I moved towards a familiar window and was about to leap out when a hand grabbed my tail and threw me to the ground. I jumped to my feet and stared up at what could only be described as a vengeful deity. Hanno stood over me, his entire face was red.

bohemian

He didn’t say a word before picking me up and placing me on his shoulders. He calmly walked back into the barracks and placed me on his bed mat. He glared at me before screaming. “You deranged gecko! You are an ingrate of a lizard! You disappointing bohemians! I will have you drawn and quartered! How dare you run away once, escape punishment, then attempt to run away again! No more!”

I balked as he pulled out a bag and pointed at it. I shook my head and said. “Hanno, great merciful Hanno. Surely we can come to some sort of arrangement?” He just pointed at the man's purse and said. “Get in the bag Aya. If you disobey, I will feed you the same meal as the dogs.”

I frowned at the thought of not getting food. And honestly wasn’t this easier than finding a random horse, bringing it back here and then getting forgiven? Also I’m hungry. So it’s fine? I win? Oh course I do!

I smuggly hopped into the bag and found a small pile of meat. “Thanks you, oh generous

Hanno! You shall be spoken of for generations to come for your open pockets!” Hanno just smiled and walked to his next class. Thankfully he had been on break while I had my little escapade.

His next class was martial training. First the students were allowed to pick their weapons. Hanno chose a curved sword called a khopesh. He swung it around a few times and grunted in agreement. Loken picked up a greatsword which fit him perfectly. Bruce picked up a rapier. What a pretentious little shit.

There was a different instructor for this class. He was a normal sized man, with spiky auburn hair. He was a thin man, but wore a flowing tunic and baggy pants. He was holding a longsword when he strode over to the students and confidently said. “Welcome everyone! To what will hopefully be your favorite class.”

I was still in my bag, my head peeking up as he continued to speak. “Today we will be dueling. I want to see how well each of you can use your chosen weapons. I would also like to bring to your attention that the academy will be holding a swordsmanship torment in six months time. I expect all of you to compete, regardless of your current skill level. Your upperclassmen will also be joining.”

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I nodded along but was already falling asleep. I decided it would be interesting enough that staying awake would be worth it. I settled in and watched as a young man walked up to Hanno and asked him to duel.

The young man had curly blond hair, blue eyes and acted as though everything in life was funny. He wielded short swords. Hanno and the young boy stepped. He confidently yelled. “I, Reid, heart of the Squirrel clan, son of Borus, challenge you to a duel to first blood.”

Oooh, fancy. “I, Aya of the mud flats, son of a random mud skink, challenge you to a duel of first blood.” I wonder if I could be a famous duelist? I remember one of my cousins was pretty good with a rapier. Although the weapon kinda sucks. Too small.

Anyway, back to the fight. Hanno and Reid. Hanno’s legs were bent, his weight mostly on the front of his feet. Reid was hopping from foot to foot, a goofy smile on his face. The instructor was watching eagerly as without any warning both of them sprang into action.

Reid leaped forward slamming his blade into Hanno’s khopesh. Hanno turned Reid’s blade away using the curve. He then stabbed forward, but Reid was already a few feet away. They began to circle each other, both of them paying careful attention to the feet and breathing of the other.

Suddenly Hanno dashed forward and slashed his blade at Reid. Reid deflected it and stabbed towards Hanno’s thigh but just kicked the flat of the blade and slashed Reid across the face. I snickered and yelled. “Aye Reid, nice showing you little bitch!”

A small trickle of blood dripped down Reid’s face as he smiled and said. “Thank you for the match. I would like a rematch if you wouldn’t mind. But this time we go until the other surrenders .”

I smirked and yelled. “Tryanna get your ass beat again huh? Have fun with that clown.” By the holy taxes trash talking feels good. Hanno just nodded at Reid and they instantly began circling each other again.

All at once they both rushed forward and began exchanging blows. I smiled and cheered as Hanno blocked one just to have his own attack parried. Hanno lunged forward trying to impale Reid but he just knocked the blade to the side with his own and slashed at Hanno’s midsection.

Hanno quickly swung his blade up, hitting Reid’s just in time for it to only thinly cut through his shoulder. Hanno then swung down and Reid just barely dodged. For almost ten minutes the two fought. Until finally Reid over compensated on a thrust and wound up with Hanno’s khopesh inches away from his neck.

Hanno smiled in victory but Reid just motioned towards where his blade was just near where Hanno’s liver would be. Hanno frowned and said, “Who wins? You would die first if I were to continue my strike.” Reid nodded and said. “True, but if I hit your liver you would no matter what.”

They both frowned before smiling and shaking each other’s hand. They walked away chatting as I turned towards where Loken had walked up to Bruce and said. “Bruce, fight me.” Bruce turned and smeared. “Why would I ever fight a half breed like you? Go fuck other pigs and roll in mud. Doesn’t your kind like doing that?”