Post by The Smith on Oct 22, 2008 0:49:16 GMT -5
Humming a tune Monterys Velaryon descended the winding stair that led out onto the training ground in the Tourney Town in Kings Landing. Outside the sounds of clashing sword and shield and the drumming sound of horse hooves already rang through the yard. To Monterys’ ears, it made a sweet music.
Most of the Ashemark knights accompanying his kinsman Lord Dudley Marbrand to Kings Landing would emerge later in the morning, with their squires in tow. However with the Grand Tourney fast approaching, Monterys felt that he needed the extra practice. He had persuaded Aurane Waters, an experienced knight who was in his late thirties to train with him.
Two quintains had been erected in the training ground, each a stout post supporting a spinning crossbeam with a shield at one end and a padded butt at the other. The shields had been painted red-and-gold, though the Lannister lions were lumpy and misshapen and already well scarred by the first boys to take a tilt at them.
Aurane was already present and was swinging into the saddle as Monterys arrived. Monterys dappled grey courser waited patiently beside Aurane’s. As was the case with most of the warhorses belonging to the wealthy Lannister knights, both were swift, strong and beautifully trained. Already clad in his training armour, Monterys quickly mounted his horse. He and Aurane spurred their horses to the end of the makeshift lists and charged the quintains. Both hit the shields cleanly and were well past before the padded butts came spinning around.
Lord Dudley had appeared in the yard as the both men had charged the quintain, looking sleepy and somewhat dishevelled. He looked on approvingly noting that while Ser Aurane had struck the harder blow, his goodbrother’s grandson sat his horse the better. Unusual in a Velaryon he thought with some amusement. He was probably not the first to observe that the Velaryons were known more as seafarers who were more used to riding a ship than a horse.
Monterys was the first to observe Lord Dudley watching him. He nudged Aurane. They trotted their coursers to where Dudley waited.
“Well done my friends." laughed Dudley. "Very impressive! Can you do it again?”
Monterys flashed a wide grin at Aurane, before sawing on his horse’s reins and galloping to the start of his run. This time Monterys was not so skilful. The padded butt swung in response to Monterys’s slightly off centre lance thrust and knocked him sprawling. Both Aurane and Dudley laughed, before Aurane in turn attempted another run. He too hit the shield off-centre and was buffeted by the padded butt, but with his superior strength managed to keep his seat.
It was another hour of repeated tilting before Monterys cried enough. By then both the young Velaryon and Waters were nursing a number of bruises from several falls, but Monterys felt that he at least was hitting the centre of the shield on a far more regular basis than his first few tilts.
That in turn was followed by an hour of tilting against one another. A knight of considerable experience, Waters was the more accomplished jouster, using his superior knowledge to position his horse and lance to repeatedly push Monterys’ mount off his line. As a result, Monterys missed his opponent with his lance on several occasions. However the older knight noted ruefully that while Monterys lacked in good old fashioned experience, the younger man was already technically superior to him. A few more years, with more strength and the inside knowledge of the older man, he would be a force to be reckoned with.
Both Monterys and Aurane were dishevelled and sweat-soaked by the time they called a halt.
Even then it wasn’t over. While Aurane thankfully exited the training ground, Lord Dudley’s Master of Horses was now on hand to give advice and tips to Monterys about horsemanship and to help rectify any technical faults that he had observed during their training runs. Monterys kept nodding and trying to take in as much as he could. Monterys then joined the other knights as they emerged to do their own training in the late morning. He rode several more courses against them, suffering several falls into the soft dirt and sawdust.
It was mid afternoon before they called a halt. Monterys staggered from the training ground absolutely exhausted and aching all over. However he was determined. Tomorrow they would repeat the experience, and would continue to do so until the Grand Tourney.
Now where to find someone to race his horse against!
Ser Monterys Velaryon improves his Horsemanship to Expert
Ser Monterys Velaryon improves his Lance to Noteworthy
Most of the Ashemark knights accompanying his kinsman Lord Dudley Marbrand to Kings Landing would emerge later in the morning, with their squires in tow. However with the Grand Tourney fast approaching, Monterys felt that he needed the extra practice. He had persuaded Aurane Waters, an experienced knight who was in his late thirties to train with him.
Two quintains had been erected in the training ground, each a stout post supporting a spinning crossbeam with a shield at one end and a padded butt at the other. The shields had been painted red-and-gold, though the Lannister lions were lumpy and misshapen and already well scarred by the first boys to take a tilt at them.
Aurane was already present and was swinging into the saddle as Monterys arrived. Monterys dappled grey courser waited patiently beside Aurane’s. As was the case with most of the warhorses belonging to the wealthy Lannister knights, both were swift, strong and beautifully trained. Already clad in his training armour, Monterys quickly mounted his horse. He and Aurane spurred their horses to the end of the makeshift lists and charged the quintains. Both hit the shields cleanly and were well past before the padded butts came spinning around.
Lord Dudley had appeared in the yard as the both men had charged the quintain, looking sleepy and somewhat dishevelled. He looked on approvingly noting that while Ser Aurane had struck the harder blow, his goodbrother’s grandson sat his horse the better. Unusual in a Velaryon he thought with some amusement. He was probably not the first to observe that the Velaryons were known more as seafarers who were more used to riding a ship than a horse.
Monterys was the first to observe Lord Dudley watching him. He nudged Aurane. They trotted their coursers to where Dudley waited.
“Well done my friends." laughed Dudley. "Very impressive! Can you do it again?”
Monterys flashed a wide grin at Aurane, before sawing on his horse’s reins and galloping to the start of his run. This time Monterys was not so skilful. The padded butt swung in response to Monterys’s slightly off centre lance thrust and knocked him sprawling. Both Aurane and Dudley laughed, before Aurane in turn attempted another run. He too hit the shield off-centre and was buffeted by the padded butt, but with his superior strength managed to keep his seat.
It was another hour of repeated tilting before Monterys cried enough. By then both the young Velaryon and Waters were nursing a number of bruises from several falls, but Monterys felt that he at least was hitting the centre of the shield on a far more regular basis than his first few tilts.
That in turn was followed by an hour of tilting against one another. A knight of considerable experience, Waters was the more accomplished jouster, using his superior knowledge to position his horse and lance to repeatedly push Monterys’ mount off his line. As a result, Monterys missed his opponent with his lance on several occasions. However the older knight noted ruefully that while Monterys lacked in good old fashioned experience, the younger man was already technically superior to him. A few more years, with more strength and the inside knowledge of the older man, he would be a force to be reckoned with.
Both Monterys and Aurane were dishevelled and sweat-soaked by the time they called a halt.
Even then it wasn’t over. While Aurane thankfully exited the training ground, Lord Dudley’s Master of Horses was now on hand to give advice and tips to Monterys about horsemanship and to help rectify any technical faults that he had observed during their training runs. Monterys kept nodding and trying to take in as much as he could. Monterys then joined the other knights as they emerged to do their own training in the late morning. He rode several more courses against them, suffering several falls into the soft dirt and sawdust.
It was mid afternoon before they called a halt. Monterys staggered from the training ground absolutely exhausted and aching all over. However he was determined. Tomorrow they would repeat the experience, and would continue to do so until the Grand Tourney.
Now where to find someone to race his horse against!
Ser Monterys Velaryon improves his Horsemanship to Expert
Ser Monterys Velaryon improves his Lance to Noteworthy