Joedan stood to his feet, Adrian across from him.
"You ready?" Adrian said as he held his hand out to shake Joedan's.
"Let's do it." Joedan said as they both approached the weapons rack.
Joedan went for his familiar longsword style weapon and a knife that he tucked into his boot. Adrian picked up a shield and a short sword. The two faced off against one another as the instructor lowered his arms.
"Give it all you got," Adrian said as he hunkered down behind his shield, sword poised and ready.
Joedan held his sword at the ready with both hands, point standing vertical as he bent his knees.
Tightening his grip on his sword, "You asked for it."
Joedan rushed forward, bringing his sword around from high to low, he caught the edge of Adrian's shield as Joedan shoved against it.
Adrian stumbled a bit from the unexpected charge, but righted himself. Bringing his own sword forward, he tried to catch Joedan in his side, but Joedan twisted out of the way.
Reaching out, Joedan grabbed ahold of Adrian's sword hand and brought down his sword hard, causing Adrian to release his grip on the weapon.
Adrian let out a growl. "That hurt, Farm hand."
Using his shield, Adrian shoved Joedan away.
Clenching and releasing his fingers, Adrian stood across from Joedan.
Adrian reached down and scooped up his blade again, readying himself for another attack. Adrian charged this time, coming with an overhead chop as he went for Joedan's shoulder. Joedan held his sword out in front of him, one hand holding the blade, the other the handle as he caught the edge of Adrian's shortsword.
Raising his blade, Joedan looked under, "it's over."
Adrian looked down, the red line was right next to his back foot.
Joedan raised his foot before Adrian could react and kicked Adrian past the red line. Lowering his sword, Joedan stood to full standing and offered his hand to Adrian.
"You're one tough son of a gun to get around with that sword," Adrian said as he took the offered hand.
"You're not too bad with that sword and shield combo yourself," Joedan said as the two walked back towards the recruit area.
****
Amelia sat in the crowd with Commander Griff, Trevor and Caleb. She had just finished watching Joedan's match with one of the other recruits.
She was impressed with how much Joedan had improved with the sword since entering the academy. She also noticed how much more muscle he had put on. He was no longer the lean farmhand she had met him as. He was more defined now, hard lines ran along his jaw and arms. Caught in her staring, she shook herself as she brought herself back to the present.
"He left himself open for a serious injury if this was a real battle and that one with the short sword was an expert," Griff said beside her.
Always the weapon's expert, Amelia had grown to expect this kind of reaction from him. Caleb and Trevor sat watching the matches with the other recruits.
Caleb leaned over, "What ya blushing about, Lady Amelia?"
Caught off guard, she quickly turned towards him, "I'm not blushing," she said defensively.
"Either that or it's this heat that's got you pink like that," Trevor said, joining in with Caleb.
Getting more crimson, the more she was scrutinized, Amelia tried to shrug it off. Should she tell them about what happened with Joedan yesterday? Would they be okay with it? Looking around a little while longer, she decided if she couldn't tell them then who could she tell.
"It's about Joedan." she said, blushing slightly more.
"Oh, pray tell," Caleb said laughing heartily.
"So yesterday, he and I…" Amelia turned to look at both of them. They're eyebrows raised as they started to put the dots together. Griff, turning away from the matches, looked over at Amelia as well, more interested in what her next words were going to be.
"We kissed," she said quickly, "Twice."
"That's what I'm talking about," Caleb said as he slapped his knee.
"Told you guys there was something there."
Trevor squeezed her shoulder in support. Griff looked hard at Amelia for a moment before speaking, "So where does that leave you two?"
"Are you guys together now?" Griff asked, in his gruff manor.
"I think so," Amelia said hesitantly. She hadn't really asked Joedan if they were an item now, but she thought they were both on the same page.
"How's that supposed to work?" Griff said, his look becoming serious.
"You're the daughter of a duke. He's the son of a farmer. What about your father?"
"I don't know, I think Father knows we like each other, but I don't think he'll have a problem with it," she said outwardly, but inwardly she was having doubts.
She hoped her father would side with her. She knew he respected Joedan. She supposed that would be the next hurdle. Talking with her father about her feelings for Joedan, she just hoped he wouldn't stand in their way. She really didn't want to argue with him. Looking back to the match, Amelia turned away from the others.
"Man, Commander, why'd you have to go and throw your stick into it." Caleb said. "Couldn't just let her have her day?"
Trevor offered another squeeze to her shoulder and turned his focus back on the matches as well.
Griff wasn't trying to be the devil's advocate. He cared for both Amelia and Joedan greatly. Joedan was like a son to him. He really just didn't want Amelia's position to hurt Joedan. If her position dictated a different course of action, then Joedan would be the one in pieces. She wasn't like a normal woman who could choose anyone she wanted. Sometimes politics would trump what the heart desired.
Turning back towards the matches, Griff settled his jaw as he watched the final combatants step towards the octagon.