"Well nice to see you too, bloody sunshine." Calder swore groggily, unimpressed by the early morning training session. When he had been on the road, it had been easy rising early in the morning. Sun came up, break amp and keep moving on. But since his return to Hama Valon, he had grown stronger in many ways, but softer as well.
He really wished the Master of Soldier's had let him keep his short sword, and his rod. But he had been strictly told that initiates were not allowed weapons. Luckily, the man had not found the Ter'Angreal. The thought made the Tearian smirk.
As he stood around, waiting for some Gaidar he had never heard of, he cracked his neck and rolled his shoulders. He hoped the woman would at least bring suitable weapons, or have some brought. He doubted the woman would though. How could she really know what he prefered?
Would she know he liked the feel of two weapons in hand? Would she know he favored a short sword, and a rod in his offhand to deflect enemy weapons? Or perhaps she did, and would show him another way. The anticipation was frustrating, but he had to admit to himself.
He was also excited.
Amayani do Ciresh a'Sorene
He really wished the Master of Soldier's had let him keep his short sword, and his rod. But he had been strictly told that initiates were not allowed weapons. Luckily, the man had not found the Ter'Angreal. The thought made the Tearian smirk.
As he stood around, waiting for some Gaidar he had never heard of, he cracked his neck and rolled his shoulders. He hoped the woman would at least bring suitable weapons, or have some brought. He doubted the woman would though. How could she really know what he prefered?
Would she know he liked the feel of two weapons in hand? Would she know he favored a short sword, and a rod in his offhand to deflect enemy weapons? Or perhaps she did, and would show him another way. The anticipation was frustrating, but he had to admit to himself.
He was also excited.
It was strange not to have a set schedule any longer, yet the routine was still set in her bones. One thing was different this morning though; as she crossed the Training Yard a sword hung at her hip instead of the bow and quiver. She had gotten a request to teach one of the Soldiers more about the sword; he knew the mere basics she'd been told, but not more. That was good, as she knew only a little more herself. She knew the basics, and could apparently hold off a Trolloc or two, even kill them, but she was far from any expert.
The swords in her belt were the same two she'd fought with in the Blight; she'd been allowed to keep them after the raising. She wasn't sure why she'd strapped them to her belt this morning, as she wouldn't be using them in the training session to come. For that she would use practice swords, which was the reason for her tail; a tall, bulky Ji'alantin carrying a big bag of different swords. It might've been easier to have met the Soldier at the Armory, but this worked just as well. And she liked the newfound privilege of ordering Ji around. Yes, she could be petty like that.
The boy was easy to spot, dressed in the black uniform and stretching his arms. The channeling trainees did come to practice now and then in the Yards, but seldom this early in the morning.
"Morning, Soldier," she said as she approached the boy. He was of her height, though slightly taller, and sporting a quite noticeable, red beard, made even more prominent with his shaved head.
"I'm Amayani Gaidar, and I'll be teaching you the ways of the sword today. Have you warmed up?" The boy nodded, though she didn't believe him. He looked too fresh, and not nearly awake enough to have been warming up properly. But, it was his problem if he wanted to be sore for days after this. And she would make sure he was warm enough that he wouldn't hurt himself. This evaluation took only a second.
"Very well," she replied simply. "I hear you've trained with the sword before. Tell me what you've learned so far, then select a sword," she nodded to behind her. where the Ji'alantin was in the process of emptying the bag of swords, propping them up on a makeshift sword rack he'd brought along, "and go through your forms."
Calder Selm
The swords in her belt were the same two she'd fought with in the Blight; she'd been allowed to keep them after the raising. She wasn't sure why she'd strapped them to her belt this morning, as she wouldn't be using them in the training session to come. For that she would use practice swords, which was the reason for her tail; a tall, bulky Ji'alantin carrying a big bag of different swords. It might've been easier to have met the Soldier at the Armory, but this worked just as well. And she liked the newfound privilege of ordering Ji around. Yes, she could be petty like that.
The boy was easy to spot, dressed in the black uniform and stretching his arms. The channeling trainees did come to practice now and then in the Yards, but seldom this early in the morning.
"Morning, Soldier," she said as she approached the boy. He was of her height, though slightly taller, and sporting a quite noticeable, red beard, made even more prominent with his shaved head.
"I'm Amayani Gaidar, and I'll be teaching you the ways of the sword today. Have you warmed up?" The boy nodded, though she didn't believe him. He looked too fresh, and not nearly awake enough to have been warming up properly. But, it was his problem if he wanted to be sore for days after this. And she would make sure he was warm enough that he wouldn't hurt himself. This evaluation took only a second.
