect him, not offer him as a sacrifice to Luna.
”How weak are you?” Raz seethed. She hovered the blade next to the Prince's face. Her eyes had turned cold and hard while she watched him. It was yesterday when her companion had been kidnapped under the impression that she had a relationship with the Crown Prince. They came back to find the same Prince frolocking with his nurse.
How much did the people spoil him?
”Excuse me?” Tylen asked. He lowered his hands to meet the pirate's stoic gaze, shivering as soon as his eyes made contact. The air seemed colder despite the hot sun.
Raz squinted at him, ”You have fast reflexes but how much training have you gone through?”
”I've mostly learned the basics. It's Hayden who went through advanced courses.”
The pirate barred her teeth and clenched her jaw. Her mouth barely moved as she spoke, ”Are you to rely on Sir Darkwood for combat? What about you? What can you do?”
”I've had defense training,” Tylen said. Somewhere inside, he knew it wouldn't be a satisfactory answer for the Rash of the Sea.
At his remark, Raz pulled back the rapier and pointed it over her shoulder, ”Then, let's see how you defend yourself against a sword while unarmed.”
In one smooth motion, the pirate attacked the Prince.
Tylen scrambled onto his feet and kept his eye on the sword. He dodged each swing Raz made in his direction. She aimed for his ribs, his shoulder, his legs… the Prince kept a one-inch distance, maintaining the upper hand.
Maia and Cleon observed from their spot. The blue-haired pirate immediately noticed Tylen's footwork. The work of an experienced fighter. Maia, on the other hand, regarded the Prince's overall movement. The strain each body part went through at the choice of action—including possible weaknesses and openings.
When Tylen achieved a clean streak of dodging the blade, Raz changed tactics. She crouched to the ground and swept her leg against his ankles. The Prince found himself flat on his back in an instant with a sword pointed under his chin.
”Didn't you say it would only be a sword?” He complained, flexing his feet. The ache around them almost made him wonder if the pirate had given him an injury.
”And that is reason enough to be open against other attacks?” Raz scoffed. She bent forward until her face covered the entirety of the Prince's vision, her voice hissing out of her lips, ”Listen to me carefully. I will not proceed with this mission while my companions are at a risk because some bloke cannot engage in combat. We may be here to supply you protection but mark my words, where we're heading with this journey of yours, you need better skills. How exactly do you plan to protect your princess against your enemies, hm?”
Raz straightened her spine, sheathing the rapier back in its case, ”We start your combat training tomorrow at dawn. After that, we leave. If you have any unfinished business, better resolve it soon.”
Then, she walked away without looking back.
Tylen laid down stock still. The grass cradled his head and the sky gifted his eyes with serene clouds floating by. A big one blocked out the sun, saving him from blindness. The words of the pirate weighed heavily in his head. He had intended to take up more training. Unlike his best friend, he hadn't been born with superior combat skills. Even when he had presented more effort, his swordsmanship barely improved. In the end, Hayden reassured him that he'd stay by his side and that he didn't need to worry so.
”Aw, don't be so down in the dumps” Cleon interrupted the Prince's thoughts. He sat near Tylen, hugging his knees, ”Raz is a monster on two legs.”
”Ignore him. She simply wants us to be able to look out for each other” Maia reassured him as well. She crouched over at Tylen's other side with a wide smile on her face.
The Prince shifted his head in her direction, ”Maia, how are you?”
”I'm good. No need to worry” the redhead patted his shoulder lightly.
”Am I really that bad?” Tylen asked, staring at the sky again.
”You're fast on your feet, I can tell you that” Cleon answered.
He had heard the same thing from Hayden and their instructors. Was that all he was good at? Fleeing? The clouds continued to roll in the sky. They clearly had nothing to worry about whether they did it slow or whether they could defend themselves from attackers.