Intermediate Shortsword (Private)

[Verus]

TS: Second Cycle, Third Brightening of Cryxatum. Spring or Era XII PF

This brightening, Verus had decided to get some practice in with his shortsword. Over the last era, he had gotten a fair bit of use from the weapon, from fighting arcanic creatures, to vyssie pirates and orcs. All in all, he had been doing quite well, but it never hurt to practice once and a while, even if it was just a refresher course so that he did not become rusty.

Out on the training field, Verus found as always, that it was littered with Wardens. There were always a number here; they ranged from those honing their skills to those who were just bored and some that enjoyed the invigorating sparring matches that took place.

Standing back, Verus watched the small groups that were arranged haphazardly around the field. They ranged from almost unknowledgeable swordsmen who where swinging away with all their might hoping for a victory, to those who were extremely cautious, circling each other slowly waiting for a perfect opportunity to strike and those that were a flurry of activity, strikes and parries flowing smoothly telling of their experience with their weapon.

After a few moments, Verus approached a Warden who stood by watching one of the fast paced sparring matches. Watching the match for a moment with the fellow Warden, Verus turned to him. ”Serale, would you be interested in a bit of a sparring match?”

Turning his head to look at the young Warden that had approached him, the older man looked the private up and down. After a moment the older soldier nodded, ”Aye, I’ll spar with you,” he answered agreeing to Verus’ request. Sticking his hand out, he introduced himself, ”I’m known as Aasar.”

Gripping the hand in a firm grip, Verus answered simply, ”Verus.”

Turning, the older man led Verus to the racks where the practice weapons were kept. Picking out a worn, wooden sword, he stood by while Verus chose his own. Taking a few practice swings, Verus ensured that the practice sword was close enough to his own that he could efficiently wield it before following the older man off to an unused patch on the training field.

”Have you much experience with your blade?” Aasar asked the young Warden.

”I’ve had a bit,” Verus answered truthfully as he took up the stance that he had been shown by his teacher. ”And you?”

”Oh, I’ve had enough,” Aasar answered a smile crossing his face as he too took up the guard position.

[Verus]

Both of the Wardens stood still for a few moments, each maintaining their guard waiting for the other to take the initiative and make the first move. Cautious fighters they were, neither knowing the skill in which the other had with their blade and wanting to play a defensive role until they could weigh the others skill against their own.

In the end it was the rhagrhnd youth that made the first move. Slowly he began sidestepping, circling his opponent to hopefully weaken the man’s balance. He was halfway around his turning opponent when he struck. Stepping forwards with his hind foot, the rhagrhnd put his weight into the wooden practice sword as he pushed forwards with it, aiming a strong thrust towards the man’s chest.

As if he had predicted Verus’ attack, Aasar moved to deal with it. Stepping to the side and out of the way of the thrust, the older Warden brought his blade in close to him to guard against any change that Verus might make to his attack. Choosing speed rather then strength, the man quickly stepped forwards, bringing his sword down in a slash that connected lightly with Verus’ forearm.

Surprised at how easily the man had beaten him, Verus drew back, letting the wooden sword fall until it rested parallel to his leg. Aasar had just struck a disarming blow that would have led to a killing strike if they were to actually seeking each other’s heads. In close to an era that Verus had been in service to the Warden’s he had never been beaten so easily. The man had not even broken a sweat.

Grinning, Aasar stepped back. ”You forecasted that thrust before you even began it,” the veteran informed him. ”The eyes are the windows to the soul, they say. You glanced down to my chest before you struck, with such an obvious hint; you made it hard not to defeat you,” Aasar told him, adding insult to injury. ”When you fight, watch your opponent’s eyes. Don’t look for a place to strike, instead, make your opponent give you a place to strike at.”

Taking a step back, the man once more brought his sword up and fell into the guard stance. ”Now try again and remember what I said.”

[Verus]

While he did not like being defeated, especially without his opponent even breaking a sweat, Verus was glad that this man, Aasar, was taking the time to teach him how to become a better fighter. Listening closely to the advice that he was given, the rhagrhnd repeated it to himself, he would make his best attempt to follow that advice and see how he did next time.

When told to try again, Verus nodded and resumed his own guard position. This time there was no judging the opponents skill. Both of them now knew that Aasar was the more skilled combatant and Verus needed to work hard in order to win a round of this sparring match.

