A small gasp escaped him as he woke up. The dragonborn sitting up as a dull ach emitted from his shoulder. He put his hand to it, giving it a few test rotations as he tried to will the pain away. He was fine. There was no monster pinning him down. No one was screaming.
Opening his eyes, he gave a tired glance to the window. It was barely light out. He would guess it was just after sunrise. Letting a sigh escape him, Sulhadur shifted himself to get out of bed. His clawed feet lightly touching the cool floor. He would be highly surprised if anyone else was up at this hour, but perhaps, maybe he could get himself a warm drink and a walk around the gardens before anyone else started moving.
Stretching himself out, his back gave a satisfying crack as he willed the rest of himself to wake up. A huge yawn leaving him as he did so. Then he stood up to get himself ready for today.
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Nervous hands fidgeted with her hair, then her clothes, then she found a brush and chose to brush her tangle of hair out before putting it into a ponytail. Adela wasn’t there anymore. She had already left to do whatever it was she had to do. Leaving her to sleep in until she woke on her own. A much needed rest after she felt like she had dodged death at the trial. She was thankful for it. It was perhaps the best sleep yet since they had arrived here. Still, a part of her had been hoping Adela would still be there when she woke. Even though she was not considered a criminal anymore, having her there still made her feel more secure.
A polite knock interrupted Mahala's thoughts. Turning her head to the door, she wondered who it could before she answered in a soft voice. Barely able to be heard. “Come in.”
She was mildly surprised to see the red dragonborn as they gently opened the door. Sulhadur’s gold eyes taking a moment to scan the room before they found her. A gentle smile appearing on him as he gave her a small nod. “Good morning Mahala.”
She nodded back. “If you’re looking for Adela, she’s already left for today,” she said quietly. Sul shook his head. Taking a moment to step in a little farther so he wasn’t standing in the doorway. “No, I’m looking for you.”
“Me?” she questioned. Her eyes going wide with surprise before she felt the nervousness starting to flutter in her stomach. “W-why?”
Sul tilted his head at her. His eyes seeming to take her in in a way that gave her the impression he was reading her. It did not help with the flutter of nervousness in her. “Remember what I said at your trial?” She gave him a mute nod. “What I said was not a lie. You could definitely use some improvement with your abilities. I know you’ve been cooped up here, and I can tell you are nervous. Sometimes physical exertion can help ease the restless feeling. I came to ask if you would like to train with me.”
Sul’s caught her off guard, this was not what she was expecting. However, his claim of her not being a good fighter caused a defiant feeling to rise in her. Enough so that the flutter in her stomach went away. She gave him a look. A huff escaping her as she crossed her arms.
“I can fight just fine,” she said stubbornly. Sul just simply cocked an eye ridge at her. His own arms crossing as he took a different posture. A posture that said ‘Oh really?’
She just gave him a more stubborn expression. “We took you down, didn’t we?” She regretted her comment the moment it came out of her mouth. Her throat suddenly felt dry. Mahala's tongue feeling like it was just sticking to the roof of her mouth as she tried to immediately apologize, but no words came out. However, Sul barely seemed phased.
“It was three versus one, and you had the upper hand by surprising me,” he commented back. He tilted his head at her again, seeming to think. “If we did a one on one, I don’t think you could beat me.” She gave him a look again but didn’t dare speak. A grin slowly went across his face as he looked at her. “Wish to prove me wrong?” he asked.
She huffed. “When?” She asked.
“Say….an hour? At the training ring. Give us enough time to train, then clean up before lunch.”
“Good. I look forward to seeing you there.”
With nothing more to say. They both seemed to stare at each other before Sul gave a polite bow and left. Closing the door behind him. She flopped back onto the bed. What had she gotten herself into?
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An hour passed and Sul found himself at the training ring. A pleased, patient, smile on his face as he spotted Mahala entering through the gate. Her heat from before seems to have faded now. He watched her as she constantly was looking around, nervous. She had changed into something different. If he would give a guess, it was some sort of training clothes. A matching pair of pants and shirt. He wore one of his more tattered shirt and pants himself. Sword and shield in his hands. She gave him a skittish glance. “Are you sure we're allowed out here?” She asked in a quiet voice.
He nodded. “I’m sure. You are a free woman now, and we are still in the palace grounds. We are not breaking any rules being here.” That seemed to be a satisfactory answer for her as she settled just a little bit.
She looked him up and down as she squared off across from him now. He was pleased to see the expression in her eyes change as she did so. A dagger in her own hand.
“Are you ready?” he asked. She nodded. “Alright. Rules are simple…. No maim nor killing blows. Nothing that won’t allow one or both of us to walk out of here without aid. No one plays fair in fights, everything else goes…..sound good?” After a moment of thought she nodded again. He smiled lightly as he read determination from her.
