Xavier's grin widened the instant Trafalgar stopped in front of him.
"So," he said, lifting the spear from his shoulder and giving it a loose spin through one hand, "do you want to have that sparring match you promised me now?"
Trafalgar gave him a brief once-over, from the sheen of sweat over his chest to the marks cut across the ground by repeated footwork.
"You were serious enough to start without me."
Xavier snorted. "Warming up. Big difference." He planted the spear beside him and folded one arm over the shaft. "Well? Don't tell me first place made you lazy."
"It had the opposite effect," Trafalgar replied.
"Good. That means you won't have an excuse when I win."
Trafalgar turned toward the open side of the corridor. "You talk too much for someone holding a spear instead of using it."
Xavier barked out a laugh and fell into step beside him.
