(Revised Chapter) Ahh! Chapter three! I'm freakin out with excitement!… Ok... I'm better. You know the drill guys. Review; be nice, I don't own stuff besides my own… Bla bla bla! Enjoy! Warning: Innuendos! Funny though, I think you will like it.

-Aena Firestar

Chapter 3

The Fight

The crowd scattered and went back to doing whatever they were doing. Kalin and the initiates came up to me. Some of them, I was shocked to see, congratulated me.

"Welcome to the order, princess." Said the one with brown eyes that had mocked me. I narrowed my eyes a bit, but smiled slightly.

"I have a name you know. It's Alera...Please don't call me princess." I said quietly, trying to be nice about it but remaining a bit guarded.

"Quit bugging the girl Malik. She has had enough I'm sure." Said Kalin. I rose a brow and smirked.

"Is that your name? Well, then nice to meet you Malik."

"Pleasure is all mine Alera. I will let up on the teasing for now." He said laughing. Then, the one that had called me a sniveling girl showed up in front of me. He threw a sword at me. I caught it and strapped it around my waist.

"Lets go. Right now." He said.

"Give her a minute." Said Kalin.

"No." I cut him off. "Lead the way to the ring." I said to the guy. He led the way and I followed. Kalin stood on the sidelines and all the initiates sat on the fence or leaned up against it. We entered the ring. Kalin came in behind us. We stood on different sides of the ring. Kalin stood in between us.

"Make it clean you two. No sword to flesh contact, and Alera, no hitting below the belt unless absolutely necessary." Said Kalin. Laughter came from the guys. I kind of smiled too. He looked at the guy. "Altaïr, go easy on her." Said Kalin.

"No. Give me everything. I want it all. Go as hard as you can on me." I said. I thought about it for a minute and all the guys snickered. Even Altaïr laughed a bit. I blushed a bit and laughed a little. "Wait, that came out wrong. Just give me the best you've got." I said.

"Are you sure Alera? He is our best initiate. And he is sixteen and you're fifteen. He has one good year ahead on you." Said Kalin. I looked at him.

"I'm sure. Those are just numbers. Less talk, more action. Lets go." I said. I drew my sword and took my stance. Altaïr chuckled and shook his head. He drew his sword.

"Get ready to be beat princess." He said. I smiled and laughed a bit.

"Be ready to be turned into a sniveling girl." I said. I think that set him off because the next thing I knew he lunged at me. I blocked the attack and countered it. I punched him in the stomach and pushed him back. He stumbled back. The crowd started to shout.

"Good Job Alera! Keep going!" I heard Kalin say and some other people.

"Don't take that Altaïr! Show her what for! Put her in her place!" were just a few of the things they said. Some were joking around but others really wanted him to put me in my place. He came back at me and we locked swords. We looked at each other through the crossed swords. His green eyes locked onto mine. I got distracted and he slung my sword out and kicked me down. I fell on my back. It jarred me a little bit. I gasped for breath as it was knocked out of me. Altaïr came up to me and smirked at me. I had a surge of anger go through me and I kicked him in the stomach.

"Ohhh! That's got to hurt!" I heard some of the guys say. I put my hands behind my head and pushed. I pulled my legs up and towards me, like I was going to do a back flip, then I threw my legs and weight forward and pushed up with my arms and landed on my feet. I grabbed my sword again. Altaïr recovered quickly and came at me again. I swung and swung, but every time he blocked me. He went to grab me and I caught his hand and kicked him back. I ran at him this time, but I swung too late and he knocked me down. He pulled his short sword out and straddled me. He put the sword to my neck. He got down close. We were face to face. He looked in my eyes.

"Give up yet?" he said with arrogance. I smiled at him.

"Not even close." I kneed him between the legs and rolled over and straddled him. I shot my hidden blade out and pointed it at his neck. He looked at me. Then did something I really wasn't prepared for. He popped my wrist up and made my hidden blade go back in. He then pushed himself up and slammed me on the ground on my back. He pulled his hidden blade out and aimed it at the side of my neck. But then I slashed mine out again and aimed it in a very vital place, right between his legs. The guys erupted with laughter. It was over. Some started clapping, others were shouting. Kalin jumped the fence and came to us.

"It's a tie!" he declared. "Alera that was great!" I looked up from underneath Altaïr and smiled at Kalin. Altaïr was still on top of me. I looked back at him and wiggled underneath him.

"Get off and let me go. Or do you forget where my blade is pointing?" I said, with a little frustration. He smirked.

"Why? I've got you right where I want you princess." He said. He ran his blade down my neck and traced the scar on my cheek. Chills went up my spine as the cold metal touched my skin. I had a little in take of breath as the cold bite of the metal stole some away from me. Altaïr smiled. "Should I take that as something?" he said. The little flame of anger I had turned into a roaring fire. I smiled a fake smile at him. He got closer to me, totally ignoring the crowd that was gathering. But then, his smile turned to surprise and a little bit of worry. I ran my blade up his thigh and stopped.

"Try me." I said. I winked at him. His face was unreadable at that point. He withdrew his blade and got up. He didn't offer a hand and I didn't care. I got up on my own. The guys came up to us. They patted Altaïr on the back and Kalin patted my shoulder.

"Very good Alera." He said. I smiled at him. Malik and Altaïr and the rest of the guys looked at me.

"Nice try princess, but I guess I just always manage to come out on top." He said with a smirk. I caught the hint of innuendo. The other boys laughed, signifying that they caught it too, but someone said something. It was Malik.

"Hey, you better be careful Altaïr. Alera has some good moves. She just might come out on top one of these days." Altaïr laughed.

"Then I shall ever anticipate that day." He said, looking me up and down. I picked up my sword and sheathed it. Then I walked up to him. He was a bit taller than me and I had to sort of look up to look straight in his eyes. He still smirked.

"Three things I have to tell you. And I'll say them clearly so they will get through that thick skull of yours. One: My name is Alera, not princess. Two: one day I am going to sneak up on you and surprise you, and when that happens I will make sure I come out on top and I will kick your ass. And number three: Your arrogance might get you into trouble one day, so I would do some work on that. Just warning you ahead of time."He rolled his eyes. I shook my head and turned around. "He's so hard headed!" I whispered to Kalin.

"I know." He said with a smile.