Post by The Smith on Apr 29, 2008 22:04:11 GMT -5
It was dark when Darien and Yozs entered the training yard. There were a few torches lit and high up on the walls the
guards stood. Darien enjoyed training at night; he liked how the cool night wind felt when he worked up a sweat. It was
always interesting training against Yozs. The man was good, but it also built skill fighting against a man who wielded
an Arakh. Having found a blunted longsword and shield Darien stood opposite his friend; Yozs had his own blunted Arakh,
as it was quite hard to find any in the free cities and impossible in Westeros. Yozs bowed and Darien gave him a nod and
with that the two men met, steel clashing on steel. Darien had a strong sword armbut he needed to work more on his shield,
so instead of parrying he went to block more blows than usual. Every opening he saw, Darien attacked, but every time Yozs's
Arakh defended. They sparred for around an hour before Darien finally brought Yozh to the floor with a thrust of his shield.
"Well fought friend." Darien said, offering his hand to the man. His guard took it and gave him a smile. Darien was
the only person that ever saw Yozs smile or heard him talk. "Next time, focus more on your feet. I had plenty of chances
to throw you off balance." Darien nodded. "Thank you for the advice. That is why we train."
Darien was about to put down his sword when Yozs came lunging at him. 'Ah yes, the secret attack.' Darien brought up his
shield, blocking the man's attack and bringing his sword around in an arc. For another twenty minutes they were at it, both
of them furiously trying to get a hit on the other. Darien did as he was advised and at first it was confusing putting more
focus on his legs but finally he got the hang of it. However, Darien missed a swing and suddenly the Arakh hit him right
on the head, ringing his helm and sending him to the floor.
"Too much attention to the feet." Yozs said with a smile as Darien was getting up. "Ah, but I think that is enough for
tonight." "If you wish."
The next day was when the hard work really began. Darien knew he was going to need information, concerning the important and
not so important things, so he spent the day walking the halls and the square, watching servants and guardsmen, listening
to conversations, noting down everything he could. Then, come evening, he sent Yozs out to a small select group of people
who had caught his eye that day to come meet him. Darien waited patiently in his room, a bottle of the safe wine resting
next to him on the table. He only waited for around ten minutes until the three people he had selected came in, all looking
quite confused. "Ah, here you are. Worry not, my friends, I do not bring trouble." At least not too much. Darien studied
the three again for a moment. There was a fat lady from the kitchens, a tall and lean guard and a boy from the stables.
They will do. "Now, as you all know I am the curious new arrival here at the Dun Fort. It has probably also been spread
around that I am the Lady Royce's brother, which is sort of true. We share the same father but I do not have the name to
go with it. Yet." To counter their still confused faces, Darien opened the bottle of wine and poured some in four glasses.
He then took a sip from each before indicating to the three to take their glasses.
"Now, I do not know much of what is going on here, or in Westeros, which is why I am going to need a constant source of
information. Anything that you hear - I want to hear next. If the smith has stubbed his toe or someone is planning to murder
me, tell me straight away." The three had already taken sips from their wine, but at this request stared at him dumbfounded.
"Oh, come on. I am pretty sure all of you report to my dear sister already, and in good time the information would reach me
too. However, I don't want eventual, I want quick." And now for the masterstroke. "Gilly." he said to the woman from the
kitchens. "I am sure you wouldn't like anyone to know about the food you are stealing." The woman started turning red, the
same deep red as her wine but Darien already had his piercing eyes on the guardsman. "Your woman loves you, and she had better
not find out about your... peculiar habits with some of the other guards." The man suddenly looked very small, as he shuffled
his feet and coughed uncomfortably. "And of course," Darien said, looking at the boy. "we wouldn't want Lady Royce to find
out that you sometimes secretly take rides on Winterfrost, would we?" The boy shook his head and Darien smiled.
"Well, if that is settled then drink up my friends. From tomorrow your work starts. And remember, this is all in interest to
House Royce and the Lady Aranya."
As the three left Darien finished his wine and looked at Yozs. "Ah, I am sure the first thing they will do is go to my sister
and tell her of what has just occurred." Dariend sighed and Yozs smirked. "It doesn't really matter, I need to start somewhere."
Yozs picked up the empty wine bottle and disposed of it while Darien got up and stretched. "And now, to the training yard?"
