ch 11

A Chapter by bmess

Ch 11

“Your stance is the most important thing in fighting.” Claimed Tahvo, who was currently pacing in front of me. “With it you will be able to fight much more effectively than with a sloppy stance. Your balance will be better, aim truer, and much more.”

“Okay.” I said. “Now how do I achieve it?”

Tahvo stopped pacing. “First put your non dominate leg forward.” I did and he shook his head. I sighed.

“Just take a natural step, don’t thrust it way out in front of you. It should feel natural.”

I tried it again, this time a got a nod. “Now, bring both hands in front of your face.”

He laughed when I did. I frowned and returned my arms to my side. “Why was that wrong?”

“First off, how are you going to fight off an attacker when you wont be able to see him? Put your hands in front of your face, not your eyes.”

“My eyes are on my face.”

He gave me a look that told me my sarcasm was not appreciated. I refrained my eye roll and tried again, this time placing my fists in front of my mouth.

“Now tuck your chin in.” Tahvo commanded. “Good. Now that’s your stance. From there you should be able to move fluidly, have more balance, and be able to scope out an escape. Which is lesson number three. Always have an escape plan.”

“What’s lesson two?”

“Observe everything.”

Oh, well that would be easy. “You can’t tell me you do that.”

Tahvo raised a brow. “And why not?”

“Its impossible.” I said shrugging.

He stepped closer to me, a grin on his lips. “There is one escape in this room. It would take me seven and a half steps to get there. I could use many of the items around as weapons. You have your hair tucked into a braid, but some fell out, covering your left eye. If I were to attack you, that would be a good side to come from, you would probably not see me.” I shivered at the thought of being so vulnerable, but he continued, “You favor your right side and it would take two moves to have you dead on the ground.”

I swallowed. S**t. “You’ll teach me how to do that right?”

He was now circling me. “No, you will do it on your own, but I will be expecting progress reports randomly. So start now.”

I swallowed nervously.

“How do I stand?” He barked.

I winced and observed him. “Um, you’re tall, wearing clothes similar to me . . .You favor your left side?”

He sighed. “We have a lot of work to do.”

We finished around ten that night, Him making me do ten pushups every time I failed to notice what he called ‘a crucial detail.’ By the time I snuggled down into my blankets for bed, my arms were so weak; I could barely lift the fabric. Sleep came easy.

We ran through the forest the next morning, the sky a soft pink as the sun rose for the day. Sweat drenched my back, my hair plastered to my face and neck. We had been running for a while now, how far? I had no idea; I just knew we were both struggling for breath. Finally I slowed to a stop, leaning against a tree to catch my breath.

“You have improved.” He panted. “That was a mile.”

“Only a mile!” I exclaimed. “I’ve barely made any progress!”

“Hey now, a mile is a pretty big deal for a beginner. I thought you were going to be glad.”

“I do not want to be a beginner. I just wish I could run like five miles already.”

“You’ll get there.” Encouraged Tahvo. “Lets get back to the castle. We have more to learn.”

“More observing exercises?”

The Prince rolled his eyes. “Yes. I know you don’t see why I make you do the things I do, but I promise it all has a purpose.”

“Fine.” I said, not wanting to fight over it. “Just promise me that back at the castle there is a bucket of water with my name on it.”

“A bucket?”

I looked at him through the corner of my eye as we walked. “Yes a bucket. I’m extremely thirsty. I did just run a mile might I add.”

He chuckled. “Well, that you did my Lady. If it is a bucket you desire, a bucket it shall be!”

“You are highly enjoying this aren’t you?” I said as a blush crept over my cheeks.

“Enjoying what?” Tahvo asked innocently. “The image running though my mind of you drinking from a bucket and soaking you?”

“That’s the one.” I mumbled.

“Never.” The smile on his face gave him away and I shoved him playfully. He laughed. We settled into a quiet pace, just us walking.

“Are you nervous about tomorrow?” I asked quietly.

“A little bit.” I nodded in understanding. “It’s going to be a big change. And hell, choosing a wife?” He shook his head at the thought.

“You still don’t know who you want?” That surprised me; I would have though out of all the women who would be more than happy to be his, he would have some idea. “What about Isobel?”

He pursed his lips. “That’s complicated.”

“Then uncomplicate it.” I snapped.

“She isn’t right for the job.” He exploded. “I know I can sleep with thousands of women, have any girl I want, but sadly I actually give a rats a*s about who has that power. The country needs a Queen. Not just a king, and damn me if I want the woman who will be my wife to be my partner in everyway. I want the people to like her, to be able to leave the castle in her capable hands and trust she can hold down the country while I’m away.” Tahvo continued on, “I want to be able to converse with her on politics and have her understand what I’m saying. Not just be concerned about the latest trend. I want a Queen worthy of the name, a mother of the people.”

I was silent after his speech, suddenly lost for words. The Prince wanted- He actually cared for his country, unlike his father. Hell, he cared about the people. After a long while, I looked at him in the eye and said, “I think what you want is exactly what this country needs.” The Prince just looked at me as I strode into the castle.

“Can barely move.” I groaned.

“You’re out of shape.” Commented the Prince. I glared at him.

“Or you made me work my a*s off yesterday and now I’m sore.”

He smirked. “Maybe. Or maybe if you hadn’t failed time after time you wouldn’t have improved.”

I huffed and heaved my aching body off the ground where I had be doing crunches. My abs were crying. “Am I going to learn any moves today? Or will it be the same as yesterday?”

Suddenly he was behind me. His arm wrapped around my neck, cutting off my air. I clawed at him, kicked, did everything I could think of to get him off me. To be able to breathe again. Then with out any warning, he removed his arm. I gasped. Gulping down air like I had food as a starving child.

“What the hell?” I yelled.

“Wanted to know how you would react.” He said shrugging.

“You could have just asked! I would have answered!”

“Yet I wouldn’t have as much information with that as I just gathered.”

I just stared at him. He was insane. Yes, that’s what it was.

He sighed. “I just got a glimpse on how you fight when your life is in danger. Your adrenalin kicked up, your body went into survival mode.”

“Because you nearly killed me!”

“You were never in any danger Odessa.”

I gaped at him. “You were chocking me. Chocking. That means you could have killed me.”

Tahvo rolled his eyes. “You are learning how to defend your self Odessa, how do you plan to do that if we don’t know what it feels like to be in that position?” I closed my mouth. “What? You just expect me to stand here while I ask how you are to get out of a choke hold? It doesn’t work like that.”

He had a point. “Sorry.”

The Prince nodded. “Now are you ready to begin?”

“Yes.”

“Good, now get into your stance.”

I did as he asked. “Now if a boy is attacking you there are a couple moves you can do. First off, kick him in the groin. That most always works.”

I raised a brow. “Are you asking me to kick you in the groin?”

His eyes turned cold, not pleased with my response. “You so much as move your leg in that direction, I will grab it and break the leg in half.”

I swallowed. “Okay. Noted.”

“Good, now other things you can do if you are attacked head on, kick at the knee of the attacker.”

“Why there?”

“Its nearly impossible to protect. You can make him distracted by the pain for a few seconds while you book it out of there.”

“Question.” I said, going back to standing normally.