"Very well," she replied simply. "I hear you've trained with the sword before. Tell me what you've learned so far, then select a sword," she nodded to behind her. where the Ji'alantin was in the process of emptying the bag of swords, propping them up on a makeshift sword rack he'd brought along, "and go through your forms."
"I've learned that it's a good idea to not cut myself." The Soldier responded. It was a struggle to not smirk. "I don't know about forms, it's been quite long since i was shown the basics. But i do know to keep light on my feet." He answered. "I know enough to parry, to deflect, to keep out of the way of their weapon and slash away." The words came from thin lips curving into a forbidden smile.
Walking towards the bag of toys, Calder gave an exaggerated silent hello. She had probably seen how tired he was, how irritated. Still, he did want the training! If he wanted to join the Green, he needed to be more self reliant, or so he figured. Next time he got into a scrap, he would not have Brighteyes or the Seanchan to help.
Why not hide the truth, with an uglier truth? Calder thought as he stared at the teachers pet. The Ji'alantin scowled, the warrior looking too young in Calder's eyes. Too, unscarred.
Shifting his gaze, Calder looked through the various weapons on display. He saw a practice weapon the same size as a short sword. Lifting it with one hand, the weight felt right. Good grip, decent balance. Looking upon the selection, he saw nothing resembling a rod, so he simply selected another short sword. It felt lighter in his left hand, which to him felt fairly different, but not quite as wrong as he would have thought.
While it was fun seeing the edge of a blade grow dull hitting the dull surface of a rod, he still could see the advantage of two similar weapons used in concert.
He began pacing, letting his wrists get used to the fake weapons. A good weight, and swinging with his right, it felt fairly well balanced. For a training weapon, that was. Sliding his right foot forward, his right arm swung upwards along with the momentum. Twisting his hips, he turned quickly, his right arm coming down in a defensive position as his left weapon went with the momentum, and swung horizontally.
As he finished his spin, he stopped and felt tightness in his lower back. H ignored it though, would not do to confess to his lie just when he had the chance to have fun learning something actually useful.
Amayani do Ciresh a'Sorene
Walking towards the bag of toys, Calder gave an exaggerated silent hello. She had probably seen how tired he was, how irritated. Still, he did want the training! If he wanted to join the Green, he needed to be more self reliant, or so he figured. Next time he got into a scrap, he would not have Brighteyes or the Seanchan to help.
Why not hide the truth, with an uglier truth? Calder thought as he stared at the teachers pet. The Ji'alantin scowled, the warrior looking too young in Calder's eyes. Too, unscarred.
Shifting his gaze, Calder looked through the various weapons on display. He saw a practice weapon the same size as a short sword. Lifting it with one hand, the weight felt right. Good grip, decent balance. Looking upon the selection, he saw nothing resembling a rod, so he simply selected another short sword. It felt lighter in his left hand, which to him felt fairly different, but not quite as wrong as he would have thought.
While it was fun seeing the edge of a blade grow dull hitting the dull surface of a rod, he still could see the advantage of two similar weapons used in concert.
He began pacing, letting his wrists get used to the fake weapons. A good weight, and swinging with his right, it felt fairly well balanced. For a training weapon, that was. Sliding his right foot forward, his right arm swung upwards along with the momentum. Twisting his hips, he turned quickly, his right arm coming down in a defensive position as his left weapon went with the momentum, and swung horizontally.
As he finished his spin, he stopped and felt tightness in his lower back. H ignored it though, would not do to confess to his lie just when he had the chance to have fun learning something actually useful.
Oh great, a cocky one, Yani thought involuntarily as the Soldier spoke. Inexperienced too, by the sound of it, but she had already known that. She gave a short nod in response to his words, and watched as he walked over to pick a sword.
She watched with interest as he picked up a short sword, turning it over in his hand to get a feel of it. She turned it over in her mind, thinking of how it would be to fight with, and what she should teach him. The sword was shorter than most dual-edged swords, and was somewhere in between her Katana and her Wakizashi in length. The handle was shorter than both, and with a wider pommel at the end; it was meant for a single hand grip, possibly using the second hand gripping the pommel for more force balance.
Her evaluation of the sword went through her mind quickly, and she was done with it when he picked up the second short sword. Dual wielding? She frowned. If he knew as little as he claimed, dual wielding would not be an option, not yet.
As the Soldier started pacing, twirling on the swords with his wrists, Yani spared a quick look to the Ji'alantin. "Thank you, Giam," she said with a short nod, and he bowed, taking his leave. He had his own training to take care off, a round with the quarterstaff if her mind recalled right. He would be back later to help her hauling the swords back to the armory; that was, if she didn't get the Soldier to do that. He might just earn that.
