vivere militare est
"Again," Crixus growls, and Naevia rises, ignoring the outstretched hand he offers to her. He always offers his hand to help her to her feet.
Naevia lunges, the shortsword not as heavy as it was yesterday or the day before, but no less weighty, missing the broad Gaul by a fingersbreadth. She has time to marvel at the small victory before realizing her mistake. The pommel of Crixus' sword falls heavily on her shoulder; a lesson that will ache tonight.
He moves away quickly, readying for his next stroke, as she should have done. "Your strength is not in the power of your attack,"
"But in the quickness of it," Naevia finishes. Crixus rewards lesson learned with a quick nod.
"Again."
The sun is lowering in the sky near Vesuvius, and she is reminded of how Crixus' hair looks in the firelight as he sleeps. Unbidden, a memory of a night long ago come: his skin, warm as the setting sun against hers, soft words in his hard voice. His hands, as gentle as they are deadly, brushing her own hair away from her breast, where it lay curled and burnished. A lifetime ago, it seems. The beat of her heart is wild and heavy in her chest, the memories sparking a fear that they will be replaced by the nightmares that awaken her at night, chest aching from screaming.
A change in the light alarms her to his intent at the last moment. She spins her body away, blade leading her counterattack, her arm extended into the hit before she can stop it. Crixus turns too late, the blade slicing his skin as he lunges out of reach.
The beating of her heart turns to drumming as she sees the thin line of blood appear on his arm. "Crixus," she breathes.
"Very good," Crixus answers, glancing at the small wound, then raising his eyes to her. There is no reprimand there, only pride. She knows it is reflected in her own.
He raises his sword, the small smile she had not thought to see again flickers, then disappears. This, too, she feels reflected on her own face – another thing she had not thought to feel again. The sun is warm on her skin as they begin again, training for battles they already fight.
