Chapter Ten

 

Sarafina wasn't sure what to be more shocked about: the fact that she'd just beaten the best swordsman on the Bloody Mary"and probably the best in the world"or that Skylar had said swordswoman and not swordsman. She decided to go with the latter.

“What did you just say?” she asked.

“I said you just beat the best swordsman aboard the Bloody Mary.”

“No, you didn't"you said I beat the best swordswoman aboard the Bloody Mary.”

Skylar's eyes widened. “No, I didn't.”

“Yes, you did. I heard you.”

“Well...uh...I meant that you're now the best swordswoman aboard the Bloody Mary, because you just beat the best swordsman, you see.”

Sarafina noticed that in Skylar's panic, his voice was becoming increasingly less gruff and more girl-like. She was starting to think he was actually a she...

“Your story is unconvincing,” Sarafina said with growing confidence. “If that was what you meant, you would have said it. A clever girl like you wouldn't mess up by such a long shot.”

Quickly regaining his act and his (or her?) gruff voice, Skylar said, “You calling me a girl?”

“Yes,” Sarafina replied. “Because you are one.”

“No, I'm not! It's your problem if you don't believe me!”

“What are you hiding, Skylar?” Sarafina asked, unnecessarily"she was pretty sure she already knew.

“NOTHING!!” Skylar yelled. “So I made one word mistake. So what? I told you my story and you won't believe me. Give a gir"ack!"a guy a break!”

“Hey,” said Sarafina, “your secret's safe with me. Just don't yell so loud. People might hear you.”

Both girls suddenly turned to the doorway as they heard footsteps. Jesse was entering the room.

“Yeah,” he said. “They just might.”

Author's Note

Is it too short?