chapter 20

Throwing axes

The school bell rings for the second part of day and we said goodbye in front of my class. I was early for Arts of war but couldn't claim my sword because Tracey was swinging it in her left arm, the way professor Mia did that first day. Collin beats me again and when I put my sword back my eye caught two small axes covered in dust. It gave me an idea. I am sure that Lucian knows how to fight with any kind of weapon and I hate how I'm never on time to claim the sword I needed.
            I was early today and was waiting for him. "Hey babes. Jeez your early. That anxious to see me" he tease as he walks in.
            “Can I change weapons" I ask ignoring his flirt.
            “To what” he asks curiously and I ran to the cupboard and show him. “Where did you find them Elena?”
            “It was here” I reply. He blows the dust off and look at the engravings. He was stunned.
            “Do you know who these use to belongs too. ” I shake my head. “It was Queen Catherine's.”
            “Then what are they doing here?”
            “I don’t know, but can you keep it a secret for now, just until I found out” and I nod my head. I really want to learn how to fight with them.
            “Do you know how to fight with axes?”
            “Babes, that is an insult" he says through a huge grin. "They are called Frankish Throwing Axe and you have to be careful” and I roll my eyes.
            "Just teach me."  He juggles with one of the axes before handing it to me.
            "Why do you want to fight with them Elena?"
            "I like the way they look. They are easy to carry around. The sword looks uncomfortable to travel with."
             "You choose them just because they are easy to transport" he asks and I lift up my shoulders.
            "Does it matter?"
            "It's not common to fight with them. The queen was only part of a handful warrior that chose axes. As you can imagine you have to be very close to your enemy to strike, where with the sword you have quite some distance. I guess Master Longwei wasn't wrong about his mark theory" and I roll my eyes again.
            "Can we start" I ask sarcastic.
            "Fine. With axes, fear for your enemy is not an option. Close range, like this" and he came so close that I could feel his breath on my hair. I really wanted to kiss him."What is nice about them is that you have two, which means you have time for a surprise attack" His other hand came out of nowhere and hit me softly on the left rib cage. "That hit could have cost you your life, babes" and I laugh.  "Axe warriors are fierce, they don't hesitate and they have fast reflexes" he speaks in a serious tone and stared straight into my eyes. "Now if you just want to hit someone unconscious you can with the back. I bet you Collin will think twice after a blow like that" he says in a tone that makes it able to breathe again. "Or it can be a weapon to throw" he steps out of my personal space and chuck it so fast that I hardly see the axe left his hand. It hit the target board perfect.
            "You are really good at fighting" I said and he blushes with a huge grin.
            " Thanks babes. I used to play with a lot of weapons as a kid. I guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree" he replies while walking to retrieve the missing axe. I pinched myself. He's such a dream. When he turned around I look away and he hand me the axes.
            "Shall we" he said and I nod my head.
            "Just go easy please" and he chuckles. He drops his sword and pick up a shield.
            "Tell you what, you just swing away until you get the hang of it" he says and I felt like an idiot as he wait for me to attack him. I was nervous at first and with one push of Lucian's shield I was on my butt again.
            "Why are you holding back?"
            "It doesn't feel right, you don't have any sword to fight back" I complained and he laughs.
            "You rather want me to pick up the sword again. It is hardly a fight Elena, not to talk about fair" he replies. His smile went straight to his eyes which made me want to grab him again.
            "Fine, don't complain if I hurt you" and he roars again.
            "With weapons, forget it" he teases. I squint my eyes and start to attack him. I have to admit, I didn't think he was expecting it and these axes felt ten times better than what Excalibur did.
            It was as if I just knew what to do next, like we were meant to be. When my side finally start to pain, we stop. He didn't say anything but stare at me. We burst out laughing.
            "That really felt so good."
            "I think you find your weapon. You are really good with them Elena." I hate compliments but have to admit, it felt great and Becky might be right about the class, becoming my favorite.
            "Beginners luck."
            "There is no beginners luck in fighting, only in gambling." We start again fighting when my pain left. Since I started running with Lucian, the pain disappear fast and  I can hold out longer. I don't get so tired the way I did two weeks ago. The sit ups help too and my abs didn't hurt anymore. I can even feel it in my blows, they were stronger and harder.
            He was better prepared this time and blocked all my blows, accept the last one and finally tripped over his own two feet. 
            "D****t Elena, whoa" he roars and my stomach did a flip with his excitement.
I just giggle. This was really starting to become fun.
            The third time, he didn't fell but it was a hard and long fight. When we finally said enough we were both out of breath.  I cannot believe that it felt so easy now that I finally find the right weapons to fight with. They are going to become my twins and we are never going to be separated, that is if they don't take them from me because it used to belong to Queen Catherine.
            "Do you think professor Mia knows about these axes" I ask Lucian as we put them back in the cupboard with the swords and shields.
            "I have no idea. She must know but then again they were so full of dust that she might not."
            He was no longer out of breath but covered in sweat.
            We walked hand in hand to the main building still talking about our session. I could tell that he truly enjoyed it and can't think that I ever seen him this exited before.
            Satisfaction was a sweet feeling and it made me feel as if I was getting there slowly. My second breath made me run the stairs, two at a time. I reached the third floor in no time.  I smiled thinking the effect Lucian has over me. I am crazy about him and never felt anything like this before. Arianna's words crept into my mind again. Why does he has to be a prince?
            I took a shower as I enter my room. I couldn't wait for Becky and Sammy to come back to tell them about the axes and that they might belong to Queen Catherine. Sammy came in first after her drama lesson.
            Her eyes light up as I told her about my little discovery. We both fell silent and watch Becky dragging a huge saddle into our room. She was smiling from ear to ear and her face had some redness to her cheeks.
            “That.
            Was.
            Amazing” she sings, drop the saddle by the door and fell down on her bed.
            “You actually ride George” Sammy wants to know.
            “Yes and it is the best feeling in the world. I can’t explain it. Lift off was really scary. I didn’t like the speed at first and George must have sensed it somehow because he slowed down until I was ready for more. He took me so high above the clouds that I actually wanted to cry when Master Longwei told us to go back.”
            “Master Longwei was with you?” I ask and she nods her head. “Flying as a dragon?"
            “No, he had a magic carpet with him. Yes in his dragon form. Common Elena it’s not as if you don’t know that he is a dragon” Becky teases.
            “I just can’t imagine him as a dragon” I admit.
            “Well he is a beautiful one” she says and walk over to the fridge to get a soda. Dinner time was the usual. Chef made a feast out of food that Becky pulls her nose up. Sammy and I loved it. After I said goodbye to Lucian I prepared for Latin and call it a night after my mind felt as if it's going to explode. I didn't dream about anything and when my alarm clock went off again I finished so fast that I had to wait for Lucian.
            The two mile run turned in to three and right before I wanted to pass out we reach the lake. He took me on a different route today. We even run half of the way back which made me feel pretty good about myself.
            Blake had to call off our appointment because the Seer wanted to see him after school and it usually takes the entire afternoon. Sammy tried to help me but was nowhere near as good as her brother.
            The next day went fast and before I knew it, it was Friday.