Starting his circling once more, Verus only went a few steps before he began his attack. Making an effort to keep his eyes on those of his opponent, the young rhagrhnd stepped forwards and twisted his wrist, turning the practise sword in the process and bringing it around for a horizontal slash from the right. Strength has once again the emphasis on this attack, as he hoped to strike the man’s side.

Instead of stepping out of the way as he had before, Aasar brought his sword around in a stiff block that stopped the wooden blade of the rhagrhnd’s practice sword dead in its tracks. Pushing it off to the side, the more experienced Warden continued the movement, bringing his sword around for an upward slash.

Retracting his left foot, Verus moved back a pace, barely missing the rising blade of Aasar before lunging forwards again in a thrust that was delivered as Aasar’s blade passed above his chest.

Using the same tactic as before, the veteran Warden stepped to the side avoiding the rhagrhnds strike. Bringing his sword around in a circular motion to once again strike Verus forearm, the man looked once again to earn a round in his favor for the sparring match.

This time, Verus knew the man’s speed though. Stepping to the side and away from Aasar, the you rhagrhnd gave himself more time as he brought his sword back in and around in an effective block.

Their attacks finished, both Warden’s stepped back a pace and resumed their circling of each other. ”That’s better, but your eyes still flicker to whatever you intend your target to be. It is a habit that it hard to break, but you’ll learn eventually. Watch carefully…” Aasar told him right before launching into an attack.

Bringing his sword around, the man quickly slashed out horizontally at Verus side. Moving fast to catch the sword, Verus dropped his own blade down to meet the sword and rout it’s path. But Verus’ sword met only empty air.

Seeing the block coming, Aasar had twisted his wrists further, bringing his sword around and under the block made by the rhagrhnd. With nothing in between Aasar’s sword and Verus’ flesh, the more experienced Warden quickly brought his sword up until it rested against Verus’ side. A killing blow it would have been.

”Did you see how I did that?” Aasar asked, holding his blade to the rhagrhnds side for a moment before pulling it back t him and letting it rest next to his leg. ”What I did is called a feint, I used it to open up your defenses and make you give me a target instead of searching for one.”

With the second lesson of the day given, Aasar once again put a couple paces between them and resumed his guard stance. ”Again,” he commanded.

[Verus]

Keeping in mind the maneuver that his opponent had named a feint, Verus once more resumed his guard stance. Though his face had not changed, Verus’ mood had. He was irritable now, he didn’t mind losing, and knew that it was inevitable for him to indeed lose. However, beating him was like taking candy from a baby to this Aasar.

This time, Verus decided to play the defensive role. He would not rush like before only to be quickly defeated. Staying rooted in his guard position, the two men eyed each other, waiting for the other to move. After a few moments when Verus had not moved, Aasar struck out.

Quickly the man stepped forwards, aiming a quick thrust at Verus. Remembering how Aasar had dealt with his first thrust, Verus moved to copy the man’s maneuver. Stepping to the side and barely avoiding the tip of the veteran Warden’s practice blade, Verus brought his sword in close to him. Stepping forwards and passed Aasar’s own blade, Verus struck down in a chopping motion, aiming at connecting with the man’s wrist.

The strike came close, almost connecting for the winning blow when the Aasar moved away. Twisting, he brought his arm out of harm’s way as he brought his sword around for a horizontal slash.

Verus had hoped that his copied maneuver would have worked, but he hadn’t depended on it. Continuing with his slash, Verus brought his arm around in a partial circle to block the slash coming in from the side. For a moment the sparring match froze, Verus’ blade was now between Aasar and his own.

Eye’s flicking downwards, Verus stepped forwards, bringing himself right up in Aasar’s face as he ran his sword down the length of the older Warden’s blade. Continuing right from the blade, Verus turned his block into an upward slash, intent on hitting home into the side of Aasar.

Not to be defeated so easily, Aasar countered the strike. Rotating his wrist around, so his sword swooped down under Verus’ blade until it was once again positioned between himself and the rhagrhnd, the older Warden pushed Verus’ blade aside. With the distance between them having been closed already by Verus, there was no warning of Aasar’s next attack.

He was simply defeated as the wind was forced from his lungs by the blunted tip of Aasar’s sword. Having now defeated the rhagrhnd three times in a row, and not even a drop of sweat trickling on his brow, the man stepped back a pace and lowered his sword to his side. ”You are doing much better then you were Verus, but you have to practice in order to use what I showed you to any effect,” Aasar told the rhagrhnd then glanced up at the suns. ”It is getting late and I must go, but come back in two brightenings and we will have another sparring match. Until then, go find another opponent that you can practice on.”

