Galen lifted his sword. "Now, shall we get on with this lesson or continue to chat like old women?"
Styxx raised his shield. "By all means, let my ass-beating commence."
Laughing, Galen swung at his head. Styxx jerked back and countered with a down stroke of his sword, followed by an attack with his shield. Galen blocked his attack then advanced with a barrage of blows that were hard to deflect. That was the one thing about Galen, he taught Styxx to use every part of his body as a weapon, and to hold nothing back. In war, all that mattered was surviving it ... preferably with all body parts attached.
But as they fought, something inside Styxx burst. A flood of ...
Strength? Power?
He wasn't sure what it was. But an inner door opened and with it came an ability to know the exact move Galen would make right before he did it. Styxx had sometimes been able to do that in other situations, yet never in battle.
Today, that changed.
All of a sudden, Styxx could deflect or block every thrust and stroke. For the first time ever, Galen was forced to back up from his attacks and to protect himself.
Styxx's vision turned dark until he no longer saw Galen as a man, but rather a target to be destroyed. He lost all sense of where he was or why he trained. Or even the fact that he trained at all. Instead, he rained blow after blow with both hoplon and xiphos across Galen's shield until he broke through the thick wood lining and bent the bronze out of shape.
With no choice, panting and weakened, Galen threw the useless hoplon aside then buried the tip of his sword into the ground before kneeling in front of Styxx. "I yield, fair prince!"
Applause rang out.
Lowering his sword, Styxx frowned until he located the source of it. Estes and his father stood just off the main gate. His uncle opened it and came inside with his father trailing two steps behind him.
"Impressive, little squirrel." Estes paused to retrieve a fresh hoplon from the wall bank of them. "But let's see how you fare against a warrior in his prime and not an old man."
He took the xiphos from where Galen had planted it then used it to salute Styxx.
A slow, evil smile curved his lips. "Are you sure, Uncle? I'd hate to injure you on the day of your arrival. Perhaps you should rest first?"
Estes laughed. "Arrogant ... I love it. But prepare to see your ego debased."
That would be different than normal, how?
Styxx returned his salute, and waited for his uncle to make the first move.
He did. The sound of metal clashing echoed off the stone walls surrounding them. This time, not only did Styxx see the moves before his uncle made them, he gained strength with every blow. It was like he was siphoning off Estes's life force. As his uncle grew weaker, he became stronger. In a matter of minutes, he had his uncle disarmed and flat on his back with the tip of his xiphos pressed against Estes's throat.
His breathing ragged, Estes held his hands up in surrender. "I yield, good Styxx."
Styxx buried his sword into the ground and removed his helm and placed it on the hilt. He extended his arm to his uncle to help him to his feet.
Estes was incredulous. "By the gods, you're not even breathing hard. Oh to be so young again...." He looked over at Galen. "My highest regards to you, Master Hoplomachos. You've done an amazing job with my nephew's skill. It's been an incredibly long time since anyone disarmed me, never mind knocked me to the ground." Then he glanced to the king. "Brother, if we'd had Styxx on our side in the war, we'd have never had to enter talks with Atlantis. We'd have buried her."
His father finally closed his gaping jaw. "I had no idea he was so skilled. The boy has hid it well." He turned to look at Styxx. "No wonder you sought new armor."
And you denied it to me with mocking disdain....
Asshole.
But there was no trace of that now. His father actually appeared almost proud.
The king jerked his chin at Styxx's shield. "It's time we decorated that aspis of yours, boy, and forged you a warrior's xiphos and kopis. You're finally ready to defend my throne."
Those words should make him happy. Instead, Styxx felt only emptiness. There was no pride or satisfaction inside his heart. In truth, he didn't want his father's praise anymore. It no longer mattered to him what the bastard thought. Not when he knew how his father really felt where he was concerned.
Unless he was perfect, he was garbage to be thrown aside and ridiculed.
Or worse, forgotten.