Post by The Stranger on Jul 29, 2008 13:58:22 GMT -5
No Rest
Alyn Corbray stood staring up at the tall, looming walls of King's Landing, as a bloody sun was setting behind the bloody bricks of the city. Images of his first battle came rushing back to him, at Harroway's Town, where these lizards had defeated the proud men of the Vale. Alyn tried to shake the memories away, but they wouldn't leave him. Men huddled on the ground, covered in mud and blood, calling out for their mothers. Men with savage bloodlust in their eyes, intent on killing. Men dead and lifeless, staring out at the sky without seeing. Men he had known.
It had been his first battle, and depsite himself, and all the dark tales Ser Keron had told him of war, he had been feeling excited at the prospect. He had been standing amonst some of the most fierce and skilled fighters in the vale, standing tall in shining armour. Surely those foreigners did not stand a chance, he had thought to himself, not against mounted knights.
The excitement soon waned as the battle began and every moment became a struggle to survive, as men thrice Alyn's size had come charging at him, screaming wildly and intent on killing him. Had it not been for Ser Keron, he knew he would not have survived. The old knight had stood beside him, back-to-back they had fought an onslaught of enemies. And when the orders Alyn needed to give to his men would not come to him, Ser Keron would shout them into his ear, reminding the young lord to be strong for his men. And Alyn had been strong, and far from failing his men, he had put into good use all war theory he had studied for so long. All the lessons he had learned from Ser Keron and Maester Vandamyr, they allowed his men to fight well, and retreat orderly when the time came, and the battle had been lost.
Ser Keron stood now several feet behind the young lord, at what was now becoming his usual position. At one time, it would have been Alyn who stood behind Ser Keron, as his squire that was his place. But as Alyn became more and more capable, and closer to the age of maturity, their roles had begun to reverse, and Keron had fallen once again back into his position of service to the lord of Heart's Home.
Alyn turned to the old Master-at-Arms. "Ser Keron," he began, "battle will soon be upon us again, and every moment spent training will be of great aid during the fight. Let us work on my swordmanship again."
Keron nodded. "If that is your wish, my lord," he said in his deep, gruff voice, rubbing his chin. "But we have already spent most of the day in training, and when it wasn't a sword in your hand it was some old war tome. Perhaps you have earned your rest for today."
"I will have earned my rest when these enemies are defeated," Alyn said, turning around and walking past Keron, in the direction of the Corbray pavillion and the small circle of grass they been using to practice.
"Yes, my lord," Keron said without hesitation, as he followed his young lord.
Grabbing two tourney swords, they faced each other, moving in slowly. Ser Keron feinted left and attacked right, but his body language gave away the ruse, and Alyn's blunted blade swung to meet Keron's. Alyn twisted around, and hacked at Keron's blade, trying to push him back, but Keron met each blow with his usual strength and skill. They fought on, each trying to find an opening in the other's defence. The sun had now all but set, and they were losing visibility. For another hour they danced around each other, attacking and parrying, until the night had come truely, and the only visibility came from the dim torch light spread around the camps, which was not nearly sufficient. They were relying on sound now more than anything. Listening for the twist of a foot, the sound of metal cutting through air, trying to identify the other one's actions. Another hour went by, and tired and sweaty, they finally resigned to stopping.
Keron chuckled as best he could through deep breaths. "I think... there is little... left for me to teach you."
Alyn shook his head, "there is always... more to learn... me from you... and you from me."
Keron nodded, and put an arm around his young lord, who he had practically raised, as they walked inside the pavillion.
Results
Lord Alyn Corbray improves towards Master Battle
Lord Alyn Corbray improves to Expert Sword
Ser Keron Borrel improves to Expert Sword
Alyn Corbray stood staring up at the tall, looming walls of King's Landing, as a bloody sun was setting behind the bloody bricks of the city. Images of his first battle came rushing back to him, at Harroway's Town, where these lizards had defeated the proud men of the Vale. Alyn tried to shake the memories away, but they wouldn't leave him. Men huddled on the ground, covered in mud and blood, calling out for their mothers. Men with savage bloodlust in their eyes, intent on killing. Men dead and lifeless, staring out at the sky without seeing. Men he had known.
It had been his first battle, and depsite himself, and all the dark tales Ser Keron had told him of war, he had been feeling excited at the prospect. He had been standing amonst some of the most fierce and skilled fighters in the vale, standing tall in shining armour. Surely those foreigners did not stand a chance, he had thought to himself, not against mounted knights.
The excitement soon waned as the battle began and every moment became a struggle to survive, as men thrice Alyn's size had come charging at him, screaming wildly and intent on killing him. Had it not been for Ser Keron, he knew he would not have survived. The old knight had stood beside him, back-to-back they had fought an onslaught of enemies. And when the orders Alyn needed to give to his men would not come to him, Ser Keron would shout them into his ear, reminding the young lord to be strong for his men. And Alyn had been strong, and far from failing his men, he had put into good use all war theory he had studied for so long. All the lessons he had learned from Ser Keron and Maester Vandamyr, they allowed his men to fight well, and retreat orderly when the time came, and the battle had been lost.
Ser Keron stood now several feet behind the young lord, at what was now becoming his usual position. At one time, it would have been Alyn who stood behind Ser Keron, as his squire that was his place. But as Alyn became more and more capable, and closer to the age of maturity, their roles had begun to reverse, and Keron had fallen once again back into his position of service to the lord of Heart's Home.
Alyn turned to the old Master-at-Arms. "Ser Keron," he began, "battle will soon be upon us again, and every moment spent training will be of great aid during the fight. Let us work on my swordmanship again."
Keron nodded. "If that is your wish, my lord," he said in his deep, gruff voice, rubbing his chin. "But we have already spent most of the day in training, and when it wasn't a sword in your hand it was some old war tome. Perhaps you have earned your rest for today."
"I will have earned my rest when these enemies are defeated," Alyn said, turning around and walking past Keron, in the direction of the Corbray pavillion and the small circle of grass they been using to practice.
"Yes, my lord," Keron said without hesitation, as he followed his young lord.
Grabbing two tourney swords, they faced each other, moving in slowly. Ser Keron feinted left and attacked right, but his body language gave away the ruse, and Alyn's blunted blade swung to meet Keron's. Alyn twisted around, and hacked at Keron's blade, trying to push him back, but Keron met each blow with his usual strength and skill. They fought on, each trying to find an opening in the other's defence. The sun had now all but set, and they were losing visibility. For another hour they danced around each other, attacking and parrying, until the night had come truely, and the only visibility came from the dim torch light spread around the camps, which was not nearly sufficient. They were relying on sound now more than anything. Listening for the twist of a foot, the sound of metal cutting through air, trying to identify the other one's actions. Another hour went by, and tired and sweaty, they finally resigned to stopping.
Keron chuckled as best he could through deep breaths. "I think... there is little... left for me to teach you."
Alyn shook his head, "there is always... more to learn... me from you... and you from me."
Keron nodded, and put an arm around his young lord, who he had practically raised, as they walked inside the pavillion.
Results
Lord Alyn Corbray improves towards Master Battle
Lord Alyn Corbray improves to Expert Sword
Ser Keron Borrel improves to Expert Sword