Crowns of Flame and Ice - Book One

(4) What Could've Been

the hilt of the large sword was cool in my hand as I grasped it studying the metal. it glinted in the morning sun, perfect for battle I realised. "do you want to go hard or slow today?" James asked picking up his own slightly smaller sword, I thought it was funny how mine was bigger than his, considering the difference in our body mass. it took me a few seconds to reply "I don't want to be able to feel my legs". A small smirk appeared on his lips and his eyes seemed to glaze over slightly, I wondered what he was thinking about. "That can be arranged" he mumbled quietly, I wasn't entirely sure what he meant.

I had an advantage over James, while he was scarily big I was smaller, I could easily outmanoeuvre him by using my speed and agility. "did you give me this big ass sword to make it more difficult for me to get away from you?" I ask, crossing my arms. James growled crossing his arms over his muscled chest, right, he hates bad language. "I mean did you give me this big sword to make it more difficult for me to get away from you?" I ask again with a nervous smile. "of course not! I'd never put you at a disadvantage" he replied, throwing his hands up exasperatedly. "It wouldn't work anyway" I reply, a smirk appearing on my lips. James lunged for me with his sword pointed directly at my rib. I avoid the attack by stepping backwards and to which he responds by swinging at my head. After a few minutes of James attacking and me and I either avoid it or block it with my sword he growls "stop toying with me" through his heavy breathing. chuckling, I swipe my sword at his legs causing him to jump back. "but it's so fun" I croon waiting for him to steady himself. when he just glares at me I sigh and go for his left foot again with my sword, he has to part his legs in a stance in order to avoid the attack, perfect. Too quick for him to even realise what was happening I run at him and just as he gets ready to block whatever attack I was about to throw at him I drop down to the floor and slide under him using the dusty ground to my advantage, perhaps it did have it's uses. Before James can turn round I jump on his back tackling him to the ground, normally that manoeuvre wouldn't have worked but because he was already a little disoriented it was too easy.

we land on the ground with a thud, a dust cloud forming. straddling his back I lean over and whisper into his ear "say it". he tries to grab the sword I had pressed against the back of his neck with those huge hands but couldn't get his arm far enough back over the muscle. I click my tongue and flip him over under me, noticing the streaks of dust on his face. "say it" I demand again, a small smile tugging on my lips. "I'm not saying that" he mumbles. I laugh, and plant a huge kiss on his forehead and exaggerate the 'muwah' as I pull away, making his cheeks go even redder. "say i..." I start, but he cuts me off with another firm, grumpy refusal. I start wiggling on him, trying to get far enough down so I can slam my hands into his chest to get him to say it. when I'm sitting on his lower stomach I punch his chest with my fists, not hard enough to hurt, but just enough to punctuate my point. "say it" I hiss, wiggling again for emphasis. for some reason, his face was becoming as red as a tomato, his hands closing and opening where I held them at the wrists. "Anala Castilio has beaten the giant of Vauxhaven" he mumbles looking away. "What was that?" I ask, leaning over him. something strange passes over his features as he flips us over putting me under him and he braces a hand above my head. "Anala Castilio has beaten the giant of Vauxhaven" he growls, a strange gleam in his eyes I'd never seen before. I gulped audibly, feeling his heavy breath on my skin. grinning I press a kiss to his cheek and slide out from under him.

we spent hours going over a variety of different exercises including archery, hand to hand combat, fencing, defence, daggers, swords and posture. I beat him in every single one but he tried to come up with pointers during the whole time. the truth was that he'd taught me everything he knew and not even the new trainers I got every month were able to teach me anything new. I'd occasionally make a few errors on purpose so he had something to point out because I liked spending time with him and it meant he'd spend longer with me before he had to go back to his duties.