Chapter 171: Head Held High
After the poisoning incident that involved her fiancé, two years flew by, and in that time, once again, Evanna only saw Conrad sparingly. Evanna did not seem to mind; she knew they would be wed, and then she would see a lot more of him if nothing changed in the dynamics of their relationship. The Princess also spent this time training herself harder, beginning her sword training with the best teacher she knew, Loraven. Since nearly being stabbed to death, Evanna wanted the skills to protect herself, that night the assassin had crept passed the guards, whether they were paid off or entirely useless, she couldn’t depend on them.
When her mother was not available, then she would train with the squire Baldwin. The other men were too busy or did not wish to harm the Princess, though Baldwin found himself at odds with her. He was an equally skilled swordsman to train with Evanna, and he was a little more daring in the way he fought. This pleased Evanna more; her mother did not shy away from cutting her own daughter, and so this taught her swiftly of about her mistakes. The same could be said about Baldwin, though he still knew his limits and never caused her to bleed.
Now with Ger gone on his adventure and Conrad away, Evanna found a friend in Baldwin though they dare not say it. She was the Princess, and he was a squire and soon to be a knight. But they delighted in cheerful conversation as they fought wildly with one another, or maybe it was just the acrobatic Princess that made their duels so wild.
The pair sat side by side, breathing heavily, sweat above their brows and gulping greedily from their water skins after training together.
"I think you should try wielding two swords," Baldwin said, lowering his waterskin as he squinted at the blazing sun. It was hot today, as it tended to in the heat of summer.
Evanna’s brows rose at his comment. She wanted to be a dual wielder like her mother; it was like an art form, something to be proud of, especially in the elven kingdoms. Though it was still relatively rare in both elven and human realms. But it was not merely about the title and grand looks of being a dual-wielder but the capability of such a skill. The Princess found the art and skill of sword fighting along with archery to be invigorating and she began to walk with more confidence not just faking it.
"Do you think I am skilled enough to wield two swords? What of you?" Evanna enquired, turning her head to gaze at him. Baldwin was older than her by a few years, but he still had rounded cheeks, dimples and his brown eyes warm, still friendly and inexperienced to bloodshed.
"What of me?" He smiled at her. "I have trained with a sword since I was five." He turned his hands around to show the callouses and scars displayed on them. "It is only now that my skills have started to do well. But your highness, you have a natural talent and have trained a meagre two years, and I am already at your mercy." He bowed his head slightly.
Evanna shook her own before standing up and looking down at him. "You flatter me, Baldwin. Please, call me Evanna."
"My words were not to flatter; I am merely telling you the truth, Princess."
Evanna parted her lips to reply, a jest on her tongue to hide away the growing blush his words brought to her cheeks.