Chapter 62
"Get out of your head," Jason muttered tying the limited armor Percy would be wearing into place. It had been decided that only minimal armor would be worn, and even that would mostly be leather rather then metal, as neither Percy or Luke was used to fighting in armor at all.
Jason would have preferred Percy was better protected, but the duel wasn't to the death and he hadn't been consulted. Besides, he did have to admit that Percy would have a better chance of winning without armor. Besides the fitting he'd really only worn it once before. But it was also his responsibility to protect Percy, and he would be better protected in full armour.
"Right, sorry," Percy shook his head as he said it. Jason paused, waiting for Percy to stop moving again to continue working "Thank you for doing this, I know it's not exactly in your job description."
"I don't mind," Jason replied "My job is to keep you safe, and making sure your armor is on correctly is part of that."
He paused, before letting a small smirk cross his face, adding lightly "Besides, most serving boys wouldn't have the courage to tell you to stop thinking so much, and someone's got to pull you out of your head."
Jason was relieved to hear Percy laugh, even if it was just a little. "I suppose you have a point there. Still, thank you Jason."
"Of course." Jason tied the last piece of armor into place, before moving to the front of Percy again.
"Jason," Percy spoke a little hesitantly as he met Jason's eyes "Do you think I can beat Luke? Honestly?"
For a moment Jason just debated what he knew of Percy and Luke's abilities, which on Luke's part wasn't much at all "Honestly? I don't know. What I do know is that you won't win if you are in your head. He's unpredictable, and that's how he beast most people. But you have some of the best instincts I've ever seen, trust them. They're you best weapon."
Percy took a deep breath and nodded, before looking towards the door of the small room, set up specifically for the purpose of allowing someone to prepare for a duel or tournament. Outside the door there was a good number of lords, especially given the short notice. Normally not so many would have shown up, but it was the prince's first duel. They wanted to see what he was made of, and Jason assumed the word had gotten around to at least some of them what was on the line with the fight.
As Percy looked at the door, Jason reached up and placed a hand on the other boy's shoulder, squeezing it a bit "You've got this Percy. Just deep breath, and focus on the fight. You can do this."
Doing as he was told, Percy took a deep breath, before nodding in response "Right. Now or never then."
Jason nodded, giving him a quick smile, before stepping forward and opening the door for Percy, who looked out for just a moment, before stepping forward and walking out into the bright afternoon light.
Luke's name was announced first, due to Percy's higher status. Percy listened as the name was read off, watched the man walk forward from the other side of the ring that had been set up. It was only then that the same voice announced "Prince Perseus…"
There were more titles listed off, but Percy didn't hear them. As soon as his name was said he started walking, reaching the opposite side of the ring from where Luke was. The man across from him had an easy air about him, completely relaxed. In fact, as the rules were read Percy could just make out a small smile playing on Luke's lips.
They were fairly straight forward rules. The first to step out of the ring or yield the fight would lose. They were expected to fight honorably, and if caught in a position that would result in death they were expected to yield. Jason had gone through all of it before the duel, and Percy was glad he had as now all of the words were just sort of buzzing over him, not really processing at all.
Taking deep breaths, Percy focused on Luke in front of him, drawing his sword when Luke did so. Luke's relaxed manor just made him all the more aware of how tense he himself was. He tried to force himself to relax, but of course that didn't work nearly as well as he would have liked.
A bell rang.
Luke charged. Percy raised his sword. Luke swung low and Percy jerked out of the way. As he did the sword came towards his shoulder, Percy's sword swinging up just in time to block it and push the blade down.
Percy stumbled back, towards the side of the ring where Luke had started. It had been made immediately clear that Jason was right. Luke didn't fight anything like Jason had, and yet- there was something familiar about it. He fought like…
Luke raised his sword. Percy met it with his. One of Luke's hands dropped off the hilt of his sword, leaving Percy to easily swing the sword away. As he did, Luke's free hand reached forward, grabbing Percy's wrist. Before he could break the grip, Luke jerked his hand forward, stepping to the side but moving his foot to catch Percy's to make him stumble more as he was lurched forward.
Percy managed to keep his feet, but just barely. He lost them a second later as Luke's foot met the back of his legs, working with the momentum he already had and causing him to fall to his knees. Immediately he was up again, turning to face Luke, and narrowly jumping out of the way of another sword swipe.
Quickly Percy backed towards the center of the circle again. His eyes scanned Luke. His stance was wrong. It wasn't the stance of a swordsman, yet Percy recognized it. With a start he realized why. It was the stance of someone would use in a fist fights. A stance that had taken a long time for Percy to unlearn.
Percy raised his sword to block Luke's again, thoughts clicking into place as their swords clanged together. The reason Luke was unpredictable was because he wasn't fighting like a swordsman, he was fighting like a street kid. Trained purely by experience rather then any official teachers. Like how Percy fought when he wasn't worrying about what others were looking for. In a way a nobel would never think to fight.
Immediately Percy switched his fighting style. He had a better mastery of swordsmanship then Luke, and he had been in a few fights prior to being a prince. He could do this, he just had to apply what he new about street fighting to the rules and structure Jason had taught him. Which was easier said than done, especially on the fly, but it was something.
