It took days for Einarr to feel better after his loss against Sága. It was a fluke! He claimed to his fellow knights. She was just lucky! He told Silke, chanting it as he grumped around the camp. He took strolls, took a chilly dip in the river and splashed around for fish to get his mind off of things. He'd occasionally see Sága around and stifled a growl when she sent a pretty smile his way. Hmph! More like a petty smile. He'd always turn away and stalk off.
Yet, with the passing days, he found himself cooling off. It was one lost battle and even then, it wasn't as though it were some historical event. He knew it stung more because he considered his only other loss - the battle with the berserker who had attacked his mother, but these were not the same. Duels were meant to be fun, something to be entertaining and rewarding. It wasn't something to get so heated about. Besides, irritating as she was, Sága was his pack mate and he had to admit on some level that if she was able to best him once, luck or not, then she was worth battling at all. After all, he was one of the strongest in the pack! Surely that was something to be happy about, rather than bitter.
And... it wasn't as though he couldn't challenge her again.
Eventually, Einarr worked up the nerve to go and challenge Sága to a duel. She was snarky, clearly enjoying that he came to her for once, but he reminded her that one win was only that: one. She would need four more before she won the title of becoming the first Champion in the Fallguard and he already had a head start. That seemed to get her attention and the next moment, they were walking out onto the field again, so to speak. They took one look at another and Einarr was taking a breath, readying himself to begin, when Sága leapt at him and landed a blow.
He twisted, jaws snapping at her and snagging onto what he had pulling. Sága wrenched out of his grasp and then lurched forward, slamming her head against his. For a staggering moment, he saw stars and stumbled forward, trying to lash out at her. He swiped blindly and felt his nails brush up against fur. He moved to slash out at her again, but his vision had yet to clear up and he fell forward instead. She'd taken the blow on her head just as hard as he'd received it! How was she not disoriented?!
Yet, with the passing days, he found himself cooling off. It was one lost battle and even then, it wasn't as though it were some historical event. He knew it stung more because he considered his only other loss - the battle with the berserker who had attacked his mother, but these were not the same. Duels were meant to be fun, something to be entertaining and rewarding. It wasn't something to get so heated about. Besides, irritating as she was, Sága was his pack mate and he had to admit on some level that if she was able to best him once, luck or not, then she was worth battling at all. After all, he was one of the strongest in the pack! Surely that was something to be happy about, rather than bitter.
And... it wasn't as though he couldn't challenge her again.
Eventually, Einarr worked up the nerve to go and challenge Sága to a duel. She was snarky, clearly enjoying that he came to her for once, but he reminded her that one win was only that: one. She would need four more before she won the title of becoming the first Champion in the Fallguard and he already had a head start. That seemed to get her attention and the next moment, they were walking out onto the field again, so to speak. They took one look at another and Einarr was taking a breath, readying himself to begin, when Sága leapt at him and landed a blow.
He twisted, jaws snapping at her and snagging onto what he had pulling. Sága wrenched out of his grasp and then lurched forward, slamming her head against his. For a staggering moment, he saw stars and stumbled forward, trying to lash out at her. He swiped blindly and felt his nails brush up against fur. He moved to slash out at her again, but his vision had yet to clear up and he fell forward instead. She'd taken the blow on her head just as hard as he'd received it! How was she not disoriented?!
(WC: 438 )
