Line in the sand [Attn:Bella]

[Lugh]

Beron

Crack Thhunk the sounds rang out as Beron drove his practice sword across the chest of the wooden target dummy. After he finished his slashing cut along the target, he backpedalled quickly and snap a sequence of parries.

Pausing to swipe the sweat from his brow, he laughed when he saw the Drin hawking at a Ji who was already training while they were just rousing themselves from bed. In truth he was not always on the sands so early, but today he had managed to make arrangements to practice the sword with Haedan Gaidin.

He was the son of a Blademaster, a Gaidin who had been raised from birth on the sands and Beron had wanted to make a good impression. That had made him rise well before the sun broke the sky, working on the forms and stances his father had taught him as a youth.

He knew enough to stand the wall, and Beron was sure he would acquit himself well; although he did have to admit that he had not practiced the sword as he should. He had learned much in other disciplines, but he knew a Warder most often served with swordblade first. Still, he had gained in speed and strength since becoming a Grey Tower trainee, and he was excited for the skills a Gaidin could teach him.

Especially after your words in the Garden. I may not need to be a weapon, but there is something to protect. And for that, I need to improve. Hard enough to fight men with daggers, these monsters will wear chain and steel, thought Beron grimly to himself as he settled into a sequence of guards that would help keep him warmed up for when Haedan arrived.

[Bella]

Although Haeden had been working to incorporate the advice he had given Liaran into his own life and amending his schedule, he still kept himself busy with plenty of teaching, both classes and solo lessons. After all, if a Gaidin was not out there using their skills in the world, then they must keep them well-honed and up-to-date.

Training others was a good way to do that, and it also helped the Grey Tower as a whole in bringing up the next generation of its protectors, and that was a duty Haeden took seriously.

The child of Miahala Sha'hal and Caden Ives would never do any less.

Today's lesson was with a Ji'val that he had yet to meet personally, although he did know as much that the young man came from Saldaea. Given that Haeden was the son of a daughter of Saldaea, this immediately brought a sense of kinship. Time would tell, of course, whether that feeling entrenched or departed.

He walked onto the Yards, making his way towards the training dummies. He found a young man working diligently already and took a guess that this was his student.

"Beron Faim?"

[Lugh]

Beron

“Beron Faim?” asked a strong voice behind him as Beron was practicing his forms. With a quick turn, Beron smartly Folded the Fan and turned to face the Gaidin. Seeing the echoes of his mother’s features, a woman Beron had met in passing, he knew this must be Haedan Gaidin.

“Yes that is me. Peace favour you Gaidin,” Beron replied respectfully, as he clasped the other man’s hand in a warriors greeting. The Gaidin has a strong firm grip, as to be expected, and Beron could feel his excitement building at the chance to study.

“Thank you for making the time for a lesson today Gaidin, I was fortunate enough to meet with you before I serve at the Citadel for a spell. I will feel much more confident with a chance to sharpen my skills before then,” Beron said as he discussed the day’s lesson with Haedan. He had been fortunate enough to grow up with a father and uncle who were both seasoned veterans and had imparted a foundation of skill to Beron before he came of age.

Still, he knew that many of the Gaidin were warriors without peer, and as he considered a promise he had made, and the goal of a Warder’s cloak in his future, there was no better time. Learn now, and I can practice the skills on the Citadel yard until my assignment is complete, Beron thought to himself as he stretched to keep his body limber.

[Bella]

Haeden smiled. It was a small expression, economical in energy use, but genuine none the less. He was not one for many exaggerated shows of emotion, but he also never wanted to be the "granted-faced" Gaidin. (You don't want to be your father, even as you walk forward in his steps...) He ignored his thoughts, and kept his attention on the young man in front of him.

"Peace favor you, Ji'val," he returned the greeting easily. "It is always an honor for me to train the Grey Tower's next group of warriors. It is a proud tradition." Passed on from father to son, sometimes...

He gestured for the young man to walk with him away from the training figures and into an open area that would allow them plenty of space to work one-on-one together in regards to the sword. It had been obvious from what he had witnessed and what he knew of Beron's background that he had some beginning to training, and that would make this easier.

"First off, let's begin with a review. What do you know so far about fighting with the sword? What are your experiences with it so far?" He was holding his own training blade, ready for the lesson and for demonstrations, but first, beginning at the beginning...

[Lugh]

Beron

Beron was glad when he heard Haedan speak of the tradition, and passing the knowledge down through generations. “It’s been that way in my family as well. I think the strength of the Grey Tower is the passing of the torch.”