With a nod of farewell, Aasar returned to the racks and put his practice weapon away. Leaving the training grounds, a winded Verus crouched down, catching his breath as he scouted out another partner to spar with. He did not like being beaten so easily, and come too brightening he intended to turn the tables on Aasar.

[Verus]

It did not take the rhagrhnd long to find his prey. Only twenty or so paces away, a young human male was getting his arse handed to him on a silver platter by an obviously more skilled elven Warden. It seemed that every attack the human made was redirected and the man was rewarded with a light tap to numerous places on his body.

Staying crouch for a moment, Verus pondered if his sparring match with Aasar had looked so embarrassing. Verus didn't like to think so, but logically his had probably not looked all that much better. Watching as the young human continued on defiantly, he saw the attacks become less accurate and stronger as anger took hold of him. But the elf seemed to deal with this as easily as he had through the duration of the match, countering the attacks and connecting with every single one of his own.

In the end, the elf reached out with his practice blade and hit the human's sword close to the hilt. With a flick of his wrist he sent the young Warden's sword to the side where it lay to rest on the ground. At this point, the man gave in to defeat. Speaking unheard words to the elf he retrieved his blade and watched the elf leave.

Now that the man was alone, Verus rose. Walking at a brisk pace he approached the defeated Warden. "Serale," he greeted the man in a friendly manner. "Mind a bit of a sparring match? I'm not quite as skilled as the elf was."

At the end of his sparring match, it seemed the human had let go of his anger. Turning to Verus, he greeted the rhagrhnd with a friendly smile. "That is good news comrade. I'd hate to be humiliated like that twice in one brightening."

Nodding in understanding, Verus spoke up. "Aye, I was just beaten rather easily too by a more skilled Warden. Anytime your ready, we will begin."

[Verus]

For a few moments the beaten Warden clasped his fingers behind his head to catch his breath. After a short time though, he walked over to where his practice sword had been thrown and picked it up. Shaking a bit of dirt off the tip, he returned to where Verus stood. ”I am Gerald,” he told the rhagrhnd as he fell into his guard stance. Almost an exact replica of the stance Verus had been shown when first taught to wield his sword.

”Verus,” the rhagrhnd said simply, assuming the same stance that Gerald was settled in.

Having watched the end of Gerald and the other Warden’s sparring match, Verus felt that there was no need to play possum and wait until he could judge the man’s skills. Instead, he chose to take the initiative and go straight into the attacking role. Stepping forwards, the rhagrhnd closed the distance that separated the two combatants and struck out with a high slash at a downwards angle, looking to hit Gerald’s left shoulder.

It seemed that Gerald was new to his training, instead of evading the strike by stepping out of the way, the new Warden brought his own sword up and blocked it, using his strength to hold Verus’ own wooden blade at bay before sliding his sword down the length of the rhagrhnd’s and trying to slash at Verus neck.

Ducking low, Verus brought his sword back in close to his body as the slash hissed over his head. Still at close quarters with Gerald, he once more made an attack. Extending his arms rapidly, he aimed his sword point at his opponent’s midsection for a vicious thrust. A blow that would likely take the wind from Gerald’s lungs and the fight out of him.

This time though, the training seemed to kick in. Instead of trying to block the thrust or deflect it, Verus’ opponent stepped to the side and the thrust met empty air. Out of harms way, Gerald reversed his blade, changing its direction he brought it down towards the shorter Warden in a simple downwards slash.

This was more like it. Instead of being swatted aside like a fly, Verus had found an opponent more to his caliber. Though enjoying this sparring match, Verus kept his mind focused on the task at hand. Stepping to the side and out of harms way, Verus twisted his sword around and batted Gerald’s aside. Using his opponent’s own momentum to further the distance between Gerald and his sword.

With an opening presented to him, Verus capitalized. With his sword between Gerald and Gerald’s weapon. Verus struck out with speed rather then strength. Slashing in towards his opponent, the rhagrhnds practice sword connected with jarring impact against his opponent’s ribs.

A killing blow, and as such, Verus stepped back out of range and relaxed.

[Verus]

Unfortunately, Verus made a mistake. He had seen Gerald take numerous blows that would have killed him in his previous sparring match, and continue on trying to take out his opponent. The man did not like to lose, and Verus had let this fact slip his mind.

