The next three weeks were a blur of action. Looking back on it, AJ couldn’t believe that only a month had passed since they had sat in the gardens in the back of the castle and discussed the fate of the world. One month gone out of their six month deadline. Yet, there still seemed to be so much that needed to be done in the next five months he didn’t know how they would fit it all in. So many things had already happened. Geoff was back to normal again, his arm regrown and his face perfectly smooth again. He didn’t retain many memories of what happened, though AJ told no one that he had been the one to help block those off for now.
Every day he worked with the dragons, discussing battle techniques and learning from their knowledge of warfare. He would practice the sword with Brian, teaching him sharpening his lover’s skills. When he wasn’t doing that, he was meeting with one being or another, or helping settle something. It was a tiring experience at moments, and yet he knew it was what needed doing.
Still, the sword practice was one of the highlights of AJ’s day. Even though they were pretending to kill one another, they were still spending time together. Howie had offered to help with Brian’s training, but AJ had gently declined the offer. He didn’t want to give up not only his time with Brian, but his break from other responsibilities. This was the time of day that he wasn’t trulion. He wasn’t Alyck, the elf. He was simply Alex, showing his lover how to move with his sword. Afterward, they were always left alone so that they could cool off and bathe. Then he was just Alex, plain and simple. Lover and friend to Brian. They would play in the water, and laugh, or find a small grotto at the beach and make love until their bodies sang.
AJ’s stomach curled in anticipation of that thought as he glanced up at the afternoon sky. On the other end of the field Brian was waiting, his basket hilt claymore in his hand, must more comfortably than it had once rested there. He was growing quite talented. Enough so that he was getting a little complacent about things. He had learned a lot of AJ’s moves; at least, his single handed ones.
Adjusting the scabbard at his hip, AJ couldn’t help but grin. He stepped onto the field with his lover, but didn’t go right to their lesson. Instead he looked around until he found who he wanted. AJ walked to Nifar and asked him a quick question. The elf grinned and ran off. While he waited, AJ walked over. “We’re going to do things a little different today, love.”
“Different, hm? Gosh, whatever will I do with something that’s different?” Brian replied sarcastically. His eyes twinkled.
AJ rolled his eyes and pulled the baldric up and over his head. Gently he set it on the ground. “I see someone is frisky today. Good to know. You’ll need it.” Next came his shirt, which was negligently tossed to the side. Anyone could see what AJ valued more. His sword was put back on, the baldric brought over his head, with a care and love that showed AJ’s respect for the weapon. The shirt had been tossed aside without a care.
“Need it? Shit, J, what’re you gonna do to me?”
“Oh, I’m going to do plenty to you, Bri. But for now, we’ll settle for this.” At that moment Nifar came running easily back toward them. Grinning, AJ met him on the sidelines where their crowd was already waiting. It wasn’t uncommon for half of the current residents to come over to watch their practices. The better that Brian grew, the more of a crowd started to come.
But now AJ wanted to up the ante a little. He wanted to take Brian out of his comfort zone and force him to learn in new ways. To do that, he was going to step up his skill level a little as well as throw in a new element. He took the extra baldric from Nifar and started to adjust it as he headed onto the field. He adjusted the both of them so that, when he put the new one on opposite his other, the swords were strapped over his back, the hilts sticking up over each shoulder.
“We’re going to stretch your comfort a little. Do things different.” AJ said, grinning. He raised his hands and gestured toward himself. “Come at me.”
Knowing better than to argue, a lesson he had learned early on, Brian held back his protest at attacking his unarmed lover and simply made the normal charge that AJ had taught him. AJ darted this way and that around the blade, mentally appraising Brian’s growth in skill. “Good, good! You’re getting better!” he called as he dropped low to avoid a swing. “Your opponent isn’t always going to play as nicely as I’ve been.” He swung under Brian’s guard, knocking his arm and kicking at his leg, sending him flying backward.
With a quick roll, Brian was on his feet and back in stance. When they’d first started this, he had fumbled back to his feet. Now his moves were smoother. Against monsters like the Krutas, or things like that Brian would be able to hold his own now. But AJ pushed him still so that, if others had joined Roth’s side, others who were smart and quick, his love would have a better chance of winning.
“Nicely? You call this playing nicely?” Brian called over to him, shifting his stance as they circled around one another.
A lethal grin spread over AJ’s face. “Sure, sugar. I haven’t cut anything off, have I?”
“Like you could bring yourself to.”
The taunt was exactly the opening AJ needed. He could feel the merriment sparkling in his eyes. Sighing out a breath, he found his center and relaxed his body, instinctively adopting the fighters’ posture. Brian recognized it and did the same, knowing that AJ was done playing. He was going to test him now. Force him to learn by doing, not by being told.