Making room, Beron joined the Gaidin on the sands, each man easily making room for the other out of practice and familiarity with their training weapons. Beron had been learning to measure opponents and gauge threats, part of the training that gave Gaidin their reputation. He judged the Haedan was likely faster than him, with about an equal stride and reach. Strength was harder to judge, but Beron favoured a hand and a half sword, which would hopefully help with flexibility.

"First off, let's begin with a review. What do you know so far about fighting with the sword? What are your experiences with it so far?" Haedan was holding his own training blade, ready for the lesson.

“Well Gaidin, I know the basic guards and many of the more common forms. I fought with my sword a few times on patrols before arriving at the Grey Tower. I was a Saldaean scout, and trained until I earned my sword from my father. More recently though I have actively used Unarmed and daggers against the Lotus at the White Tower. My duties have given me more practice with the dagger, which is why I wanted to devote some time to the sword,” Beron flowed through the guard stances he knew, Apple blossoms in the wind became Creeper Embraces the Oak and then The Lion on the Hill

[Bella]

"Then we are off to a good start," Haeden said with approval. "Our lesson today is going to expand on these concepts and your experiences. I am sure you are now aware that not every Gaidin and swordsman here in the Tower chooses to learn and practice the sword forms, however, I am one who does so my training will focus on building off those."

He held up his wooden practice blade. Rolling his shoulders a couple times, he took a few steps away to put more space between them and then turned back to face Beron.

"What I am going to do is demonstrate a move, slowly, and then I want you to tell me and then show me what you see as being the appropriate counter. If you are feeling ambitious, also tell me your offensive follow-up." He intended this sequence to both be training and testing, to see where his instincts lay as well as demonstrate forms and moves.

Once that was said, Haeden flowed into The Ox Lowers its Horns, which was his favorite opener. Something his sister prodded him about repeatedly, but this was a basic lesson. He could do as he wanted. He remained in that stance for a moment to let him see it in full. "If you have not learned this one, it is an opening stance called The Ox Lowers its Horns."

Then he moved into a slow-motion version of The Falcon Stoops, his blade thrusting forward in a natural flow from its point within the stance, and then back into the stance itself. "That is called The Falcon Stoops, and it flows right back to where it started." He then lowered his blade and straightened up.

"Now you. What is your counter?"

[Lugh]

Beron

Beron watched as Haedan took his position, the man settling into an unfamiliar middle guard. “This is The Ox lowers it’s Horns,” Haedan commented as the man settled into the stance with an ease that spoke of long use. Watching the Gaidin move within the stance, Beron noted the weight kept on the back foot and the wider stance. With the hilt floating near his face, and the blade angled downward towards Beron, he could see that this stance would offer many forms the power they needed.

Judging a man’s stance and speed was fast becoming second nature to Beron, the constant sparring and training that was life in the Warder Yards; giving each trainee a wealth of experience. Haedan was smooth, his stance easy and graceful; and so when the Gaidin launched into a quick overhand thrust, Beron could see the speed and control. “That strike is named The Kingfisher Stoops . Notes how it returns me to guard stance. Now what would you use to counter?” Haedan asked as he moved to the side to allow Beron space.

As Beron moved into position, he thought of the two guards he knew the best. Knowing that he was shadow sparring someone in a middle guard, he took a deep breath and assumed The Creeper Hugs the Oak . He liked this stance because it felt very similar to the way he approached fighting with his daggers. Constantly circling, he moved his blade through the guards, his blade sliding through the air with practiced ease as he imagined watching Haedan prepare.

In his mind he could picture the moment when Haedan had thrust outwards, and Beron parried with Willow Embracing the Breeze . His sword snapped straight, and he imagined striking the thrust with the flat of his blade, using his strength to push the attack just outside of his body. As he blocked the shadowed attack, he used the movement of the parry to step inside, closing the distance between them, hoping to counter the strikes return to guard stance. He then mimed Parting the silk a quick slash across the abdomen that would force his opponent to back pedal or risk a stomach wound.

After his strike was finished, he took a few steps himself quickly and returned to guard stance. “That felt like the right counter to your move Gaidin. It also used two forms I am most familiar with, giving me better speed,” Beron said as he awaited the next portion of the lesson.

[Bella]

The Warder Yards were just rife with invisible opponents. They really were quite the plague upon their land, but thankfully, the trainees and Gaidin were all highly versed in combating such a foe.

Haeden stood back and watched the Ji'val take his own stance and prepare to fight this latest shadow opponent. His movements were not as easy as a fully trained Gaidin's, but his training--before and after coming to the Tower--did show through. Haeden watched closely, taking note of his form and position as he moved.

He envisioned the enemy Beron fought with as much effort and care as the trainee did himself. He pictured it as himself, as if they were sparring rather than training. He moved into his strike, then had it moved aside by the vertical sweep of Beron's sword. Then that sword came back towards the abdomen, forcing imaginary Haeden to jump back.