No sooner had the rhagrhnd relaxed, than his opponent lashed out, looking to catch Verus off guard. Surprised by the move, Verus remembered that the more experienced Warden had needed to disarm Gerald before the man had stopped attacking.

Unready for the attack, Verus clumsily sprung backwards avoiding the blow but stumbling on his landing. With the rhagrhnd off balance, Gerald continued with his forward momentum, charging after Verus with another furious downwards strike.

Feet moving to steady his stumble, Verus continued with his backwards momentum, buying him time while he brought his shortsword up and into play. Steadying his uncoordinated backwards movement, Verus brought his sword up and pushed Gerald’s to the side. Stepping to the opposite side, Verus let his opponents forward momentum carry him onwards and gifted him with a hard slash to the back of his knee.

Knee popping out, Gerald’s forward momentum stopped as he dropped, and dropped hard. Face first into the ground. ”Done yet?” Verus asked smugly.

[Verus]

With a grunt, Gerald slowly pushed himself to his feet. Turning to face Verus, he revealed his now torn green cloak and a bloody nose. Anger took the man’s eyes as snarled at his opponent. Not learning from his mistakes, the man rushed forwards again sword raised high in an easy to forecast downwards strike.

Shaking his head, Verus maintained his guard stance and waited for the last moment to come. When it did, the rhagrhnd merely stepped out of Gerald’s way. There was no deflection of the blade this time, no slash to his knees; instead, Verus let the man slow himself to a stop and turn.

Giving up on his attempt to simply run over his smaller opponent, Gerald strode forwards, his sword by his side and eyes still clouded with anger. No, he was not done yet. Waiting in the guard position, Verus remembered what Aasar had said about watching their eyes.

Taking his focus from Gerald’s sword, Verus looked up and saw the man’s eyes darting about, searching for a target. With a gleam entering the rhagrhnd’s eyes, Verus stood his ground and continued to watch Gerald’s eyes until the settled. And settle they did, upon his left side.

With knowledge of where the angry Warden was going to attack, Verus waited for the impending slash to come. It was not a long wait as Gerald’s strides ate up the distance between them quickly. There it was, the slash started from his side, coming up with seemingly all the man’s strength to try and hue Verus into two separate pieces.

Having properly guessed at the strike, Verus was on the move the moment it started. Stepping back a pace, the rhagrhnd ducked underneath the singing blade, then lunged forwards and connected hard with a thrust into Gerald’s midsection.

Doubling over in pain as the air was suddenly forced from his lungs, Gerald nonetheless maintained his grip on the shortsword. Not one to take advantage of a defeated opponent unless death was involved, Verus stepped back and let the man recover, thinking that the fire would have been put out and his opponent calmed down.

Unfortunately, the rhaghrnd couldn’t be more wrong. Before he had even recovered his wind, Gerald straightened, his eyes still burning in rage. In a sudden movement, he stepped forwards, closing the distance in between them and brought his sword across once more trying to cut Verus in two.

’A defeated man should know when to bow out with honor,’ Verus thought to himself as he shook his head in disgust. Waiting as the blow came forwards, Verus exploded into action. No killing blow this time, instead he aimed to disarm his opponent.

Bringing his sword up with his strength behind it, Verus intercepted the oncoming strike. But not on the blade, instead he connected solidly with Gerald’s forearm. The result was inevitable with that kind of blow; the man’s hand opened reflexively and the sword maintained its momentum, harmlessly bouncing off Verus’ left shoulder before landing in the grass at his feet.

[Verus]

Now disarmed, Verus watched as the fire of rage subsided in his opponent’s eyes. Replacing it was a sullen look of defeat. Verus knew the feeling, he had felt it before when Aasar had defeated him so easily and he felt pity for Gerald. Nobody liked to lose, but in a fight, there was a winner and a loser and that was a simple fact of life.

With his opponent now calmed down, Verus lowered his guard and watched the man’s head sag in sorrow. ”You didn’t do too bad,” he told the man. ”Look at the bright side, if you continue sparring, you can only get better. One brightening it will be you who are the victor and you will be thankful for the determination you showed this brightening.”

Gerald grunted as he brought his head back up and looked at his smaller opponent. ”I know, I just don’t like to lose.”