They spun, swords clashing, but neither really making significant ground for awhile. Percy wasn't sure exactly how long it went on, but he could tell that Luke was growing annoyed. He had been expecting this to be a quick, easy fight and now he just wanted it over. Percy wanted it over too, but he pushed the thought away. The longer they went the more annoyed Luke would probably become, and annoyed people made mistakes, that was as true for swordsmanship as it was for street fights.
Luke managed to get behind him, and Percy felt a jerk at the strap on his shoulder. Before he could break the grip Luke spun him, sticking out his foot again to catch Percy's ankle and make him fall. Percy ducked, rolling on his shoulder, and half pushed himself up. Still slightly bent Percy lurched forward, his shoulder meeting Luke's torso and knocking the man to the ground.
Before he could get up, Percy rushed forward. He dropped to the ground, pressing his knees into Luke's shoulders and brought his sword forward, placing it near Luke's throat. Letting out a breath, Percy looked down at him for a moment. "Yield."
"Not to you," Luke growled in return.
Something flew into Percy's eyes. Immediately they squeezed shut, blocking the dirt that Luke had somehow managed to fling up at him. He tried to blink his eyes open, but they stung and quickly shut again.
Thud.
His back hit the ground, sword falling out of his hand. Luke's knees were on either side of him, and for some reason Percy could feel him pulling on his arm. Instinctively Percy pulled back, but there was no question that Luke was stronger and could pull with both of his hands. He managed to open his eyes for just a moment, making out the shape of the boy on top of him before they closed again.
Without thinking, Percy raised his free arm and punched at Luke's face. It wasn't a hard hit by any means, no where near hard enough to actually hurt, but it caught Luke enough by surprise to make his grip loosen. Percy pulled his arm free. He reached up to grab for the straps of Luke's armor or the fabric of the shirt underneath. His fingers found a grip and he pulled down, his legs coming up in the gap that was created between him and Luke. Releasing the hold on the straps, his legs pushed up into Luke's lower torso, shoving the man off of him.
Still mostly blind, Percy rolled in the opposite direction he had shoved, scrambling to find his sword, sure Luke would be on him again in seconds. His hands found the blade and he scrambled for the hilt-
A bell rang.
Percy stopped dead. Fuck. The duel was over. In his blinded state he must have mixed up what direction he was going and rolled right out of the ring. His head spun, trying to figure out if he could argue that throwing dirt in his face had been a dirty move, that it shouldn't count and they should have a rematch. Was there anyway he could argue that without coming off as a spoiled brat that was throwing a fit because he lost? Not likely, but if it worked then maybe it would be worth it any-
"The match goes to Prince Perseus."
Percy blinked, managing to open his eyes for a few seconds at a time as the dirt finally started to clear away. A hand grabbed his arm, pulling him to his feet, and glancing over he managed to make out Jason standing next to him, grinning like an idiot.
"For someone who had faith in me you sure seem relieved," Percy teased, the arm Jason wasn't holding reaching up to rub at his eyes to try and clear them more, head still spinning. Had he really heard right? If so, then how the hell had he won? He found he wasn't even excited about the supposed victory, to confused on what had actually happened.
"Let me be happy for you," Jason replied, laughing a bit at that "Come on, let's get your eyes washed out."
"So I can look at you more? Not thanks," Percy replied, still in a bit of a daze about the whole thing. Blinking again he looked behind him, managing to scan the crowds for a moment before his eyes closed "Where is Annabeth? Don't tell me she missed this whole thing."
"Nah, but none of the onlookers were allowed near the ring," Jason replied, leading him towards the castle "I'm sure she'll meet you in your room to celebrate."
There was a second of silence before Percy asked "So, could you tell me what happened?"
"Searching for compliments much?" Jason asked, though it was clearly teasing "It's been less than five minutes and you already want the story retold?"
"No- Jason- I'm honestly not sure what happened," Percy shook his head, giving up on his eyes and just leaving them closed for now "After Luke flipped us I'm not sure what actually happened. When the bell sounded I assumed I'd accidently rolled out of the ring."
"Then you got really lucky," Jason replied, laughing a bit again and clapping Percy's shoulder as they walked. Percy could just picture him shaking his head as he did so. "When Luke flipped the two of you, you were just inside the ring. He tried to pull your arm over the line, but you managed to distract him. When you pushed him off he flipped over the line and you rolled towards the center of the ring."
"Damn- I really did get lucky," Percy replied, laughing a bit in agreement, before sightly more seriously asking "How did Luke take it?"
"Not well," Jason admitted "I got the feeling he wanted to rush you and keep fighting, but all of the eyes on the two of you kept him from doing so. As soon as you were announced winner he stormed off."
"So good signs then," Percy replied, trying to push away the worry that clouded his thoughts about the whole mess with Luke.
"Wonderful signs," Jason agreed, opening a door for Percy to enter the castle "Don't think about that for now. You won. That's a good thing. Let's get your eyes washed out and find Annabeth."
"Yeah," Percy agreed, grinning a bit as he thought about it "And Jason? Thanks. Seriously. You gave me really good advice."
"It was my honor," Jason replied, but after a moment squeezed Percy's shoulder a bit "You're welcome, Percy."
