The Tomcat vs. the Little Lion

Sam

Sam was practicing swords under the old oak tree in the training yard. She had been training with Earl and Sensei ever since her father decided he didn't care enough to stop her anymore. Before that, she practiced in secret. She had seen how training had transformed her brother from a sheltered soft-shelled bookwyrm into a true warrior. A knightly prince who could protect those he loved and take matters into his own hands. Sam wanted that same freedom that strength allowed. She didn't want to be a cowering princess who needed a hero to save her. She would save herself.

"Hello, Tomcat," her brother Leo called out from across the yard. Speak of the Prince. 

Sam didn't know why he called her that. At least he didn't call her Princess or Samantha. She was grateful for that much. She wasn't surprised to see him. While they had different schedules, they often wound up training together or alongside each other in the yard.

"Now that you've warmed up, let's see if you can finally best me," Leo taunted. 

Sam had been training with both of Leo's masters in hopes of becoming strong enough to defeat her older brother in a duel. Leo had quite a head start on his training, but she had been training hard to catch him. This was her chance to finally best him. She was ready. 

Sam took her stance. Leo took his. They danced around each other, fast as lightning. Her gilded rapier clashed against Wyrm. Spark flew. This was her chance to beat him. She went for the point.

Leo was relentless. He expertly repelled each encroaching attack. Then he answered with a blow twice as strong and fast. With every hit, Sam had to struggle to stay on her feet. He wasn't big, but the force behind each of his hits made it feel like she was facing down Bruno. How did he manage that? She went on the offensive. She could not beat him while defending. She struck hard and fast.

The two of them sparred for the next hour. Sam had managed only the one point, but Leo had otherwise beaten her as decisively as he possibly could. She felt utterly defeated. She was getting good, but Leo was much better.

Sam struggled to breathe. She was doused in so much sweat that her practice armour clung to her. She was holding herself up by balancing on the bending needle tip of her blade. She held back wells of tears. She wanted to collapse and cry. She would have but for her sheer force of will to stand and face him on her feet.

Sam wasn't like Leo. She didn't have a castle to rule or adventures to run off on. Her best prospect for her future was to marry a half-decent lord twice her age and have lots of children. Sam wanted none of that. 

Sam was going to run away and become a sellsword or perhaps even a sword dancer when she came of age. She would marry no old lord. She would bear him no children. But in order to avoid her inevitable fate, she had to be able to defeat Leo. 

Leo was a good brother. As good as he could, given their circumstances. But he was overprotective and suffocating. She wanted to be just like him when she was younger. The world, and her father, told her no. Leo would try to stop her if she left. She knew it. And if not him, then someone else just as strong. She had to be able to stand on her own two feet. She had to defeat him. She had to get stronger. For her future. For her freedom. 

"I'm impressed. You've grown quite strong. You landed a point. You should be proud," the Prince assured her. 

"You're getting slower. Must be all those books you read. Sato is practicing more than you," Sam taunted back, not knowing what else to say. It was true, but cruel. Leo often only had an hour or two a day to train. Oftentimes, only drilling with Sato. 

"Speaking of Sato. I'm going to retrieve him soon. What would you have me tell him about Rebe's whereabouts?" Leo interrogated. Sam was caught entirely off guard by the question. She was too tired to lie effectively. This had all been an elaborate trap. He had tricked her.

"I don't know what you are talking about. She went to see Granny Greenthumb for some special training," Sam lied unconvincingly. 

"Interesting, because Dasher is not at Granny Greenthumbs, and he is missing from the stable, along with a fair bit of feed. Curiously, Bruno has also gone missing. Know anything about that?" Leo inquired. Sam didn't know anything about Bruno, but she suspected he followed Rebe. 

"She went to the Darkwood... for mushrooms. She will be back in a few days," Sam admitted, dropping the act that had failed her. She felt awful for betraying the trust of her friend.

"You sent the paramour of our Hero, the one I need to help me defeat Grimm and protect our home and people, into the Darkwood. The home of the Wolves who wish me and my father dead, and are known to take captives to achieve their ends?" Leo explained. 

"When you put it like that... I offered to go with her," Sam added.

"Brilliant. Add a princess into the hostage situation. I can only be grateful Rebe had enough good sense to leave you behind. I must imagine Bruno discovered your deception even before I did and is already either with her or on his way there. If she does not return to us..." Leo considered. "It seems you have lost two duels in one day. I must go retrieve our hero. I pray Rebe is still alive when he returns. Tell Earl to prepare a squad to meet Bruno. Goodbye, Tomcat," Leo concluded and left. Sam collapsed to the ground and started to cry.