”Nobody does, but this is how you get better. Learn from your mistakes and eventually you will be the one looking down at you defeated opponent,” Verus said, giving his words of wisdom.

With a small nod, Gerald bent over and retrieved his discarded practice. ”I’ve got to get back to the barracks, maybe I’ll see you around,” Gerald said in a friendly manner, making it hard to believe the such anger had taken him during the sparring match.

”Farewell,” Verus said as his beaten opponent turned his back and headed over to the racks that the practice sword where kept on.

Left alone again, Verus decided he had had enough practice for one brightening. Tomorrow, he would be back for his date with Aasar. Hopefully he would be able to do better that he had the first time. Already the rhaghrnd had an idea or two that he would spring on the more experienced Warden. Maybe it would be enough for him to grab victory over the man.

Walking to where his sword lay discarded, Verus picked it up and belted it once more around his waist. Returning his practice sword to it’s home, the sweaty rhagrhnd made his way back to the barracks for a change of clothes then he would be off to the baths.

[Verus]

The next brightening, Verus has back. He had a date with Aasar this brightening for a rematch of their previous bit of sparring. Maybe this time the rhagrhnd would grab victory, or at least he would not be beaten as easily as he had the previous brightening. Last darkening, he had thought about the sparring match, thought about how it had gone and what mistakes he had made. He drilled into his mind what Aasar had taught him about the eyes and using feints. He felt he was ready, he would perform his best this brightening and accept the outcome no matter what it may be.

Dressed in brown pants and tunic, the rhagrhnd had left his cloak back on his bunk, likely the drill sergeant that would bitch at him for that, but the rhagrhnd had become accustomed to that. Feth, the drill sergeant would likely lose his job if he didn’t have the rhagrhnd to rag out.

Walking straight to the racks of practice swords, Verus found the same one he had used during their previous sparring match. Looking up and around the training field he then searched for his opponent.

It did not take long, instead of finding Aasar, it was the opposite. From behind him a voice greeted the rhagrhnd, ”Serale Verus. Are you ready for our rematch?”

Turning, Verus looked at the more experienced Warden that had beaten him last time. ”Greetings Aasar. I am as ready as I’ll ever be,” he said in greeting and answering the man’s question.

Watching as the man picked out a practice blade, Verus followed him like before to an empty patch of the training field. Setting aside their live blades, the two squared off. ”Good luck,” Aasar said to Verus.

”I don’t want luck, I want skill,” was Verus’ reply as he fell into his guard stance and focused on his opponents eyes. Once more, the fight was on.

[Verus]

For a time, both Wardens maintained their guard stance, each wanting to be on the defensive. Verus to draw Aasar in, and Aasar until he figured out if Verus had learned anything from the previous brightening. This time, Verus’ patience won out and Aasar ended up attacking with a horizontal slash towards the rhagrhnd’s midsection.

Stepping back out of the way, Verus avoided the slash and counterattacked. Keeping his eyes focused on Aasar’s he waited until the sword had passed by then stepped forwards with a thrust towards the man’s stomach to head off his forwards movement.

Not to be defeated so easily, the more experienced Warden brought his sword around and redirected Verus’ thrust off to the side. Again he attacked, bringing his sword upwards and towards the rhagrhnd’s left thigh.

Retracting his blade in close, Verus met Aasar’s with a solid block and both stepped back into their guard stance and eyed the other. This match was going better then their previous one, for Verus at least. Aasar had to work harder to try and land a blow, and he seemed to be less sure of his victory this time.

Regarding each other for a time, it was now Verus who took the initiative. Stepping forwards he kept his eyes of the target of his strike as he launched a thrust once more. Continuing with the blow, Verus waited for the expected reaction, and there it was, once more Aasar brought his sword around to deflect the blow only to find empty air. At the first hint of motion from Aasar, the younger warden had turned his thrust into a feint, drawing it back he changed his plan and brought it down and around in a slash to make contact with Aasar’s left side.

Jumping back at the unexpected move, Aasar smiled as they resumed guard positions. ”I see you did not ignore my advice,” he said. ”It was a good move, you almost had me there.”

A twitch of his lips, a grin perhaps was all that answered the more experienced man’s praise before the young rhagrhnd moved forwards again with a high slash coming downwards to Aasar’s right shoulder.

Maintaining his smile, Aasar ducked underneath the slash and brought his sword around in his own slash underneath that of the rhagrhnds, aiming for his left side.

