"Shh" Alyssa said punching Bryant.

"I'm wounded." He said theatrically, and fell forward onto the horse's neck.

"You're going to get more hours," Alyssa whispered to him. "And if you do that you'll never be able to you rescue our dear princess...not that you'd ever do that. Too chicken" And with that declaration she went once more towards the quatrain and hit it perfectly, but lost her balance on the horse and fell off.

She stood up, her face a deep red.

Bryant snorted "Yeah, right. At least I can stay on my horse."

Alyssa glared at him and got back up on her horse. "Only half of the time though"

"Half is better than a quarter, my dear friend," Bryant replied sarcastically "Was that the bell?" he held a hand to his ear theatrically "Are we free of this torture?"

Across the yard, Cleon called the pages and squires to untack their horses.

"We have staff training next to you twit," She said as she walked her horse into its stall and started to untack it.

"Uh, yes, of course we do," Bryant said, trying to hide his mistake in a load of babble. "You know I'm not as stupid as I sound sometimes," he said to his horse as he quickly untacked her.

"Yah..Yah..Anyways I'm surprised you forgot. Your better at staff practice than I am" She said quietly then walked out of stables. She hated admitting people were better than her at some things.

Bryant grinned to himself. He loved it when people admitted he had the upper hand on some things. "Well then," he said proudly to his horse and he finished up.

Alyssa grabbed her staff and warmed up a little bit then stood in line with the other squires.

Bryant quickly rushed in and got his staff, and squeezed into the line next to Alyssa.

She waited for her father to start shouting orders.

"Just a warm-up drill to start," Cleon barked, his voice never did cope well after jousting "pair up!"

Alyssa looked at Bryant. "Partner?"

Bryant grinned "Of course. Just remember not to look at your feet too much,"

"Shut up" She growled.

"Alright, alright," he conceded, "I'll be nice."

"I can match you with staffs I just can't be stronger than you"

"Fair enough," Bryant said, beginning the exercise

Alyssa copied him perfectly.

"You know," Bryant said between sticking a jab at Alyssa "we should really figure out what we're doing soon."

"What do you mean Bryant?"

"The princess. The Plan. That thing." he said

"Oh.. I don't know. You're actually going to try and find her and save her?"

"Of course, why wouldn't I?"

"You've really meant her twice. So you two shared a moment..Why risked your life, when there are many knights already looking for her. You could be denied your knight hood if you do this"

"So?" Bryant shrugged it off "Since when have I been reasonable?"

"Come on Bryant.."

"It'll be fine. We'll get some information, and we'll go and get her-its not like we're stupid."

She sighed and quickly got a hit on Bryant, right on his left side.

"Hey!" Bryant exclaimed, returning the favor quickly "We'll avoid confrontation...we'll...sneak around...we're less obvious that the knights that are looking for her."

"You actually believe that two squires can find a princess that no one else can find...?"

"Three," Bryant corrected "and don't forget who our parents are. We're obviously superior to the other knights." he chuckled at himself.

"Christopher will not come with us and you know that!"

"What if we trick him?"

"No. Noo! Bryant he'd be like shunned from his family if he doesn't become a knight"

"You have a point,...so it's just me and you then hey,"

"Yah.." Alyssa got quieter and her hits become more focused as her father walked towards her and Bryant.

Cleon nodded "Getting better squires, now, speed it up."

She nodded and quickened her pace.

"Good good," Cleon said, in a tone that could have meant he was praising any of the squires around him. It wasn't very well known that Cleon was actually very proud of his daughter.  He continued down the line

Alyssa sighed and continued the intricate staff work.

Bryant bit his lip subconsciously as he continued to block and return Alyssa's movements

"Ready to give in yet?"

"Maybe," he said, "maybe not."

Alyssa tried harder, the force in her blows increasing.

"Alright, alright," Bryant said, as her staff connected solidly with his knee.

Alyssa stopped. "Bryant are you okay?"

He nodded "Yeah. I've had worse." Quickly he tried to take a step, and was relieved when it wasn't especially painful.

"Maybe..I should see if you should take a break?"

Bryant shook his head "Nah, I'll be fine. Hurts less if you don't stop." He picked up his staff again

She smirked and started to hit her staff against his rapidly.

Bryant quickly returned the strokes, hoping he was right about his uninformed diagnosis on his knee.

Alyssa when her father would change the staff routine they were doing.

"Switch drills squires-remember big sweeping movements," Cleon called out

Alyssa tried to do the sweeping movements but there were mistakes in every movement.

"Come on Alyssa," Bryant said, hoping to help her correct her movements before Cleon glanced over again "its really not that bad, watch me," he demonstrated slowly "now you try."

Alyssa tried. "I don't know...why I can't get this move"

"You'll get it in time," Bryant consoled "its not like we're all instantly brilliant at this stuff."

"We've been doing this move since we were pages though Bryant"

"Well you'll get it soon enough,"

"Highly doubtful"

"Its' just one move,"

"I have..to be perfect," She whispered.

Bryant smiled "You're perfect enough"

"What ever you say.."

"Yeah, it is hey" Bryant grinned "Cleon will be proud of you no matter what anyway,"

"Not that he'd ever show it though"

"Some parents have odd ways of showing things, like my mother-she calls me a fool half the time, but I know she thinks I'm wonderful,"

"Bryant..you are a fool though," She laughed. "I meant that nicest sense though"

"Hmm," he grinned "I'm just going to take your word for it then."

"You better!"

"But I always do," Bryant scoffed "well, about most things anyway."