Yani watched as the Soldier as he moved, thrusting the right-hand sword forward, and twisting around, bringing the sword back in position and following the momentum out with the left-hand sword in a horizontal slash. As he retreated back into position, she watched, waiting for him to continue. Then she realized he wasn't going to. Great. I got my work cut out for me, I see, she thought with an inward sigh, though showing nothing of it on the outside.
"Your balance is good, as is your sword-grip," she said, deciding to start with the positive. "Your stance could be better, but it's a good start, and the rest will come with practice. I would like you to start out with one sword, though, for now," she walked over to the swords as she spoke. "Strap this to your belt," she said as she picked up a scabbard that would fit the sword, tossing it to him and hoping he payed enough attention to catch it, "and sheathe one of your swords." For herself she picked up a practice waki, strapping it to her belt, and grabbed a blunt katana in her hand.
"I'd like you to try and hit me. Give it some tries with your right hand, then change your sword hand to your left and try again." She walked into position before him, and fell into a fluid stance, katana in both hands in front of her. She looked the Soldier straight in his eyes.
"Attack me."
Calder Selm
She watched with interest as he picked up a short sword, turning it over in his hand to get a feel of it. She turned it over in her mind, thinking of how it would be to fight with, and what she should teach him. The sword was shorter than most dual-edged swords, and was somewhere in between her Katana and her Wakizashi in length. The handle was shorter than both, and with a wider pommel at the end; it was meant for a single hand grip, possibly using the second hand gripping the pommel for more force balance.
Her evaluation of the sword went through her mind quickly, and she was done with it when he picked up the second short sword. Dual wielding? She frowned. If he knew as little as he claimed, dual wielding would not be an option, not yet.
As the Soldier started pacing, twirling on the swords with his wrists, Yani spared a quick look to the Ji'alantin. "Thank you, Giam," she said with a short nod, and he bowed, taking his leave. He had his own training to take care off, a round with the quarterstaff if her mind recalled right. He would be back later to help her hauling the swords back to the armory; that was, if she didn't get the Soldier to do that. He might just earn that.
Yani watched as the Soldier as he moved, thrusting the right-hand sword forward, and twisting around, bringing the sword back in position and following the momentum out with the left-hand sword in a horizontal slash. As he retreated back into position, she watched, waiting for him to continue. Then she realized he wasn't going to. Great. I got my work cut out for me, I see, she thought with an inward sigh, though showing nothing of it on the outside.
"Your balance is good, as is your sword-grip," she said, deciding to start with the positive. "Your stance could be better, but it's a good start, and the rest will come with practice. I would like you to start out with one sword, though, for now," she walked over to the swords as she spoke. "Strap this to your belt," she said as she picked up a scabbard that would fit the sword, tossing it to him and hoping he payed enough attention to catch it, "and sheathe one of your swords." For herself she picked up a practice waki, strapping it to her belt, and grabbed a blunt katana in her hand.
"I'd like you to try and hit me. Give it some tries with your right hand, then change your sword hand to your left and try again." She walked into position before him, and fell into a fluid stance, katana in both hands in front of her. She looked the Soldier straight in his eyes.
"Attack me."
Holding both weapons at his sides, he let the tips swing close to the ground. He did not make a single move to try and catch the scabbard, instead simply looking into his teachers eyes. He thought to challenge her, but even a fool such as him could see she was being patient. He felt as if she really did wish to teach him. To make him better.
He nodded in acceptance, and knelt to the ground. He respectfully placed one practice weapon upon the ground, took hold of the scabbard, and did as he was told. With the weapon sheathed, his left side felt naked. The woman had a knowing look in her eye though, maybe she understood the strangeness of it all?
Taking a few slow steps forward, he suddenly lunged with his right, and pulled back quickly. As he pulled, his left hand grasped the hilt. He knew he had trouble aiming thrusts, but even a bluff could help a great deal.
He twisted to the left, and tried slashing just above the crotch. H remembered Vergil and the Seanchan sparring once. The latter had parried a thrust with an upward swing, and the wolfkin had taken full advantage with his return swing.
He frowned, anticipating pain. This woman was clearly more skilled the Brighteyes had been.
Amayani do Ciresh a'Sorene
He nodded in acceptance, and knelt to the ground. He respectfully placed one practice weapon upon the ground, took hold of the scabbard, and did as he was told. With the weapon sheathed, his left side felt naked. The woman had a knowing look in her eye though, maybe she understood the strangeness of it all?
Taking a few slow steps forward, he suddenly lunged with his right, and pulled back quickly. As he pulled, his left hand grasped the hilt. He knew he had trouble aiming thrusts, but even a bluff could help a great deal.
He twisted to the left, and tried slashing just above the crotch. H remembered Vergil and the Seanchan sparring once. The latter had parried a thrust with an upward swing, and the wolfkin had taken full advantage with his return swing.
He frowned, anticipating pain. This woman was clearly more skilled the Brighteyes had been.
