Post by The Stranger on Apr 17, 2008 11:18:12 GMT -5
The sweat rolled down Robb's forehead as he continued to train. He was using a blunted sword, but had Fury close by. He was dying to use it, but dared not after the accident a few days past, when he had accidently killed a knight during training. It had been a two on two fight with Ser Tomas Bulwer and himself against two knights from the crownlands. The man had been assumed to just be knocked out, until sometime later when they discovered the awful truth. Robb had been unable to rid himself of the guilt ever since.
Now he was facing a decent man at sword, his own personal bodyguard, Ser Meryn Flowers, and one of his closest friends. However shrewd Meryn might be at detecting threats and protecting Robb, he was no match with him at sword. Robb's sword was everywhere; blocking every blow with ease. He shoves his shield into Meryn's grunt and then whacked him onto the helm with his blade, sending him to the ground. He got up so slowly but then laughed about it. "That's three times now, milord. Haven't ya had enough of beatin' up on your guard?" Robb laughed. "I will never have enough of beating up on you, Ser Meryn. It's quite fun," he said cheerfully.
The knight just shook his head with a grin while dusting himself off. The training yard was mostly empty, something rare for the Red Keep. Robb was about to call it quits for the morning when Ser Meryn said, "If you really want a challenge, how bout a round of crossbow firing? The loser buys a round of drinks after this." Robb accepted.
They retrieve two crossbows and three bolts each, loading them first and getting them ready. Two arching targets were set up at the far end of the yard, and Robb and Ser Meryn sat up at equal distance from them. "Ready, fire!" Ser Meryn suddenly said. Their first bolts both landed in the outer edge of the target, a mediocre shot. Both cursing, they loaded as quickly as the mechanism would all them to and then fired again. This time Ser Meryn hit the center of the target, while Robb's fell an inch to the right of it. They both reloaded as quickly as possible. Robb aimed for the center but missed by a half inch, still a good shot. Meryn's did the same.
"It looks to be a draw, milord," Ser Meryn said, relieved to have not been beaten at his best skill.
"I suppose so," Robb said, equally relieved had not being bested by a man in his service. "I guess that means neither of us will be drinking now?"
Ser Meryn looked at him, incredulous. "By the seven, what is wrong with you, milord!? A draw means we both buy drinks! Now c'mon, I'm thirsty!" Robb laughed heartily and followed the man out of the yard. Along the way, Ser Meryn pulled out his sword.
"This is how you can tell if something is poisoned, Robb," he said. He indicated to the end of the blade where it looked normal; shiny and bright. "Now watch." He reached into his pockets and dropped three small drops of liquid onto the point of the blade. Slowly, it became noticeably darker than the rest, and not as bright when the sun hit it. "See?" Ser Meryn said. "It gives the sword a different hue when a liquid is on it. You can't tell, unless you're looking for it. And don't worry about my sword, milord, that wasn't enough to hurt anyone."
The two men finally reached a tavern in the middle of King's Landing and had themselves more than a few ales.
Results:
Ser Meryn Flowers improves to noteworthy sword.
Robb Tarly improves to noteworthy crossbow.
Robb Tarly improves to novice medicine and poison lore.
Ser Meryn Flowers improves to expert crossbow.
Now he was facing a decent man at sword, his own personal bodyguard, Ser Meryn Flowers, and one of his closest friends. However shrewd Meryn might be at detecting threats and protecting Robb, he was no match with him at sword. Robb's sword was everywhere; blocking every blow with ease. He shoves his shield into Meryn's grunt and then whacked him onto the helm with his blade, sending him to the ground. He got up so slowly but then laughed about it. "That's three times now, milord. Haven't ya had enough of beatin' up on your guard?" Robb laughed. "I will never have enough of beating up on you, Ser Meryn. It's quite fun," he said cheerfully.
The knight just shook his head with a grin while dusting himself off. The training yard was mostly empty, something rare for the Red Keep. Robb was about to call it quits for the morning when Ser Meryn said, "If you really want a challenge, how bout a round of crossbow firing? The loser buys a round of drinks after this." Robb accepted.
They retrieve two crossbows and three bolts each, loading them first and getting them ready. Two arching targets were set up at the far end of the yard, and Robb and Ser Meryn sat up at equal distance from them. "Ready, fire!" Ser Meryn suddenly said. Their first bolts both landed in the outer edge of the target, a mediocre shot. Both cursing, they loaded as quickly as the mechanism would all them to and then fired again. This time Ser Meryn hit the center of the target, while Robb's fell an inch to the right of it. They both reloaded as quickly as possible. Robb aimed for the center but missed by a half inch, still a good shot. Meryn's did the same.
"It looks to be a draw, milord," Ser Meryn said, relieved to have not been beaten at his best skill.
"I suppose so," Robb said, equally relieved had not being bested by a man in his service. "I guess that means neither of us will be drinking now?"
Ser Meryn looked at him, incredulous. "By the seven, what is wrong with you, milord!? A draw means we both buy drinks! Now c'mon, I'm thirsty!" Robb laughed heartily and followed the man out of the yard. Along the way, Ser Meryn pulled out his sword.
"This is how you can tell if something is poisoned, Robb," he said. He indicated to the end of the blade where it looked normal; shiny and bright. "Now watch." He reached into his pockets and dropped three small drops of liquid onto the point of the blade. Slowly, it became noticeably darker than the rest, and not as bright when the sun hit it. "See?" Ser Meryn said. "It gives the sword a different hue when a liquid is on it. You can't tell, unless you're looking for it. And don't worry about my sword, milord, that wasn't enough to hurt anyone."
The two men finally reached a tavern in the middle of King's Landing and had themselves more than a few ales.
Results:
Ser Meryn Flowers improves to noteworthy sword.
Robb Tarly improves to noteworthy crossbow.
Robb Tarly improves to novice medicine and poison lore.
Ser Meryn Flowers improves to expert crossbow.