Chapter 253

"This seems familiar." He said looking around at the crowd cheering for him "Almost as if we've done this once before."

Jamie Lannister had no clever quip for him this time. The Kingsguard was gazing back at him with utmost focus, half his face hidden behind the shield he was carrying.

It seemed the Lannister ponce was not so confident about his sword/dagger strategy this time and had changed the dagger for a shield after his last humiliating defeat.

"Begin!" King Robert said with a clap and the fight began in an almost similar fashion the last one as instead of charging, they both started to circle each other in unison.

Looking at how focused Jamie was in this fight, he decided to get ready as well.

It won't do if he lost to the man after the body modification ritual and being trained by both Baka and Varko.

They both closed the distance between each other while circling and then Jamie charged once again.

There was no war cry this time. Jamie was silent and focused as he swung his sword at him. He blocked it with his shield and then quickly moved out of the way of a shield bash.

They both separated from each other, Jamie's eyes boring in his own. Then Jamie charged once again.

He rose his shield to block the attack but it was a feint. He block Jamie's real attack, a stab to his shin with his superior reflexes and almost got a shield bash to the face as a result but his reflexes saved him once again.

He moved but Jamie chased after him, not willing to let go of the perceived advantage.

Unlike yesterday, Jamie was showing far more skill and cunning with his sword/shield combination, trying to keep him in the back foot and keep him there until he inevitably made a mistake and left himself open.

That did not happen.

His superior strength and speed put a quick end to Jamie's onslaught as they both locked swords and shield against each other.

He saw frustration, rage and helplessness in Jamie's eyes as he 'pushed' with his shield and Jamie fell back and skid and rolled for a good 5 feet before coming to a stop.

Before Jamie could get his bearings, he charged at the man and kicked him in the face.

Jamie rose his shield to protect himself but it was at a wrong angle. The foot struck the shield and took it all the way to his face.

Jamie did a pathetic summersault and fell on his back. A few trickles of blood coming down from his visor.

He heard the Queen shouting something from her seat beside the King but he was too focused on Jamie to care about her.

He allowed Jamie to get up this time. The knight did so in shaky legs and he held the urge to charge the man punch him to oblivion as he realized that this might be a trap.

He held his shield in front of him and walked forward.

In the last moment, Jamie's knees steadied and he went for an overhead strike.

Instead of blocking it and giving Jamie another chance to attack him, he sidestepped the attack with relative ease and bashed Jamie's shield with his own.

Jamie fell back and rolled two times before he steadied himself in a kneeling position, his shield and sword still held tightly in his arms.

Jamie shook his head and rose from the ground. Only to meet yet another shield bash from him.

The force behind the shield bash threw him a feet back and he rolled around in a tangle of limbs for a few times before he skid to a stop.

The people cheered and the queen screamed.

He thought it was over as Jamie didn't even move for a good few seconds.

Then Jamie slowly picked himself up and raised his sword against him and moved it in a 'come hither' motion.

He respected the man's resolve. But that alone would not save Jamie from him this time.

He walked the first few steps and then charged at him.