Post by The Smith on Jul 25, 2012 18:43:02 GMT -5
Michael awoke in bed. He leapt from bed, and clambered for the pot by his bed. He hurled into it hard, losing most of his supper from the night before. He wiped away the sweat from his forehead, and placed the pot back down before looking to his window.
Michael shook the nightmare from his head, and stood slowly. He walked to the window and looked into the night sky. After a long study he decided there was enough light for this to be dawn. He walked to the foot of his bed, and grabbed his kit before heading into the hall.
Soon he was in the courtyard, and had his training blade in his hand. He moved to a large pole stick in the ground, and struck it a hundred times with both hands, and then another hundred with back hand blows.
Then he spent an hour running through the patterns alone. He focused on footing, and positioning. Derek had said he should try to make each move so trained that he could do them with out any thought.
When other people came down to the courtyard he began to work with them. Practice sparring, and working the two man drill stations that Derek had lining the walls.
Before Michael knew it was lunch time. Once again Derek made him go to eat otherwise he would have worked through the midday meal, like he had worked through breakfast.
Michael sat at his table among his friends, and his mind wandered back up to the Yard. He played through the bouts he had lost, and the wons he had won. Trying pinpoint his mistakes, and his triumphs. As soon as he was finished he hurried back to the Training yard.
Hours passed as Michael sparred with the other students. They had left earlier for lessons with Maester Lymon, but were back now. He had just knocked his third opponent to the ground, and was basking in the the nod of approval that Derek had given him when Joss entered the yard.
Joss walked in followed by two of his friends. Michael frowned, but turned away so no one could see. His brother had been gone over a week now. He looked a wreck too.
Michael watched as Derek approached his brother, and could just over here their conversation.
"Welcome back Little brother?" Derek said.
Joss chuckled, "I would say good to be back, but that would be a vicious lie."
Derek shrugged, and asked, "Did you manage to keep up on sword play during your travels?"
Joss shook his head negatively, "I did not, but a little knife play." He pointed to a scar on his arm.
Derek sighed, "Well then you need some practice." He turned, and motioned for Michael to come over. "You can spare a round or two with my best pupil then."
Joss laughed once as Michael walked over. Michael kept a straight face but Derek had been serious. He was giddy on the inside, and he was confident that he would finally beat his twin.
Joss casually held the sword as he turned back to his brother, "You ready?"
Michael replied, "I am. Good luck." He smiled as he took his position.
Joss took a large step back, immediately, and turned to take a weird stance.
Michael had never seen the stance before, and then he slowed immediately. His brother was trying to trick him how. Micheal studied his brother closely. Joss was twisting his blade in small circles which confused Michael more. He slowed, and looked at Joss' blade.
A split second before it happened Michael realized what his twin was attempting to do. A glint of sun dazzled his eye and he flinched away. Joss moved up so quick it did not seem possible, and with three blows Michael was on the ground.
The other students cheered and laughed at Joss' trick. Joss stopped and offered Michael his hand. Michael slapped it aside, and launched himself to his feet. He glard at Joss hard, before walking away. In moments he was outside the courtyard.
Sapphire opened her door, and saw her largest brother Michael leaning against the frame. His eyes were red, and he was breathing hard. She sighed and wrapped her arms around him in a big hug. Then she lead him into her solar knowing the next hours would be spent cheering him, and complaining about Joss. Hopefully not til dawn again, she needed her rest.
Michael shook the nightmare from his head, and stood slowly. He walked to the window and looked into the night sky. After a long study he decided there was enough light for this to be dawn. He walked to the foot of his bed, and grabbed his kit before heading into the hall.
Soon he was in the courtyard, and had his training blade in his hand. He moved to a large pole stick in the ground, and struck it a hundred times with both hands, and then another hundred with back hand blows.
Then he spent an hour running through the patterns alone. He focused on footing, and positioning. Derek had said he should try to make each move so trained that he could do them with out any thought.
When other people came down to the courtyard he began to work with them. Practice sparring, and working the two man drill stations that Derek had lining the walls.
Before Michael knew it was lunch time. Once again Derek made him go to eat otherwise he would have worked through the midday meal, like he had worked through breakfast.
Michael sat at his table among his friends, and his mind wandered back up to the Yard. He played through the bouts he had lost, and the wons he had won. Trying pinpoint his mistakes, and his triumphs. As soon as he was finished he hurried back to the Training yard.
Hours passed as Michael sparred with the other students. They had left earlier for lessons with Maester Lymon, but were back now. He had just knocked his third opponent to the ground, and was basking in the the nod of approval that Derek had given him when Joss entered the yard.
Joss walked in followed by two of his friends. Michael frowned, but turned away so no one could see. His brother had been gone over a week now. He looked a wreck too.
Michael watched as Derek approached his brother, and could just over here their conversation.
"Welcome back Little brother?" Derek said.
Joss chuckled, "I would say good to be back, but that would be a vicious lie."
Derek shrugged, and asked, "Did you manage to keep up on sword play during your travels?"
Joss shook his head negatively, "I did not, but a little knife play." He pointed to a scar on his arm.
Derek sighed, "Well then you need some practice." He turned, and motioned for Michael to come over. "You can spare a round or two with my best pupil then."
Joss laughed once as Michael walked over. Michael kept a straight face but Derek had been serious. He was giddy on the inside, and he was confident that he would finally beat his twin.
Joss casually held the sword as he turned back to his brother, "You ready?"
Michael replied, "I am. Good luck." He smiled as he took his position.
Joss took a large step back, immediately, and turned to take a weird stance.
Michael had never seen the stance before, and then he slowed immediately. His brother was trying to trick him how. Micheal studied his brother closely. Joss was twisting his blade in small circles which confused Michael more. He slowed, and looked at Joss' blade.
A split second before it happened Michael realized what his twin was attempting to do. A glint of sun dazzled his eye and he flinched away. Joss moved up so quick it did not seem possible, and with three blows Michael was on the ground.
The other students cheered and laughed at Joss' trick. Joss stopped and offered Michael his hand. Michael slapped it aside, and launched himself to his feet. He glard at Joss hard, before walking away. In moments he was outside the courtyard.
Sapphire opened her door, and saw her largest brother Michael leaning against the frame. His eyes were red, and he was breathing hard. She sighed and wrapped her arms around him in a big hug. Then she lead him into her solar knowing the next hours would be spent cheering him, and complaining about Joss. Hopefully not til dawn again, she needed her rest.
Hope you all are well and happy.