Post by The Smith on Apr 17, 2008 1:39:48 GMT -5
"The Courtyard"
The sun was just starting to dip below the wall of Broken Hill, as Dougal waited, idly twirling a wooden practice sword in his hand. He had been training hard, and he was determined that today would be the day he would best his father, or give him a damned good wallop or two in the attempt. Ever since the Lady Ella announced that she was again with child, Ser Devon had been largely occupied with business of the keep, leaving Dougal able to practice by day and drink and carouse by night, a schedule he considered utterly flawless.
As Dougal kept his eye on the door, expecting his father's arrival, something swatted him on the backside - a wooden sword.
"Hey!" Dougal exclaimed.
"Didn't I tell you to watch your hindquarters? I could have run you through the back and you'd have never seen it coming." Ser Devon rebuked, grinning.
Dougal smirked. "Point taken... but you would not have me so easy from the front." He raised his sword and leaned back into his stance.
"Very well, let us see what you have!"
Taking mirroring stances, the two circled around once, then again, each judging the tension and fluidity of the other's movements. Dougal came in first, with a cautious offensive, but Ser Devon easily turned the blows aside, countering with precision strikes. The boy then tried to work his way to the side, ducking and deftly evading.
Dougal then came in low in an attempt to undercut his much taller father. Expecting the tactic, Ser Devon crouched slightly, lowering his center of gravity and again deflected the blows.
After several minutes with neither having a clear advantage, people began trickling into the courtyard to watch the spectacle. Ser Devon and Dougal paid no heed, focused on their training. Occasional cheers would come from the small crowd as one or the other seemed to press an advantage.
Leaping back from a swing too strong for him to parry, Dougal rushed in again, with a strong overhand blow, but his rush was overpowered, and Ser Devon threw him several feet back, where he landed on his arse in the dirt. However, he was back up in an instant with sword at the ready.
Ser Devon frowned slightly. "You know better than that. You cannot use brute force on an opponent half again your size. You have to rely on technique and finesse. Again."
Dougal sprang back into action, and before long, the sun was all but gone, and dozens of bystanders lined the courtyard, eagerly watching the action.
For some time both pressed hard, neither finding an opening. Ser Devon used his strength to keep the boy's weapon at bay, and Dougal used his speed to evade and turn aside the more powerful blows. As both turned a heavy swing into each other, the wooden swords met and a resounding -CRACK- rang out through the courtyard, even turning the attention of the guards on the parapets. One such guard nearly choked on a bite of bacon, and dropped his plate off the side of the wall, cursing as he watched it land in a drinking trough.
Ser Devon and Dougal each looked over their swords, both split to the hilt and useless, laughing. The gathered crowd let out a cheer amongst the laughter, and even the cursing guard stopped to applaud.
"I say we call it a draw," Ser Devon grinned and clapped the boy on the shoulder. "...and well done. Now for some dinner." Dougal nodded and followed, the two tossing the broken swords onto a pile of firewood along the way.
Captain Victor Cregg, watching from just inside the gate, nudged his lieutenant, also following the action. "Kid's getting pretty good, eh?"
===
Ser Devon - Sword to expert
Dougal Hill - Sword to expert
The sun was just starting to dip below the wall of Broken Hill, as Dougal waited, idly twirling a wooden practice sword in his hand. He had been training hard, and he was determined that today would be the day he would best his father, or give him a damned good wallop or two in the attempt. Ever since the Lady Ella announced that she was again with child, Ser Devon had been largely occupied with business of the keep, leaving Dougal able to practice by day and drink and carouse by night, a schedule he considered utterly flawless.
As Dougal kept his eye on the door, expecting his father's arrival, something swatted him on the backside - a wooden sword.
"Hey!" Dougal exclaimed.
"Didn't I tell you to watch your hindquarters? I could have run you through the back and you'd have never seen it coming." Ser Devon rebuked, grinning.
Dougal smirked. "Point taken... but you would not have me so easy from the front." He raised his sword and leaned back into his stance.
"Very well, let us see what you have!"
Taking mirroring stances, the two circled around once, then again, each judging the tension and fluidity of the other's movements. Dougal came in first, with a cautious offensive, but Ser Devon easily turned the blows aside, countering with precision strikes. The boy then tried to work his way to the side, ducking and deftly evading.
Dougal then came in low in an attempt to undercut his much taller father. Expecting the tactic, Ser Devon crouched slightly, lowering his center of gravity and again deflected the blows.
After several minutes with neither having a clear advantage, people began trickling into the courtyard to watch the spectacle. Ser Devon and Dougal paid no heed, focused on their training. Occasional cheers would come from the small crowd as one or the other seemed to press an advantage.
Leaping back from a swing too strong for him to parry, Dougal rushed in again, with a strong overhand blow, but his rush was overpowered, and Ser Devon threw him several feet back, where he landed on his arse in the dirt. However, he was back up in an instant with sword at the ready.
Ser Devon frowned slightly. "You know better than that. You cannot use brute force on an opponent half again your size. You have to rely on technique and finesse. Again."
Dougal sprang back into action, and before long, the sun was all but gone, and dozens of bystanders lined the courtyard, eagerly watching the action.
For some time both pressed hard, neither finding an opening. Ser Devon used his strength to keep the boy's weapon at bay, and Dougal used his speed to evade and turn aside the more powerful blows. As both turned a heavy swing into each other, the wooden swords met and a resounding -CRACK- rang out through the courtyard, even turning the attention of the guards on the parapets. One such guard nearly choked on a bite of bacon, and dropped his plate off the side of the wall, cursing as he watched it land in a drinking trough.
Ser Devon and Dougal each looked over their swords, both split to the hilt and useless, laughing. The gathered crowd let out a cheer amongst the laughter, and even the cursing guard stopped to applaud.
"I say we call it a draw," Ser Devon grinned and clapped the boy on the shoulder. "...and well done. Now for some dinner." Dougal nodded and followed, the two tossing the broken swords onto a pile of firewood along the way.
Captain Victor Cregg, watching from just inside the gate, nudged his lieutenant, also following the action. "Kid's getting pretty good, eh?"
===
Ser Devon - Sword to expert
Dougal Hill - Sword to expert