Week 15 - The Trip 5

"I need to change." He said simply and stripped off his shirt. Ro blushed and instantly turned around. "You can look. I don't mind." His voice called to her.

"No thanks. I'm good." She said quickly. She heard drawers open and close as she looked out over the castle's grounds. They were beautiful. From this height the grasses all blended together to make a soft looking green. The flowers were bright spots dotting around them. There were small foot paths that wove through weeping cherry trees.

"Ro." Alexi's voice came from right next to her ear. She turned, startled. He was smirking at her and looked resplendent in black shorts and a tight gray shirt. It clung to his chest outlining well defined pecs and abs. His arms were a golden tan and perfectly toned. He watched as she stared at him. Stepping close, he wrapped his arms around her waist and lowered his mouth to her ear.

"Like what you see?" He purred. Her only reply was a startled squeak as he launched them into the air again. Ro felt wind rushing past her and hastily wrapped her arms around him. She very much disliked not being able to see if she was falling to her death. "I should fly you like this more often." Alexi looked down into her face with smoldering eyes.

"Please don't. I prefer the other way. I'd like to see it if I were falling to my death." Alexi smirked in response. Then he dove straight at the ground. Ro clutched him tighter in terror and buried her face in his chest. She felt his wings spread and pump hard causing them to rise straight again. Slowly, Alexi allowed them to drop to the ground. When their feet hit the pavement, Ro made no move to step away from him, so he held on to her. With his right hand he tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

"That wasn't so bad." He told her, smiling because of the rare opportunity to do what he wanted. Ro just nodded against his chest. Her body was shaking slightly. "You'll get used to it." Alexi promised. That snapped Ro out of her terror. Her head whipped up to stare at him. He smirked at her. Ro pulled her arms from around him and planted both of her hands on his chest, pushing him away. He sighed and released her.

"There is no reason for me to get used to it." She retorted. Alexi's eyes hardened in irritation.

"You need weapons." He said sharply. Grasping her hand, he pulled her to a large shed to one side of the courts. It had a green shingled roof and white walls with large windows evenly spaced around it. Alexi pulled open the door and held it, so Ro could enter. Then stench of polishing oil hit her nose and she was immediately arrested by the sight of hundreds of gleaming weapons in racks. Most were spears like Alexi used but there were also swords, halberds, axes, hammers and throwing weapons. Alexi entered behind her.

"Over here." He said winding his way through the racks to the back wall. Ro followed him. They approached a small and dusty looking rack. On its shelves Ro could see daggers of many sizes. The smallest had blades only two inches long and flat handles for throwing. As she looked from right to left along the rack the daggers got longer. The longest looked to be about fifteen inches. "Pick some. Sorry the selection isn't better. We have more in the indoor practice courts." Alexi told her before disappearing to look at spears. Ro looked through the rack trying to find twelve-inch daggers like the ones she used. She didn't see them. Looking again, she saw that there were what looked to be ten-inch ones and thirteen-inch ones, but no twelves. The tens looked simple compared to the thirteens. They had plain wrapped leather hilts, barely any guards, and simple gleaming silver blades. She picked up them up and tested their weight. They felt light. Sighing regretfully, Ro put them back and picked up the thirteen-inch daggers. These were more ornate. The blades were folded black steel, the guards were and intricate pattern of golden swirls, and though the hilt was still wrapped leather, gold poked out of either end. However, despite their fine appearance they felt like the right weight and they fit Ro's hands perfectly. Alexi came back over holding a plain but well-made spear. He cocked an eyebrow when he saw the daggers in Ro's hands.

"Are those the ones?"

"Yeah, if that's okay. They seemed kind of nice." Alexi smirked.

"They are in here to be used." He told her. "Come on." He didn't grab her this time but allowed her to follow him.