I might as well be unarmed

As me and my father spar my thoughts drift back to Aaron. He probably in the library by now reading up on politics again. Aaron's never sought the crown even from a young age so I know he wouldn't try to steal the crown. All kings of thissleberry must be good at the sword and Aaron was right he just doesn't hold that talent. He's never been gifted physically and I really can't picture his taking a life.

"Hey!" My father cry out to me "focus on me don't let your mind wander" I side step his slash.

" your holding back! " I say " your using ash and holding back"

There's no way he's not holding back ash as the name implies is made of imp ash a substance that when under pressure say from another blade generates an absurd amount of heat.

He smiles "you need to be able to work with any weapon to defeat any weapon" he slashed for my head and I duck.

He's playing with me a smile drifts across my lips. Using his blade using his next attack I side step and block using my wood sword.

Ash cleanly cut through it and I grab the far side of my blade. My hilt and sword are superstar however I planed for that. My hilt is now a blunt weapon and my sword tip is now similar to a dagger.

I smile as I tighten my grip on the blade side causing my hand to bleed slightly.

My father surprised steps back and plants his left food behind him. Bracing for an attack.

I charge at him using the sharp dagger part of my sword to aim for his chest. As twists your block me I slide under his legs and kick the back of his shin causing him to loose balance. I reach up dagger in hand and pull his shoulders into me as a fall to the ground.

I use the sharp end the blunt weapon to dig into the shoulder as I pull him down and using my other hand push the blade part into his neck.

"Mercy" he cry's jokingly I drop my wooden blade to the ground and he laughs. "But seriously who would have expected you to destroy a sword which you have wielded for the past year"

"Don't be like that " I joke " you know there's only a few months until the sword coronation "

My father nods. The ceremony where I'll officially be titled crown prince and receive my own sword similar to Ash. A smile plays across my lips as I think of the different type of swords that might be presented that day.

"Hopefully you get a good one" my father smiles " Many of our black smiths are already working on there master pieces." He smiled "The only question is which one you'll pick"

I pick up the piece of my broken wooden sword from the court yard and look at my father.

"Are you confirming that it will be my ceremony?" I ask worriedly.

My father smiles "was there ever any doubt? Your the best of your brothers when it comes to sword play also, your the only one I personally teach"

I think back to Aaron who said that I would inherit the throne this morning and that I needed to take more seriously. I can't help but frown as a wonder when did Aaron find out that father was grooming me for it.

Father pats me on the shoulder and try to snap me out of it. "You go relax you can't fight with a broken blade anyway" he smiled "I'll look into the tudors for Aaron. " I smiled and left the courtyard