When Beron finished and explained, Haeden nodded once. "Good instincts," he said simply.

"We continue," he said, moving back into the 'arena.' "You have just performed Parting the Silk and forced me to move back. I hurry out of your range, moving into a protective middle guard." Which he demonstrated. "I don't want to let you keep the momentum, so I move right back into an offensive strike.

"The Boar Rushes Down the Mountain." He very slowly lifted the sword and started to slash at his own invisible opponent, the blade coming at a diagonal from the absent shoulder, before hitting center mass and finishing in a horizontal slash. "This is a common form to be used around here, so learning it and possible counters will help your foundational knowledge."

He demonstrated the move once more slow and then once at a quicker speed, then stepped back. "Bear in mind that you are still learning, so there is no shame in not knowing. If you're uncertain about a counter or return, simply say so and we'll discuss the options. However, if you believe you know how to respond, please show me."

[Lugh]

Beron

Beron watched as Haeden took his place in their shadow arena. The work through the forms had gotten Beron’s mind and body alert and engaged. As such he had little trouble imagining the flow of their mock duel. Now it was time to watch Haedan and prepare another response to his actions.

Haedan positioned himself in a middle Guard, his blade having just stopped Beron’s slash at his stomach. He moved well, speed and strength combined with experience. The Boar Rushes Down the Mountain was the next form he demonstrated. It was one which his father had favoured, a strong strike that curved in the end once again pressing towards the stomach. As Haedan mentioned it, Beron was not surprised that it was a common skill used among the Gaidin. Although he knew his father had probably never moved with such precision and speed; even as a veteran of many campaigns. It’s different when you are slaying Trollocs and such beasts. A Gaidin is an opponent like none other thought Beron to
himself.

. "Bear in mind that you are still learning, so there is no shame in not knowing. If you're uncertain about a counter or return, simply say so and we'll discuss the options. However, if you believe you know how to respond, please show me." Haedan offered as he gestured for Beron to demonstrate his response.

Knowing that his opponent had backpedaled, Beron realized that against Haedan’s speed there was little chance of keeping within his guard. And so as he flowed through the fight in his mind, Beron once more assumed The Leaf Floating on the Breeze. This stance helped guard against a horizontal attack, his blade swinging side to side as he maintained engagement. This form allowed him to threaten from both sides, and in his mind he pictured the moment Haedan began his attack.

Boar rushes down the Mountain was dangerous in that the slash carried enormous power, and the mid swing direction change could catch a swordsman unaware if he was too rigid in his defence.

“Unless you want to stand in the line with a shield in one hand and a sword in the other, you’ll flaming learn to move boy.” Beron heard the voice of his father in his head. “You aren’t built like an Ogier, no sense in being stone. If a blow would drive through you like a cleaver, be somewhere else. Battles a dance son.” Beron smiled as the recollection flew through his mind, and so he brought his sword upwards to his shoulder, timing it to strike the slash headed for his chest. With his off hand bracing the underside of his blade, to help absorb the blow, he imagined the powerful strike requiring him to twist his body and keep the contact with the blade.

With the precious few seconds the move bought him, Beron flowed away and seperated from the mock attack, bringing his sword into a swaying middle guard.

[Bella]

Haeden watched as Beron moved against Shadow-Haeden in their slow-motion combat. He appraised the young man's each move, almost seeing thoughts as they rolled through the Saldaean's eyes. Here, there was time to think, and the Gaidin was glad to allow for that. The more thought in training, the less thought needed in a fight.

"Good," Haeden said with a small, but approving, smile. "I can see your training when you move, and it will go a long way to help you."

He rolled his shoulders a little, keeping himself loose. It was fortunate for them both that he enjoyed training, even after so many of his years in the Grey Tower being devoted to that rather than traveling the world with a bond-mate. It had never bothered him before, but that was starting to change. He wondered how much longer he'd be content to remain a training Gaidin.

"Now," he went on, not letting any of his thoughts loose in his expression, "since this is a training session and not a spar, we'll do a little learning as well. I will teach you a few forms you may not yet know, and even if you do, practice never hurts. Then you will get the chance to use them and I will demonstrate how to counter them.

"Form one... Lightning of the Three Prongs. It is so named for the three parts of the strike," he said, moving into Lion on the Hill, rather than his usually favored Ox. "It does not have to begin from this stance, but it's useful. From here, you thrust." Which he did. "And then you follow with two more thrusts, or slashes to each side. Adapted for the situation."

He demonstrated each version slowly, and then a little more quickly, before stepping back. "Now you'll do it with me a time or two, before doing it on your own."