Only a Fence

vanilla #15 - friendly competition

            There was absolutely no doubt in Karayan Amarad's mind that she disliked Trent Zeyvick. To go as far as to say that she hated him might have been a bit too much but she mist definitely held no affection for the man she now looked at as the general of the entire Order. In the previous Asu Cane Order she looked to General Kay Klekas as an equal but in terms of ranks now she sat one below the soft talking general. She never understood how a soldier like this managed to make it in the Order at all. He was a free spirit, a quality that annoyed her more than anything, and did not seem to have a sense of dignity at all. In fact he was the one who often talked back to their Lady and made jokes. It did not seem like the proper thing for a general of the entire order to do.

            The mage walked across the courtyard and toward the barracks where the elite order members stayed. She was to tell him that someone from the Forest of the Dead was on the way and they needed to meet Luna in the throne room as soon as possible. Yet as she rounded a corner she was surprised to see that he seemed to be fencing. General Zeyvick stood dueling with one of his subordinates in the afternoon. He was shirtless and the sweat seemed to cling to his skin in tiny little droplets. In touched his partner and it was all over. There was cheering and some patting the other soldier on the back. Feeling a little annoyed she could not believe he was playing at a time like this.

            "General Zeyvick," she called as she walked up to them. The other soldier saluted but the general merely turned around, putting his sword on his shoulder.

            "Oh hello Kara, what can I help you today?" He asked and the fact that he was using her name informally made her blood boil.

            "That is Mage Amarad to you, General. We are to meet the Lady in the throne room in a moment; there is a representative from the Forest on the way," she replied and he tilted his head to the side.

            "I already know that Mage Amarad" the way he said her title sounded mocking and she felt herself getting angrier "we were just dueling for some practice," he paused for a moment before smiling, "how about you join us?" There was a mutter throughout the soldiers behind him as the general kicked a sword from the ground and caught it turning it around so the hilt face her.

            "I do not have time to play your games, General Zeyvick, we have important matters to attend to," she replied and he smiled her, that annoying playful smile that screamed he took absolutely nothing serious, and she hated it.

            "I know you're not afraid of a little friendly competition, are you Mage Amarad?" He asked still holding the sword out to her, "After all it's just a little fencing duel."

            "You take nothing seriously," Karayan replied taking the sword from him, "I'm going to show you what happens to little boys who do not take things seriously." General Zeyvick grinned and gestured for his men to move back.

            "No one intervene under any circumstance," he told them without turning around.

            "But sir--"

            "Under no circumstance and that is an order." General Zeyvick repeated his voice a little harder. Karayan smiled to herself. After weeks of watching insubordination she was finally going to get her chance to knock this little boy down. "How about we make this interesting. If I win you have to start letting me call you by your first name and if you win you'll be Mage Amarad to me for the rest of my life. What do you think?"

            "Even in front of Luna?" She asked and he nodded.

            "Even in front of Luna,"

            "General, I believe we have a deal," she replied. He took his position and seemed to be waiting for her. She gave him no time to think as she raced forward and attacked with everything she had. Kay was her teacher for years, she knew she was more than proficient in the art of the blade, yet every move she made on him he blocked with ease. They clashed blade and she leaned in, putting pressure between them, and made eye contact with the general. For the first time she noticed something different in those almost always goofy eyes. She was with a different man right now, a better man, one that took everything he was doing right now seriously. "Don't let's you guard down, Mage Amarad," he said swinging at her.

            "I could say the same for you boy," as she swung at a vulnerable spot and expected to feel flesh scratching but instead she felt nothing but air. He spun, with a grace she had no seen in a fighter since Kay, and jabbed her in the ribs just hard enough that the blade fell from her hands as she dropped to one knee to hold the wound.

            "The late General Klekas trained you." General Zeyvick said before offering her a hand, "but she trained me as well, probably not as much, but I also have a lot more practice than you. Even so, you did amazing. I'm very impressed." Looking at his hand for a moment she took it and he pulled her to her feet. She did not release it right away and they stood mere inches apart.

            "She trained me enough, Trent, that next time it won't be so easy for you to beat me." Karayan said and Trent smiled.

            "Name the time and the place and I'll be there, Kara," he replied and now it was her turn to smile. She released his hand and walked away, glancing over her shoulder once as he pulled his uniform on. He was watching her too and that same serious expression was in his eyes. This man was no fool, she could see that, but not she was not so sure she knew what he was at all.