Sparring with the Men

By the time Aliana came back from her room dressed for sparring, in a long-sleeve fitted shirt and loose pants, the middle of the deck had been transformed into a small ring of men eagerly waiting to fight and two were in the middle facing off.

Lucien was there in the circle of men cheering on the fighters with excitement, it had been almost a week on the water so they were ready to blow off a little steam.

When the princess walked up next to Lucien, the fighting stopped and the men on deck all bowed to her. She waved her hand for them to stand up.

"Since we will be fighting as equals there shall be no formalities from here on out while in this ring, understood?" Aliana called out loudly, her feminine voice had an edge to it making the men gleam with anticipation. "Call me Aliana if you like."