Darien Stone advances to Expert Sword
Darien Stone advances to Noteworthy Persuasion
Yozs advances to Noteworthy Arakh-Fighting
Darien Stone gains 3 whisperers.
guards stood. Darien enjoyed training at night; he liked how the cool night wind felt when he worked up a sweat. It was
always interesting training against Yozs. The man was good, but it also built skill fighting against a man who wielded
an Arakh. Having found a blunted longsword and shield Darien stood opposite his friend; Yozs had his own blunted Arakh,
as it was quite hard to find any in the free cities and impossible in Westeros. Yozs bowed and Darien gave him a nod and
with that the two men met, steel clashing on steel. Darien had a strong sword armbut he needed to work more on his shield,
so instead of parrying he went to block more blows than usual. Every opening he saw, Darien attacked, but every time Yozs's
Arakh defended. They sparred for around an hour before Darien finally brought Yozh to the floor with a thrust of his shield.
"Well fought friend." Darien said, offering his hand to the man. His guard took it and gave him a smile. Darien was
the only person that ever saw Yozs smile or heard him talk. "Next time, focus more on your feet. I had plenty of chances
to throw you off balance." Darien nodded. "Thank you for the advice. That is why we train."
Darien was about to put down his sword when Yozs came lunging at him. 'Ah yes, the secret attack.' Darien brought up his
shield, blocking the man's attack and bringing his sword around in an arc. For another twenty minutes they were at it, both
of them furiously trying to get a hit on the other. Darien did as he was advised and at first it was confusing putting more
focus on his legs but finally he got the hang of it. However, Darien missed a swing and suddenly the Arakh hit him right
on the head, ringing his helm and sending him to the floor.
"Too much attention to the feet." Yozs said with a smile as Darien was getting up. "Ah, but I think that is enough for
tonight." "If you wish."
The next day was when the hard work really began. Darien knew he was going to need information, concerning the important and
not so important things, so he spent the day walking the halls and the square, watching servants and guardsmen, listening
to conversations, noting down everything he could. Then, come evening, he sent Yozs out to a small select group of people
who had caught his eye that day to come meet him. Darien waited patiently in his room, a bottle of the safe wine resting
next to him on the table. He only waited for around ten minutes until the three people he had selected came in, all looking
quite confused. "Ah, here you are. Worry not, my friends, I do not bring trouble." At least not too much. Darien studied
the three again for a moment. There was a fat lady from the kitchens, a tall and lean guard and a boy from the stables.
They will do. "Now, as you all know I am the curious new arrival here at the Dun Fort. It has probably also been spread
around that I am the Lady Royce's brother, which is sort of true. We share the same father but I do not have the name to
go with it. Yet." To counter their still confused faces, Darien opened the bottle of wine and poured some in four glasses.
He then took a sip from each before indicating to the three to take their glasses.
"Now, I do not know much of what is going on here, or in Westeros, which is why I am going to need a constant source of
information. Anything that you hear - I want to hear next. If the smith has stubbed his toe or someone is planning to murder
me, tell me straight away." The three had already taken sips from their wine, but at this request stared at him dumbfounded.
"Oh, come on. I am pretty sure all of you report to my dear sister already, and in good time the information would reach me
too. However, I don't want eventual, I want quick." And now for the masterstroke. "Gilly." he said to the woman from the
kitchens. "I am sure you wouldn't like anyone to know about the food you are stealing." The woman started turning red, the
same deep red as her wine but Darien already had his piercing eyes on the guardsman. "Your woman loves you, and she had better
not find out about your... peculiar habits with some of the other guards." The man suddenly looked very small, as he shuffled
his feet and coughed uncomfortably. "And of course," Darien said, looking at the boy. "we wouldn't want Lady Royce to find
out that you sometimes secretly take rides on Winterfrost, would we?" The boy shook his head and Darien smiled.
"Well, if that is settled then drink up my friends. From tomorrow your work starts. And remember, this is all in interest to
House Royce and the Lady Aranya."
As the three left Darien finished his wine and looked at Yozs. "Ah, I am sure the first thing they will do is go to my sister
and tell her of what has just occurred." Dariend sighed and Yozs smirked. "It doesn't really matter, I need to start somewhere."
Yozs picked up the empty wine bottle and disposed of it while Darien got up and stretched. "And now, to the training yard?"
Darien Stone advances to Expert Sword
Darien Stone advances to Noteworthy Persuasion
Yozs advances to Noteworthy Arakh-Fighting
Darien Stone gains 3 whisperers.