Quick as a flash AJ shot his hands over his shoulders and pulled out the dual scimitars. They moved in a quick salute, and then AJ was coming at him. He held his blows so as not to kill, but he didn’t stop them from scoring small marks in Brian’s skin. This was a dance, and he moved as if it was such. His body was agile and limber, flowing like water, floating like air. He felt pride flash through him at the few hits that Brian did manage to get in. A good gash across his ribs tingled as it started to heal.
But AJ was trying to make a point. He wanted to show Brian that, no matter how much you learned, there was always more to learn, and always someone that was going to be more talented. It was the motto that AJ kept in his own mind whenever he fought someone. There was always someone, somewhere who was better than you, and you treated each opponent as if they were that person, because you never knew if they were really going to be.
So when Brian left him a wide opening, AJ took it, scoring a mark along Brian’s right forearm before hooking his blade around the claymore and, with a quick flick of his wrist, sending it flying. Before Brian could even blink AJ had the scimitars crossed on either side of his neck. One move would be all it would take, a simple pulling of his wrists, and Brian’s head would fall to the ground.
AJ leaned in and gave Brian a quick kiss. “An, you’re dead.” He told him cheerfully.
“I admit my death.” Brian teased back while AJ re-sheathed his swords. “That was pretty fancy fighting, Alex. I’ve never seen you work dual handed before. Be more interesting to watch if I wasn’t the one you were coming after.” He laughed again, sheathing his own blade.
Pausing, AJ looked at the crowd around them. The idea had merit. Not the Brian-watching-him part of things, though that thought was indeed delicious, but the letting-Brian-observe part. He looked at Howie for a second before shaking his head. Howie was a little too easy sometimes. What he needed was a true test of skill. AJ was warming to the idea. It would feel good for him, too, to test himself against someone who was his better; as well as finally letting himself go and not holding back.
Someone stepped forward, a regular claymore in their hands, and AJ couldn’t help but grin. “Come to show the young ones how it’s done?” AJ called out to him.
Flreu grinned, pausing by Brian in the field. He whispered in his ear and gestured to the sidelines. Shrugging, Brian flashed a smile and did as he was told. That left Flreu able to take his stance. “We shall see how you’ve learned, grandson.”
Sinking into a crouch, AJ drew his scimitars. “Let’s show them how it’s done, grandfather.”
The two moved at almost the same time. From his spot on the sidelines, Brian gaped at them. He had never seen anyone move so fast or so fluidly. For the first time he could see why AJ called it a dance. Before, he had thought he understood. But what he did with AJ was nothing compared to this intricate style. Neither man connected; no cuts were scored.
A shrill call sounded, loud enough that Brian covered his ears. It surprised him that no one else around him was doing the same. They were all still locked on the fight in the field. But out there, AJ heard it too. It startled him enough that he found himself looking instinctively toward where the noise was coming from. It was too late for Flreu to pull his blow and his blade sliced across AJ’s exposed side, laying him open.
The cry came again. Before Flreu could try to see what was going on, to see if he was ok, AJ and Brian were running through the crowd. AJ wrapped on arm around his waist to try to stem the blood flow so that his body could start to heal. That was all he could spare, though. Unlike Brian, he recognized that sound and knew what it was. He felt the presence coming closer and closer, and at the last second he dove forward, both hands outstretched to catch. He hit the ground with a thud that almost tour a shout of pain from him as his still healing body slammed down.
All of his attention was focused on the light in his hands, though. “Gwylym!” he gasped out, recognizing the shape that was kneeling in his palms, panting. Gwylym, son to the Queen of the faeries, did not often travel on his own. Sons of royalty were not allowed to go this far for no reason. Dread curled in AJ’s stomach. He gently sat up, extending a small weave of magic to Gwylym, bolstering his energy. The young faerie looked up at him in appreciation that was quickly masked over with fear and heartache.
“I beg leave of friendship to skip formailities.” Gwylym panted at him, looking from AJ’s eyes to Brian’s, who was now kneeling beside AJ in the grass. Brian was taking his own shirt and using it to stem the blood that was still pouring down AJ’s side, though slower than before. A crowd had gathered behind them.
“Yes, yes. Is mine people ok, Gwylym? The tree? Fy Frenhines?”
“It is not our people that be in danger, Tad arth. Mine own are surviving. We have caught wind of an evil plot. One that we should not know of.”
“What do you mean, my friend?” AJ asked. Suddenly the day seemed cold. A part of him knew that, whatever it was, this was going to be horrible. When Gwylym opened his mouth and spoke his next words, it was like a knife to both AJ and Brian’s guts. It made their blood run cold, and their hearts tremble. This was their worst fear come true.
“Twyla has partial possession of Rothalo and is having him send minions to take the other two that were in your musical group. He plans to use them as leverage to get you to submit to his will.”