Post by The Smith on Mar 27, 2008 0:03:56 GMT -5
There were not many spectators in the training yard. Jon was a little disappointing about this, as he always wanted people to be watching when he trained against his brother Lewys, in case it would be the one time he would finally beat him. However, the escape of the ironborn captain had put the castle on high alert, and even now there were twenty guards surrounding the yard, swords ready.
Jon sighed as he observed his brother. He was extremely tight and paranoid, as was evident by the constant swiveling of his neck. It had been Jon's idea to visit the training yard, as he had thought it may loosen Lewys up a bit and take his mind off of the recent events. But I'll be damned if he thinks I'm going to let him win, though, Jon thought, smiling inwardly.
Lewys broke Jon's thoughts when he called to him, sword in hand and shield ready. "I'm ready," Jon replied, moving towards his foe. When the competition begins, Lewys ceases to be his brother and just becomes another opponent, another person he must defeat.
The blades met and withdrew, met and withdrew, met and withdrew. Neither man gained an advantage for over a minute before Lewys raised his shield just a second late against of Jon's downward thrusts. The sword sheared downwards, railing against mail and armor. A grunt of pain emerged from Lewys, but that was all Jon received for his efforts. Lewys quickly counterattacked, angry at Jon's small success. He was swinging furiously, getting more out of position than usual. His next cut at Jon's head would have knocked him out, but Jon slipped deftly aside, and went back on the attack himself. The dance continued for a short while before Lewys, as was usually the case when the two fought, was back to playing the role as the attacker. Lewys smashed his shield into his brother's, giving him a bit of seperation, and quickly threw a furious blow at his Jon's chest. It was exactly the sort of strike Jon had been waiting for. Jon skillfully angled his shield so that his opponents strike skittered off its edge and caused Lewys to stumble foward, unbalanced. I have him, Jon thought, exalted. Seizing his moment, Jon dodged to the side and thumps his blunted sword painfully into the exposed ribs of his foe, sending Lewys tumbling to the ground.
Lewys shook his head in disgust, and Jon did his very best to try and not let his happiness show. Jon helped him up and become genuinely sorry about beating his brother. He has so much pressure on him. He has to play the general and lord, while I just have to play the younger brother, without any responsibility. However, Jon's sympathy quickly melted away when Lewys gave him a friendly but stinging punch to the stomach. "Rematch?" Lewys asked, smiling. Jon returned the grin and once again the two went at it, each wanting to show the spectators, however few they were, who was the true swordsman of the family. This time Jon did not have as much luck. He's much more focused this time, I won't be able to trick him so easily, Jon thought. Nothing Jon did could throw phase Lewys, and Jon was quickly thrown off balance by a lightning-fast blow strike to his thigh from his brother's blade. Lewys hammered Jon's shield to pieces before he finally yelled "I yield", and then they both lied sprawled out in the yard, exhausted, but laughing nonetheless. When Lewys finally rose, he had a new energy about him that had been missing the last few days.
That night, with many guards around, Lewys, Lord Glover, and Jon sat up late in the night discussing history, war, women, food, drink, dragons, and anything else that came to mind. When Lewys made several foolish remarks relating to political issues, Glover took it upon himself to educate Lewys on diplomacy. Three hours later, Lewys felt much more confident in his negotiating and political knowledge. He went to sleep that night, bruised and battered from the training fight, but happier than he had been in days.
Results:
Jon Lydden improves to expert swordsmanship.
Jon Lydden improves to master shield use.
Lewys Lydden improves to apprentice politics.
Lewys Lydden improves to (or towards) master swordsmanship.
Jon sighed as he observed his brother. He was extremely tight and paranoid, as was evident by the constant swiveling of his neck. It had been Jon's idea to visit the training yard, as he had thought it may loosen Lewys up a bit and take his mind off of the recent events. But I'll be damned if he thinks I'm going to let him win, though, Jon thought, smiling inwardly.
Lewys broke Jon's thoughts when he called to him, sword in hand and shield ready. "I'm ready," Jon replied, moving towards his foe. When the competition begins, Lewys ceases to be his brother and just becomes another opponent, another person he must defeat.
The blades met and withdrew, met and withdrew, met and withdrew. Neither man gained an advantage for over a minute before Lewys raised his shield just a second late against of Jon's downward thrusts. The sword sheared downwards, railing against mail and armor. A grunt of pain emerged from Lewys, but that was all Jon received for his efforts. Lewys quickly counterattacked, angry at Jon's small success. He was swinging furiously, getting more out of position than usual. His next cut at Jon's head would have knocked him out, but Jon slipped deftly aside, and went back on the attack himself. The dance continued for a short while before Lewys, as was usually the case when the two fought, was back to playing the role as the attacker. Lewys smashed his shield into his brother's, giving him a bit of seperation, and quickly threw a furious blow at his Jon's chest. It was exactly the sort of strike Jon had been waiting for. Jon skillfully angled his shield so that his opponents strike skittered off its edge and caused Lewys to stumble foward, unbalanced. I have him, Jon thought, exalted. Seizing his moment, Jon dodged to the side and thumps his blunted sword painfully into the exposed ribs of his foe, sending Lewys tumbling to the ground.
Lewys shook his head in disgust, and Jon did his very best to try and not let his happiness show. Jon helped him up and become genuinely sorry about beating his brother. He has so much pressure on him. He has to play the general and lord, while I just have to play the younger brother, without any responsibility. However, Jon's sympathy quickly melted away when Lewys gave him a friendly but stinging punch to the stomach. "Rematch?" Lewys asked, smiling. Jon returned the grin and once again the two went at it, each wanting to show the spectators, however few they were, who was the true swordsman of the family. This time Jon did not have as much luck. He's much more focused this time, I won't be able to trick him so easily, Jon thought. Nothing Jon did could throw phase Lewys, and Jon was quickly thrown off balance by a lightning-fast blow strike to his thigh from his brother's blade. Lewys hammered Jon's shield to pieces before he finally yelled "I yield", and then they both lied sprawled out in the yard, exhausted, but laughing nonetheless. When Lewys finally rose, he had a new energy about him that had been missing the last few days.
That night, with many guards around, Lewys, Lord Glover, and Jon sat up late in the night discussing history, war, women, food, drink, dragons, and anything else that came to mind. When Lewys made several foolish remarks relating to political issues, Glover took it upon himself to educate Lewys on diplomacy. Three hours later, Lewys felt much more confident in his negotiating and political knowledge. He went to sleep that night, bruised and battered from the training fight, but happier than he had been in days.
Results:
Jon Lydden improves to expert swordsmanship.
Jon Lydden improves to master shield use.
Lewys Lydden improves to apprentice politics.
Lewys Lydden improves to (or towards) master swordsmanship.