Pulling his sword back into the guard position, Verus stepped back and let Aasar’s practice blade slash harmlessly through empty air.

He fight was taking longer then Aasar had expected, and Verus was just getting started. It was now time to pull one of the tricks he had thought up the darkening before.

[Verus]

Allowing his eyes to glance down at Aasar’s right thigh, Verus attacked once more. Following where his eyes had looked, he slashed out towards the very thigh he had glanced at.

The glance had been all Aasar needed to be able to easily block or avoid the move, and he did just that. Shifting his sword he blocked Verus’ wooden blade then extended his in a thrust.

Having been ready for a counter, Verus jumped backwards and landed soundly on bent knees. ”A hard habit to break,” Aasar scolded the rhagrhnd, referring to the glance as they both knew.

With only a grunt in reply, Verus continued with his trick. This time he kept focus on Aasar’s eyes and stuck his sword out in a thrust. The strike was not a feint this time, and the more experienced Warden easily deflected the blow. After which he followed up with another thrust.

Using the same tactic that Aasar’ had used, Verus deflected the blow, and then glanced down to the man’s left leg. Following the glance the rhagrhnd slashed across to Aasar’s leg. Like the slash to his right thigh in which he had looked to, this slash was also easily blocked and followed by an upward slash to Verus’ groin.

Like before, Verus had been expecting the man to counterattack, and he sidestepped out of the way avoiding what would have been a very painful blow.

”You have to work harder at guarding your eyes,” Aasar scolded once again.

”I know, I know,” the rhaghrnd replied, feinting frustration. Immediately afterwards, Verus launched into another attack. Eyeing the man’s midsection he aimed a thrust to knock the wind out of the man.

With his head shaking in disappointment, Aasar deflected the blow and aimed his own thrust at the rhagrhnd.

Jumping back once more, Verus decided it was time to bring his trick into fruition and hopefully win the sparring match.

Stepping forwards, the rhagrhnd once more eyed the man’s right thigh and slashed out at it. With a sad smile of disappointment, Aasar brought his sword around to block the blow only to find empty air. Reversing his practice blade at the last moment, Verus used all the speed he could muster and Aasar got the painful thump of Verus’ practice blade against his right side.

With an amused gleam in his eyes and a twitch of his lips signifying a grin, Verus simply said, ”Gotcha.”

With a hardy chuckle, the more experienced Warden let his blade fall to his side. ”Iye, that you did. I seems that you did learn after all. I admit defeat.” The sparring match was over, Verus’ plan had worked as he had hoped and he had gained victory over his more experienced opponent.

[Verus]

Having defeated the more experienced Warden on the previous brightening, Verus was in a good mood. Wanting to continue his practice, the rhagrhnd found his way onto the training field once more. Walking around, Verus looked over the many sparring matches that were taking place. He was looking for an opponent to take on once more, he didn’t want one that could beat him without breaking a sweat like Aesar, but he didn’t want one like Gerald either. He was looking for an opponent that would give him a run for his money, someone who would be a hard match, win or lose.

After a lap around the training field, Verus found one. A female elf was running threw strikes against the wind, speed and agility made her sword sing threw the air as it constantly moved, performing strikes and blocks as fluidly as the river runs. Waiting until the woman was threw her strikes, Verus approached her. ”Serale. Your speed is impressive,” he told her when he was close.

”Thank you… I don’t believe we have met. My name is Tik’seera,” she said as she sheathed her sword and wiped a bit of sweat off of her brow.

”Verus,” the rhagrhnd answered simply. Looking about the training fields, Verus let the silence continue for a moment before proposing his question. ”Would you be up for a sparring match?”

Looking the smaller human Warden over, the elf seemed to be judging his skill by appearance. ”Sounds good,” she finally said, unbolting her sword and walking over to the racks were the practice swords were held. Following suit, Verus unbelted his own sword and laid it to the side before choosing a wooden blade. Following Tik’seera to a spot where their sparring match would not be hindered, the pair squared off.

It was almost immediately that the sparring match began. On the move, the elf adopted her stance and thrust out, straight towards Verus’ stomach. Caught off guard, the rhagrhnd twisted away from the elf’s sword and stepped back a pace, giving himself room. Much like with her earlier practice, Tik continued to flow forwards, not stopping to reassess the situation, rather, she shifted forwards, pulling her sword back in before lashing out with a slash towards Verus’ side. This time, Verus used his strength against her speed. Moving his sword to the side, their blades met and Tik’s was stopped dead in its track. Sliding his sword forwards, Verus aimed his own slash to Tik’s side, this one inside her guard.

