"You think I need to be more social?" Hadrian replied with a sardonic laugh.
"It couldn't hurt." Tagamir shrugged. He bowed then saluted Hadrian with the tip of his training sword. Hadrian returned the gesture.
"You think I should engage them in small talk? How's the weather, that kind of thing?" Hadrian said as he swapped his sword between hands. "It'll be the right hand today."
"What did I do to earn that honor?" Tagamir smirked feeling the challenge.
"You gave me your opinion, Tag. I pay you for sparring, not speaking." Hadrian grinned arrogantly. He tested his grip and was satisfied. Then, without warning he lunged at Tagamir's chest. It was lightning quick and accurate as ever.
Tagamir saw it coming. He'd trained with Hadrian long enough to know a few of his queues. One was his penchant for attacking before a fight actually began. Tag turned it aside and followed through with a quick vertical counter that slapped Hadrian hard across the cheek.
The champion staggered back holding his face with his free hand.
"That... could have taken out my eye you idiot!" Hadrian rubbed himself.
"Stop flagging." Tagamir said with a hint of pleasure in his voice.
"Flagging?" Hadrian regained his composure then fell back into his swordsman stance. "Fine." A moment passed as they took the measure of each other. Hadrian always made the first move - another thing Tagamir had learned. As Hadrian moved Tagamir spoke.
"I'll offer you a bet." He said abruptly.
Hadrian stopped and looked at Tag with frustration, sword coiled. "A bet?" He curled his nose in anger. "What insolence, and from a sparring partner?"
Tagamir continued.
"If I win, you will sit with them tomorrow. You will join them just for one night. Even if you don't actually say anything" Tagamir looked the champion in his blue eyes. Hadrian met the gaze with anger and something else - something that anger gave way to.
"Are you serious?" Hadrian said in a rarely heard authentic voice. He thought for a moment. The idea made him intensely uncomfortable. Hadrian didn't know what to say to someone he didn't dominate in some way. It scared him. He snarled at Tagamir.
"I should release you right here!" He yelled, sword now held low.
"Do it if you want, but if you do just know something." He opened his arms wide.
"What's that, sword-boy?" He said through gritted teeth.
"Our last encounter ended with me slapping you across the face." Tagamir burst out laughing.
Hadrian's anger raged within him. Tagamir could see it. Yet the champion didn't move, he didn't say a word. He knew his pride was at stake. His standing in the eyes of the other contenders.
"What do I get if I win?" Hadrian eventually spat.
"Your money back and a free training partner." Hadrian smiled as he bowed.
"My money back? Are you serious? I paid you a year's thrones."
"Yeah, well. I'm feeling generous today." He held an offering gesture.
"Fine." Hadrian spat, then came at Tagamir again. This time a flurry of over-hands and back-hands. Near two dozen vertical blows in the space of three broads steps. The ferocity of Hadrian opening gambit was amazing. Tagamir parried them left and right as he was pushed back.
Eventually Tagamir had to jump back or be overcome by the champion.
"So angry!" Tagamir jested as he hopped about in a semi-circle arc just out of reach of Hadrian.
"No I'm just motivated!" Hadrian snorted as he stepped in for yet another combination of strikes. His movements were deft and impeccable. Hadrian truly was worth every bit of his reputation. Tagamir was more dodging than parrying. He simply was not good enough to match the champion's sword play.
Tagamir ducked and leaped. He turned away what he could but his agility is what kept him in the game. His only hope was that the champion would tire himself out, or get angry enough to make an error. Eventually Hadrian stopped, his arms outstretched in confusion and frustration. Sweat poured off the man as he heaved, clearly exerted.
"What?" He puffed. "You're a swordsman not an acrobat. Are you going to fight me?" He wiped sweat from his face and fixed his hair a bit.
"I'm motivated too." Tagamir panted, though he retained the bounce in his step. He hadn't exerted as much as the champion but he was still feeling it. His muscles ached in ways a swordsman never usually felt.
"So what you'll become a dancer just to avoid a loss?" Hadrian have his sardonic laugh once again. "You'd be laughed at in the a--" He trailed off as Tagamir went for broke.
He attempted Hadrian's own technique of attacking before you were meant to. It kind of worked. Hadrian was taken aback as Tagamir lunged with all his might and skill. He followed three blocked overhands with a kick to Hadrian's chest which sent him back. Then, while the champion was stunned, Tagamir shot forward with total abandon.
Tagamir rammed Hadrian with his shoulder and took the champion to the ground with a crash. Hadrian cried in pain as the air was pushed from his lungs. Tagamir was somehow still on top of him. He pinned Hadrian's sword hand with his knee then heaved up to bring his training sword to the champion's throat.
Hadrian had a complex look on his face; pain, amazement, enjoyment, fear. Tagamir looked utterly exhausted. He was bent to the side as though one of his ribs was broken - and indeed it was. Hadrian had caught him with the pommel of his sword hard - though it wasn't the blade.
Hadrian grinned up at the man and began painfully laughing. A look of elation came over him that was at odds with his loser's predicament.
"What are you laughing at? I beat you." Tagamir said through gritted teeth. His free hand held his screaming ribs.
"My God that hurt. A shoulder barge, really?" He continued his pained laughing. "What is this a game of line-ball?" He didn't seem to care that a dulled blade was held to his throat. "The arena would laugh you out on your face." He stopped to regard the sword-boy. "But, I can see it's merit."
Tagamir hunched more than stood up. He cradled his ribs and took shallow breaths. The pain blossoming unlike anything he had felt.
"You did well, Tag. I'll remember that. Thank you." Hadrian patted Tagamir on the back. "You won. I'll keep my word and with with the others tomorrow. Speaking of which take tomorrow off. I want you in good condition for our next fight." Hadrian gave the wounded a man a playful grin then walked away.
"Aye, champion." Tagamir said to Hadrian's back as he walked off to find someone to tend to his wound.
Thank you for reading. I hope you enjoyed this.
This is for the daily freewrite hosted by 
Thank you again and have a lovely and safe day.