Snippet #2042484

Timothy nodded in agreement with her, Jones was certainly exceptionally skilled with a blade. That he was the one to fall was a testament to the ferocity of the attack, but no excuse.
"It was the same here, although he wasn't the only one." There was still a slight in his words, as if the lost of a skilled rival angered him. Possibly one could misinterpret. He mutated sadness to anger but it was not true that he felt no sorrow. "I bested him once, but that was sparring and we bent the rules a little. I outlasted him." He stopped, realizing the poor choice of words. Once again he had outlasted Jones but in this case it may have been the last time. He watch Anna careful, prepared to apologize if he had overstepped some boundary. She seemed ready to break apart. His comment about the book even seemed to surprise her, as if her thoughts were occupied else where.

He noticed her glancing at his hand, red still adorning the area that make contact with the unyielding wall. He shook his head.
"Don't worry about me, I'm okay. You could say I've been through worse." Even though the lines were slightly humorous the boy's tone didn't inflect that. His heart wasn't into lightening the situation. Rolling his shoulders to test his back he proved his point. A little numbness in his hand couldn't really contend with the sharp pain of rent flesh. "Well, he gave it to you. I suppose its yours to read. I won't intrude, unless there is something relevant to us in there. I'll see you again." He couldn't quite leave with a smile, not in this situation. So it was almost a awkward moment as he turned and walked off, wrapped in bandages and carrying his sword and weapon harness in one hand.