Winter's Past

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

          Kendrick hit my left side hard. “I told you that your left side was vulnerable.” his annoying voice in my head. I raised my leg and kicked his leg, with what felt like a hard blow, but he didn't flinch. “You should not use attacks like that. They will wear you out, are not effective, and leave the rest of you vulnerable” He tripped one leg and whacked my side as he spoke. Sending me down on the castle court yards hard ground.

          He offered me a hand up. I rejected it coldly and stumbled off the ground. “Do you have to be so rough?” I asked rubbing my body which ached.

          “You wanted to learn better combat skills. Sometimes I have to be rough in order, to make the point across. My warriors do that exercise a minimum of three times a day.”

          I hated when Kendrick was like this; A war teaching machine cold and unkind. When I had asked to learn combat skills I had not intended that Kendrick would teach them to me. I got up and walked away, back toward the castle.

          “Where are you doing?” Kendrick yelled like he was interrogating me.

          “To my bath.” I said with out looking behind me.

          “Are you quitting,” He asked, and I could here his foot steps as he sped to keep up with me.

          “For today.”

          Now he was right behind me. “Your acting like a baby.”  He grabbed my arm forcing me to turn around and face him. “One more round.”

          “No.”

          Kendrick's face obviously softened and he said,“Avalon your no fun at all.”

          I laughed, this was normal Kendrick., “And you are sadistic.” I opened the door and entered the side corridor to the castle.

          Kendrick continued to follow me. “Where are you going?” he asked.

.         “Do you listen to a word, I say. I told you I would be taking my bath.” I said stopping.

          “Would you like any help?” he asked with a mischievous smile.

          “No, Kendrick. I would love to but,  what on earth would my maids think?” I said with exaggeration.

          He leaned into me and lightly kissed my lips. His muscular body pushed against mine, and his hands rested securely on my hips. This was comfortable, we had been best friends since we were children. He was the only child my age in the castle, his father made his home here when he was not spying on the foxes in  Silvera and Rowhar. Our games of hide and find, had turned it something much more sensual as we grew older. And even though our relationship was private, even though these encounters once rare, were now fairly common.

          Kendrick pulled back, I laid my head against his chest and inhaled his  masculine scent, some mix of dirt, sweat, and something that belonged soully to Kendrick. And Kendrick on the other hand was doing weird things to my hair.

          “Are you trying to tie it in a knot?”I said looking up at him.

          “uh, what? Oh, your hair I was admiring it.” Kendrick embarrassed.

          “Your bizarre.” I stated and stepped back trying to make my hair lay straight again.

          “I am not. Its so many different colors, Simply Beautiful.” He ran his hand through the long locks.