Stepping back, Tik avoided the blow and shifted forwards again, her sword raised high then coming straight down as if to split Verus’ head like a melon. Bringing his sword up to meet hers, the rhagrhnd opted to deflect this own, using the elf’s own momentum, he shifted the sword to the side were it cut threw air rather then the rhagrhnds noggin.

Inside her guard once more, Verus struck out, a thrust towards the woman’s abdomen sent her backwards, fleeing his sword tip, but Verus gave chase. Another step forwards brought him within range again as his sword saw pulled back into position only to be immediately released, twisting his wrist he brought the wooden blade around in an arc, slashing upwards from the lower right.

Wooden blades connected as the elf deflected the blow, sending it up and to the right putting herself out of danger. Inside his guard now, the woman sent her own slash his way, looking to connect with his neck, a decapitating blow with real swords.

Ducking underneath the oncoming strike, Verus brought his blade under his control once more, his strike the opposite of the elf’s, a slash aiming to cut into her legs, just below the knee. Seeing the strike, the elf leaped into the aim, swinging her sword around she used her own falling momentum and chopped downwards with her sword once more.

Continuing his strike, Verus curved its path around until it came up and connected with Tik’s blade. Straightening his legs, Verus deflected his opponent’s blade off to the side and stepped forwards, thrusting towards the elf’s midsection. Not in a position to black or deflect the blade, the elf backpedaled, letting the rhagrhnd’s sword meet empty air.

But Verus was not about to let the elf catch her breath. Following the elf forwards, Verus brought his sword back in. Continuing to chase the elf, and careful not to overextend his balance, Verus slashed out towards the elf’s thigh looking to bring her to the ground.

While backpedaling, blocking or deflecting were out of the question. Continuing with her backwards momentum, Tik tried to put some ground between herself and the persistent rhagrhnd so that she may recover. Unfortunately for her, Verus was not about to allow that. His slash met empty air and Tik’ high stepped over it, but that did not deter the shorter Warden. Bringing his slash around, Verus picked up the pace a bit, moving faster forwards then the elf could backwards, he easily closed the gap back within striking range. With his relentless assaults, Tik did not dare to turn her back in fear of feeling his blade planted so she was forced to continue backpedaling.

Sword blade swinging around in an arc, Verus brought it up towards Tik’s left side. The gap closed and Verus maintaining only a small gap, the elf was not able to evade. Bringing her sword down, she tried to deflect the blow but Verus turned it. Retracting his arm, the elf’s blade met empty air and he slashed out again, from the other side this time.

Off balance and backpedaling, Tik was hit. Verus’ sword came in and hit hard on the side of her left knee. Immediately the elf’s support was knocked out from under her and she toppled, but that was not the end. Even as she toppled, Verus continued forwards. Hitting the ground Verus’ sword point rested lightly on her collarbone, his left foot held her own sword to the grassy training ground.

Sighing, Tik relinquished her hold on the sword and immediately Verus withdrew his from her collarbone. Switching hands, Verus held out his right and helped his beaten opponent to her feet. ”Good match,” he commented. She was indeed what he was looking for. Not too easy or hard, she had put up a good fight at the start using her speed against him but Verus had been able to pull off the win in the end

”Iye, good fight,” Tik said, retrieving her sword from the ground. ”We shall spar again, but not this brightening I’m afraid,” she said, her left knee shakily supporting her meager weight. Perhaps Verus had hit too hard, but it was a sparring match and Verus didn’t feel sorry for his win.

”Yes, find me when you are rested,” Verus answered. Watching the elf g to retrive her sowrd, Verus looked around for yet another opponent. It was a good match, but Verus was in search of another. He wanted to push himself.

[Verus]

It did not take long for Verus to find another opponent. A human male was standing off to the side, watching as a sparring match took place in front of him. Walking over to the man, Verus greeted him. ”Serale, interested in a match?”

”Sure,” the man answered, ”Name’s Tal.” Taking his swordbelt off, the man laid it carefully to the side and chose a practice sword from the racks.

”Verus,” the rhagrhnd answered, and fell into his stance once more. Balancing himself on the balls of his feet, he waited for the human to be ready.

