Thank you for being patient guys. I will try to post as often as possible again, though I will only be able to post this chapter today because I didn't have enough time to write another. Advice is always appreciated. Thanks for the support.

Chapter 5

Self Defence

"Good, now try this." Gregor swung the dagger over his hip like he was going to block a swing headed for his heart. He followed through and ducked as he charged forward the blade now ahead of him. They had been training in a small section of the arena for half an hour now and Hazard was showing small signs of getting exhausted every once in a while.

Hazard attempted to copy it but tripped on a rock on the spongey field. Gregor caught his arm before the blade could hit the ground."Thanks."Hazard's voice was rather deep for a eleven year old.

"Watch where you step next time."Around where they were there were rocks scatered everywhere. He had wanted Hazard two have to watch where he stepped so if he were in a tunnel with large ammounts of gravel he would be more careful of where he stepped.

Hazard attempted again and stepped on the same rock. It slipped and he fell back the knife landing a foot from his legs. Gregor helped him up."Do we need these rocks here?"

"Yes not all caves are going to have a flat even ground. Soon we will be practicing on a flier. It is less likely you will be attacked on a flier but it is better to be safe." Hazard nodded and went back to working on the charge.

Gregor felt a hand on his shoulder. He didn't flinch, he saw them coming before they got to him. "It would be better to have him train like he was lighter. Do not try to teach him your technique. Teach him in a way that is easier for him to move."With that Mareth sat on a near by bench.

The seats on the wall were empty. The wall was low enough he could jump and climb over it. He got an idea."Hazard come over here for a second."The young kid ran over to them."Mareth would it be of any consiquence to put a few holes in the wall for climbing?"

"We would not need to we have a wall by the tunnels meant for it. Why would you need that?"Realization appeared over his face.

"When you cannot fight you must run. Come Hazard this may be of importance as well."

"Why would it? I would have a flier with me at all times." Gregor shook his head.

"What if the bat is killed or injured badly? What if you don't have a weapon at the time?" Gregor stopped before the wall. He saw a black flier, with rusty stripes running down it's back, hanging from the roof incase someone fell off it. No one was on it now so they could climb freely."We shall climb together. to the overhang. Come."

They both started up the wall. Gregor was below him to catch him if he fell. He did not need to worry about him hitting the floor, but it would be more like it was real if he tried to catch him if he fell.

Hazard's hand grabbed a rock and it gave a crack. The rock fell out of place and Hazard began to fall. He went by Gregor and felt a hand grab his arm."Come on don't want to restart now do you?" They gave a short laugh and moved to the side for Hazard to pass.

They reached the top within fifteen minutes, having to restart again when Hazard fell and Gregor fell with him. They were both huffing in breaths of air, sweat rolling down their faces. Gregor felt some reach his eyes and brushed them off before they went into his eyes."Well... that was fun. You can head back to the palace I am staying to train on here a little. Never thought about it until now."

Hazard nodded and let out a loud whistle. He jumped off the edge and was caught by a creamy bat with stripes of red running down it's back. Gregor followed suit being caught by the bat that had been hanging from the roof. He walked halfway across the field to a three soldiers who were sparring each other.

"Well if it isn't the overlander. Care to practice with us in a spar?" said a skinny man who was taller by Gregor by nearly a foot, the rest were about the same height as Gregor. Gregor nodded.

"Sure. So who will be first?"The men laughed.

"All of us at the same time. You against three of us. Sounds fair to me seeing you are near Ripred's level."Gregor hadn't heard of sparring with more than one person, but he nodded and went into a defensive stance. They all began to surround him circling waiting for the moment to strike.

Gregor caught a glimpse of one of them nodding and rushed him while he turned his attention to the man to his right. He pulled out the knife at his waste and held it to the man's throat blocking a swing from the other man with his sword.

Gregor spun to his left and stopped before a strike, that would have caught his leg, hit him. He but his foot on the blunt side of the blade and held it to the ground as he dropped to the floor dodging a swing for his throat, that was swung by the taller man. The sword didn't slow down like it would have had he not been trying to kill Gregor.

Gregor swung his leg to the side catching the man with his sword under Gregor's butt. The man fell to the ground with a thump and stopped when he felt the cool metal against his throat. Gregor rolled over the man in time to stop the other man from stopping his blade over his chest.

Gregor leapt to his feet, and ducked under the blade. He swung his fist at the handle hitting the man's hand. The sword dropped the the floor and a knife was under the man's neck.

"Well that was a good fight. Maybe some more concentration from him,"He pointed to the slightly chubby man who he had taken out first.",a little more strength from you,"He indicated the other man.",and you could beat me next time."

The men all nodded running off to do more training. Gregor let out a loud whistle, and jumped to land on the back of the creamy white bat he had become accostumed to."They stood no chance against you. Your advice will not help for their next spar with you." The bat purred out.

Gregor grinned."Yes, but it may improve them in battle and could mean their life or their death." Daedalus nodded. Gregor looked down at the city below them. It still took his breath away. He had been there a week but it still nearly made him cry. It was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen.

When the streets turned to a lightly lit balcony he looked up to see the walls of the high hall. He walked down the halls until he found his chambers. He pulled back the curtains and slumped into the red colored bed. Within minutes he fell asleep, to tired to attend supper.