Yani frowned as the scabbard clattered to the ground at the Soldier's feet. If he handled his weapons with that little care… Luckily, for him, he changed and put the sword gently on the ground before strapping on the scabbard and sheathing it.
Her eyes never left him, and she watched his movement as he started forward. She shifted the weight on her feet slightly as he thrust forward with his right, a feint, she predicted even as he pulled back. His weapon changed hands in the move, and he moved to his left as his left hand brought the sword into a slash at her abdomen. Taking a step back and out of reach, she brought the sword in a closed arch to the right, bringing it behind his sword and pushing his swing past herself. She stopped the arch in front of her, just as his sword was past her, and twisted her wrist, the tip of the sword now against the Soldier's upper abdomen.
"A swing like that leaves you open," she said as she pulled back. "When fighting with just one sword, turn your body more sideways, like this." She moved into an offensive stand, holding the katana in only the right hand. Her body was turned so that her hip and torso was angled away from him, with only her right side pointing towards him.
"Keep your foot pointing forward, and the back angled outwards. This leaves for easy movement." She took a step backwards with her right foot, turning the left so it pointed forward and the right pointing outwards. Her body twisted with the movement, so the left side pointed towards him and her right hand moved up to head level, the sword horizontal and tip still pointing towards the Soldier.
"Angle your body to give your enemy as small a target as possible." She shifted into the basic stance again, both hands on the katana.
"Again."
Calder Selm
Her eyes never left him, and she watched his movement as he started forward. She shifted the weight on her feet slightly as he thrust forward with his right, a feint, she predicted even as he pulled back. His weapon changed hands in the move, and he moved to his left as his left hand brought the sword into a slash at her abdomen. Taking a step back and out of reach, she brought the sword in a closed arch to the right, bringing it behind his sword and pushing his swing past herself. She stopped the arch in front of her, just as his sword was past her, and twisted her wrist, the tip of the sword now against the Soldier's upper abdomen.
"A swing like that leaves you open," she said as she pulled back. "When fighting with just one sword, turn your body more sideways, like this." She moved into an offensive stand, holding the katana in only the right hand. Her body was turned so that her hip and torso was angled away from him, with only her right side pointing towards him.
"Keep your foot pointing forward, and the back angled outwards. This leaves for easy movement." She took a step backwards with her right foot, turning the left so it pointed forward and the right pointing outwards. Her body twisted with the movement, so the left side pointed towards him and her right hand moved up to head level, the sword horizontal and tip still pointing towards the Soldier.
"Angle your body to give your enemy as small a target as possible." She shifted into the basic stance again, both hands on the katana.
"Again."
As the Gaidar had explained, Calder had emulated. He slid his left foot forward, the right foot to the rear and twisted sideways. He shifted his position to offer the least possible targets for a quick thrust. It felt bloody awkward, but he knew he had needed to get used to it.
He pushed with his right foot's toes, and stepped forward with his left foot. He then moved his right foot forward, feeling ridiculous. But as foolish as he imagined himself to appear, it the stance did make sense.
He looked the Gaidar dead in the eyes, accepting the unspoken challenge. He would try it her way, win or lose.
He gripped the sword with both hands, right hand near the nearly non-existent crossguard. The sword tip swung upwards, but stopped in mid motion. He thrust, his hope shining within narrowed eyes. His footwork felt awkward, making it difficult to properly coordinate. His thrust was inaccurate. He swore in frustration.
Not knowing a way to safely disengage, he knew he had but one option. And he was sure the woman would not approve. He had committed himself to the attack, and attack he shall! He swung the blade towards the ground, and rushed the woman.
He sprang forward, pushing hard with his left leg. He knew he had an advantage due to his larger stature, and he intended to take advantage of it. He aimed his left elbow where he quite bloody well knew was not appropriate.
He pushed with his right foot's toes, and stepped forward with his left foot. He then moved his right foot forward, feeling ridiculous. But as foolish as he imagined himself to appear, it the stance did make sense.
He looked the Gaidar dead in the eyes, accepting the unspoken challenge. He would try it her way, win or lose.
He gripped the sword with both hands, right hand near the nearly non-existent crossguard. The sword tip swung upwards, but stopped in mid motion. He thrust, his hope shining within narrowed eyes. His footwork felt awkward, making it difficult to properly coordinate. His thrust was inaccurate. He swore in frustration.
Not knowing a way to safely disengage, he knew he had but one option. And he was sure the woman would not approve. He had committed himself to the attack, and attack he shall! He swung the blade towards the ground, and rushed the woman.
He sprang forward, pushing hard with his left leg. He knew he had an advantage due to his larger stature, and he intended to take advantage of it. He aimed his left elbow where he quite bloody well knew was not appropriate.