Mahala wasted no time rushing him. He stepped back and brought his shield up in time to feel a firm thunk of her weapon hitting it. He brought his sword around to hit her and she got out of the way in time for him to miss. He took the chance to step forward, taking up the space she had just left. She tried to attack him again, but he expected it. Her weapon hitting his shield once more. He stepped into her movements to roughly push her with his shield. She stumbled back a few steps, but managed to regain her balance before she fell.
“That was good,” he called out, but didn’t put his guard down. “However, you can’t overpower someone stronger than you with that tactic. Try something else.”
She didn’t say anything, but he felt her watching him as he stood ready for her next move. She lunged again. He brought up the shield again and felt the blade glance off. He tried a swing but she had already moved. She was suddenly beside him and he barely moved in time to miss the dagger. He tried to side swipe her with his sword to force distance, only for her to put the flat side of her dagger against the palm of her other hand and use that to glance it off and away from her. It did give him a split second to step away before she could attack him. She tried to close the gap, only to have to dodge his blade as he had expected her to try that.
They stood at a stand still now. “Better,” He commented. He could see her gears starting to work. This time he attacked first. She easily glanced the sword away. She was quick to get close and he ducked his head behind his shield as he heard metal scrape the top. How did? He used the shield to push her away. Then swung down low from behind it to try and catch her leg. She jumped away and he had a chance to step away and peek out again. Now she had two daggers. Where did she get the other dagger?
She rushed him and he blocked one with the shield. The other coming around to be swiped away by his sword. He once again managed to force her away by pushing with his shield, but not for long as she side stepped him. His mistake was met with a sharp bite to his upper arm. He turned and stopped short of hitting her wrist with his sword. They both looked to each other for a moment. He wordlessly unwrapped and dropped the shield. Tucking his arm behind his back as if he had lost ability to use it. Mahala following by placing her one dagger aside.
Once again they squared off. The match seeming much more even as they seemed to not be able to get one up on each other. Without his shield, Sul was forced to move more to not be hit. Mahala on the other hand still having to dodge or glance away while ‘down a hand.` The back and forth between the two kicking up dirt. Ever so slowly dancing about the ring.
Mahala charged at him. He brought his sword up to block her attack. The two weapons striking together. Seeing an opening, he twisted his sword to try and disarm her. ….She let him do it. She let go of the blade and it fell into the dirt. The girl suddenly moving sideways from him. He realized a little late as she stepped on a nearby rock jutting out of the ground. Continuing the momentum and twisting to jump onto him. He was not expecting the sudden weight from the side as she hooked onto him and held fast. He just started to move to throw her off when he felt something push into his throat.
He froze. For a moment everything was silent as he stood there. Then, he relaxed and let the sword fall to his side. For a solid few seconds there was nothing but the heavy breaths coming from both of them.
“Very good,” he finally said. He felt the pressure go away from his throat. He turned so his back was to the rock and aided her in gently sliding off of him. She sat on the rock then to catch her breath. A knife glinting in one hand while she used the other to wipe away hair stuck to her face by sweat. He sat down next to her.
“I….win.” Mahala managed to say between breaths. Sul wordlessly nodded in agreement. The both of them out of breath as Mahala laid back onto the cool rock.
“Good use of your surroundings,” he managed to say once his lungs were not demanding for as much air. “I saw a few parts where you could use some improvement, but you can handle yourself okay. You just need to get better at it.” He side glanced at her to see her sprawled out against the rock as much as possible, eyes closed. “I do have to ask,” he continued, “where did you get the other dagger and knife from?” Mahala opened her eyes and gave him a knowing look. A smile just for a moment tugging at the corner of her lips. “That’s my secret.” He snorted, a chuckle coming from him as he shook his head. He should have known better.
Mahala watched him with the smile still tugging at the corners of her mouth, but then it slowly faded as she looked off and into the distance. Sul noticed the change. “Sul, may I ask something?” She asked quietly. Her quiet demeanor seemed to be returning. “Go ahead,” he said with a nod of his head.
She shifted to prop herself up on one elbow, looking over at him. “Why are you doing this? Wh-Why did you want to spar with me?”
Sulhadur looked her over, looking into her eyes as he tilted his head just a little. “I’ve already told you. You need the practice if you want to get better, and I figured this would be a good way of releasing some pent up energy……and besides…” he continued on, “You’re a free person now and not trying to kill us, and it looks to be Abe, Ess, and Adela seem to have grown rather fond of you. They would be rather distressed if something were to happen to you. So the best thing I can possibly do is teach you how to handle yourself….If you ever need to.”
She wasn’t quiet sure what answer she was expecting from him, but the one she got wasn’t at all she was thinking. It took her a moment to gain her words, speaking quietly as she looked down to the rock. “Thank you.”
Sul gently smiled at her. “You’re welcome……..now…” he started as he got himself up off the ground and stretched. Then he turned to offer his hand to her. Still having a small smile on his face. “Let’s have a water break. Then I want to see if you can beat me again.”