Once the human had adopted his own stance, Verus surged in for the first attack of this match. Stepping forwards, he thrust his sword towards the man’s mid-section, a favorite move of his it seemed. Waiting until Tal moved to block this attack, Verus turned it into a feint. Withdrawing his arm, he twisted his wrist around and sent a downward slash towards the man’s left shoulder.

Changing his own move, Tal brought his sword up, holding Verus’ sword at bay… but only for a moment. As wooden blades clashed together, Verus continued on with his attack. Twisting his wrist once more, Verus continued on fluidly, bringing his sword down and around the man’s guard before slashing upwards towards the man’s left side.

Sidestepping, Tal evaded Verus’ strike and launched his own. Bringing his sword around in a horizontal slash that would produce a nasty gut wound if they were wielding real swords. Stepping backwards, Verus let the sword slide by, hitting it with his own as it moved through the air, a move that would hopefully through his opponent off balance.

Closing the gap once more, Verus brought his sword around, bringing it straight up towards Tal’s groin. Stepping back and out of harm’s way, Tal brought his sword back in as Verus swung his sword in a tight circle and stepped forwards with yet another thrust. This one was real and Tal sidestepped, bringing his own sword down in a strike towards Verus’ shoulder.

Shifting his swords momentum, Verus brought it around and let the two practice blades connect. For a moment, both men stood there waiting for the other to move and planning their move.

It was the rhagrhnd to move first, pushing Tal’s sword up and away, he brought his sword down and around in a sweeping slash to his opponent’s lower legs. As Tik had done, Tal jumped and Verus’ sword slashed harmlessly through empty air. Continuing the offensive, Verus twisted his blade around, changing its path until it swung up and towards Tal’s right side.

Barely hitting the ground, Tal had yet to regain his balance and tried to hastily block the rhagrhnd’s attack. Swords connected and Verus brought his back, instead of redirecting it though, he swung it like a hammer, smashing once… twice… three times into Tal’s blocking blade before he changed his strike. Blade spinning in a tight circle, Verus left Tal expecting another hammering blow to his block, when suddenly it was changed. Now Verus’ stepped forwards, aiming, and landing a thrust that knocked the wind out of his opponent and sent him to the ground.

Another sparring match in the rhagrhnd’s favor. Shifting his sword to his left, Verus politely pulled Tal to his feet. ”Good match,” he said. It was kind of a courtesy to tell the beaten opponent that it was a good match, well it at least sounded like the right thing to say without being an arsehole. ”Well, I think that’s enough for me. Until we meet again,” his farewell given, Verus left to retrieve his sword and find his way to the bathes.

[Verus]

A few brightenings later, Verus was back. Having been tied up with his duties for the last few, he now enjoyed a bit of downtime and opted to hit the training fields once more. The sparring matches he sought served two purposes, they gave him some training, made him better at the path of the warrior, the path he had chosen to take upon returning home for his vhatch’skii. Second, he rather enjoyed it. The thrill of battle without the knowledge that one of the participants were going to die at the end. He enjoyed fighting not for vengeance, but for the fun of it.

This brightening he was looking for a change of pace though. Rather then seek out a partner and go at it until one were defeated, Verus decided up the ante a bit. This time he was searching for a pair of opponents, a little two on one sparring match to truly test his mettle. He knew from past experience that in a real battle, one on one fights did not work out. There was no honor, it was kill or be killed, and Verus wanted a bit of experience fending off more then one opponent.

Walking to the racks of training swords, Verus laid his own sword aside and pulled one of the wooden swords out of it’s home. Surveying the field he watched as one match wrapped up. A katta and an elf were the competitors. The match ended with the katta winning, his wooden blade pressing against the elf’s neck, a killing blow.

Seeing them relax, Verus approached them. They seemed good natured by the way they acted after their match. ”Serale. Would the pair of you be interested in a bit of a sparring match? One on two type deal?”

For a moment the two looked at him. Then the katta shrugged, ”Might as well,” he said gruffly bringing a nod of agreement from the elf. ”What name shall we write on your headstone?” The katta asked, producing a slight chuckle from his elven companion.

”Verus. And what shall be on your headstones?” The rhaghrnd asked good-natured.

”Furyon,” the katta said.

”Jonas,” was the elf’s answer.

”Shall we begin?” Verus asked, falling into his stance and waiting for his opponents. Following suit, the katta and elf fell into their own stances and spread out, one on either side of the wary rhagrhnd. The match was on.