Snippet #2408806

“Come at me, scar face.”

Kael liked to think she meant it affectionately when she said that. Few people were so blunt about it. She looked determined and angry but Kael recognised the look in her eyes. His little crow relished any opportunity to beat him up, or anyone really, he just happened to be her more regular punching bag.

They both stood at the ready, each waiting for the other to make a move. Kael threw his arms forwards, feigning attack. Only sign that Seriss fell for the ruse was a tensing her limbs; he smiled and she bared her teeth at him. For a moment each of them remained still. Then he took a step and Seriss shifted to follow the movement. He launched forward, stabbing towards her heart; as predicted she side-stepped the feint and batted at the spear, hitting only the wooden shaft and not the pointed steel head. He brought the spear around swinging blunt wooden end into her ribs even as she moved into the hit, dodging the initial assault. She took the impact on her leather-clad forearm at the last moment, grimaced, then threw herself back into the fight.
They continued this way for a while, a dangerous dance in which they reflected each other’s movements with their attacks. In hand to hand combat her skills were undeniably greater, but he had a size and strength advantage over her. Plus he had the spear.

The steel head sliced through the air as Seriss ducked and weaved, striking under his guard before retreating from the reach of the metal weapon. She was to brazen about the burn of metal but he knew it hurt her just like anyone else and she was constantly aware of where the blade was as they fought. He tried not to restrain his attacks, she wouldn’t appreciate it if she thought he was going easy on her, yet he still endeavoured to avoid actually touching her with the steel. Every blow he landed was with the wood of the spear.

Their movements grew faster as they fell into a rhythm. They dodged and weaved and blocked, and struck with furious speed and fluidity. Energy crackled along his skin and when Seriss deflected his next attack blue sparks arced from his skin to hers. She hissed and glared at him.

“Oops,” he shrugged.

A fiery kick to his hand and the spear went spinning. Flames spilled from Seriss’ clenched fists as she raised an eyebrow, “Oops.”

“Very hot,” he smirked at the double meaning and held his hands out surrender. She rolled her eyes and doused smothered the flames.

“So, Kael, is it really necessary to flirt with her while she's trying to beat you up?”

Lukai Thanros laughed. Kael had ignored the arrival of others in the training, taking his eyes off Seriss while sparring was hazardous to one’s health.

“Just, it makes you come off a tad...” Lukai continued.

“Desperate,” Rommel Kaiser offered, standing beside the Sentinel.

“Well, I was going to go with masochistic,” Lukai shrugged, “But that works too I suppose.”

“Rommel,” Kael left the mats and put an arm around the girl's waist. “My long haired beauty, I know your cruelty only because you’re hiding the fact that you, like so many women in the Skyguard, are secretly in love with me. But Lukai, mate, I didn’t know you swung that way!” He winked at the other man, jokingly.

“Tell you what. Instead of breaking any of your hearts, I’ll take you all out to eat. In the dining hall. Where the food's free. Who’s hungry?”

Out of the corner of his eye he saw Seriss smile. Just a little.