22 Osmond vs Chadwick

The night after the fight, Osmond scarcely slept. He thought about what Marjorie said. He had known that he will never be a part of this family, but hearing that from someone else's mouth certainly hurt.

In the morning, Osmond ate his breakfast in a gloomy mood. He had mashed potato, bacon, eggs, and bread for breakfast. After having his breakfast, Audrey told him that he was summoned by Connor.

He walked slowly, thinking about what he had done yesterday. He was not a part of the family and he had struck someone of it. He was going to be punished and that scared him a little.

Audrey led him to a different training area. It was larger than where he trained. Roses and various shrubs surrounded it. In the corners, there stood two hibiscus trees.

Connor was standing in the middle with Chadwick by his side. Connor had his arms crossed while Chadwick had his arms loosened and his eyes facing down.

"You made an awful lot of mess while I was away boy." Connor's voice was prickly.

Osmond shuddered at Connor's words. He slowly looked above and met with his glaring eyes.

"Since you two like fighting so much, I have decided to settle this in a duel."

Osmond's eyes widened. He was prepared to get a bruised face, but he didn't hate this outcome. A duel meant that he can hit Chadwick more.

Osmond looked around and Melinda and the other two children with her.

"Take up your swords and get into position," Connor said pointing to a stack.

Osmond took a wooden sword from the stack while glancing at Chadwick. He was not the arrogant brat of yesterday. He was thinking now.

"Get ready." Connor signaled them to get to their stances.

Both of them gripped the hilts with both their hands and looked at the opponent.

"Begin," Connor shouted lowering his hands.

Osmond wanted Chadwick to strike first, but that didn't happen. Chadwick was staring him back with the ferocity of a predator, cunning and calculating. He was waiting for Osmond to make a mistake.

'Standing here will not get anything started.' Osmond thought and dashed forward. He swung his sword but Chadwick parried it and pushed him back. His stomach was now wide open and Chadwick charged in without missing the opportunity.

Chadwick's shoulder hit Osmond's chest causing him to cough. He loosened his grip on the sword, and Chadwick came again and again with his sword. It took everything from Osmond just to parry.

'I will lose,' and with that Osmond jumped backward trying to put some distance between them.

Chadwick was older, taller, and bigger than him. He needed to be sneaky if he wanted to win.

Osmond loosened his guard so that Chadwick will have an opening to strike. Chadwick didn't miss that and charged. Osmond swept up the grass and dirt, blinding Chadwick.

"Cheater," Melinda screamed from the side.

Chadwick's grip loosened, he knew he was going to be struck. He tried to block clumsily. He couldn't see from where Osmond was going to come. A swing came tossing away his sword. He jumped back away from the dust. Chadwick saw his sword lying near Osmond's feet.

"The duel is over," Connor said concluding the duel.

Chadwick looked back frustrated. He knew he lost not because of his strength but because of the dust that Osmond swept up.

"Come here," Connor called the two boys.

They both walked toward Connor slowly with their heads down.

"Look at me boy," Connor boomed.

Osmond slowly raised his head. A hand fell on his cheek, stinging him.

"You failed to follow the rules of the duel boy." Connor glared.

"And you, Chadwick, you would have died if this was a real battle," Connor said looking at Chadwick.

"Always be mindful. Don't expect the enemy to follow your rules. You may go now." He instructed Chadwick.

Osmond saw Melinda's glaring at him through the corner of his eyes. Chadwick ran towards his family.

"Are you hurt, brother?" Christopher asked timidly.

"That was exhilarating brother," Marigold exclaimed.

Melinda, Christopher and his siblings went away leaving Connor and Osmond alone. The silence was suffocating. Osmond could hear even his heartbeat.

"You are cunning boy, from where did you learn that trick?." Connor asked.

"From... From that fight between you and Riley." Osmond answered slowly.

Connor was looking at Osmond, analyzing him. The boy had won with an underhanded technique, yet he had used everything he had learned to win.

"This was a duel, not a fight. There is common etiquette to it and you should learn it." Connor instructed him.

"What is the difference? Both are fighting, right?." Osmond was confused.

"From a duel we learn and from a fight we survive." Connor glared.

"There is no point without winning," Osmond said looking down.

"So you do realize that you can't win against Chadwick normally," Connor grinned.

Osmond couldn't reply to that.

"Chadwick is bigger and stronger than you. He is a born Centurian. He has yet to see what true battle is like. He will grow much stronger than you." Connor belittled Osmond.

"I told you before boy, swinging a sword doesn't make you a fighter," Connor said. Osmond remembered those words.

"You have only trained your body up to this point. That has shown results, or else you couldn't have moved like that." Connor analysed.

"Consider today's duel as the beginning of the classes for the sword. You are now dismissed," Connor said folding his arms.

Osmond walked back. He saw the brick-coloured wall of the mansion. He crossed the front door and met with Chadwick's eyes.

Osmond felt the pain in his gut and his cheek return. He glared at him back. He had called his mother a whore and he had hated him for that. He hated him before, hated him still and Osmond didn't feel the need to change that.

He walked to his room briskly and fell to his bed tired and thought about the coming sword classes.