The morning air was still crisp as the sun was still low on the horizon, but there was plenty of activity in the Warder Yards. Off in one corner, a Drin and a Gaidin were sparring and the sound of wood striking wood echoed across the Yards. The Gaidin held a shield on her left arm, and wielded a sword in her right while the Drin worked with two axes.
“You are quite adept with your axes, Drin. You block with the one as if it were a shield, seemingly without regard for your fingers. I would suggest you either see about getting plate gauntlets or you be more careful. A well placed blow from a sword could see you fingerless,” the Gaidin offered criticism, though not in an overly harsh tone.
Bastian’s lips twitched upwards, “Thank you for the tip, Gaidin. The thought did cross my mind.” He ducked as the Gaidin swung her sword upwards towards his head. The woman’s shield protected her body, though the Drin thought he saw an opening. Using the head of the axe, he hooked it on the edge of the shield and took a step back as he pulled.
The goal was to pull the Gaidin off balance, and it looked as if it worked. As she came forward, shuffling her feet to regain her balance and footing, Bastian brought the other axe through an upward swing towards her mid-section. He’d gotten inside her defences, but she was fast and brought her sword down to block the shot.
Knowing better than being static, Bastian had already moved his right axe from the shield and brought it across in a horizontal swing. The woman was late getting her shield up, but Bastian pulled the strike that landed across her upper arm. She reacted by swinging her arm out, using her shield as a weapon and hitting Bastian in the mid-section, and brought her sword around to his neck, holding it there.
The Gaidin smirked, “I think I get the first touch. Don’t you?”
Bastian laughed as he stood up straight, “I yield the first point, Gaidin Kestrin. Best two out of three?”
Gaidin Denia Kestrin grinned, “I’m happy to oblige.” She looked around at the gathering crowd, “But I am sure the rest of you have other things to see to unless you wish to be at the mercy of the Mistress of the Kitchens.”
The crowd dispersed quickly, leaving the Drin and Gaidin to themselves. Looking back to the Drin, Denia nodded, “Ready when you are, Drin.”
Bastian twirled both axes as he sunk down into a mid-stance as he watched his opponent do the same thing. The big man took a quick stride towards the Gaidin, bringing his left axe through a horizontal swing, which was met by the woman’s shield. She swung her sword, bringing it in a horizontal swing of her own. The Drin pulled back, using his reach to his advantage and bringing his other axe down to bat the sword away as he pulled the other one off the shield and up in a diagonal strike.
The woman was slow in intercepting the strike, but she did manage to keep Bastian from getting a touch. She then pulled her knee up and aimed a well placed kick towards Bastian’s mid-section. He took two big steps back, but didn’t go down, and brought one axe up to knock the next swing of the woman’s axe, which was an overhand swing meant to strike him at his shoulder.
Whether it was smart or not, Bastian decided to press what he thought was an advantage and stepped forward as he brought the other axe around in an underhanded swing. Denia brought her shield down to block, and Bastian saw an opening as he pulled the other axe off of the sword. While Denia attempted an overhead swing, he ducked and brought the axe in horizontally, pulling the blow just as the edge touched her neck.
Both Gaidin and Drin stopped, and Denia smirked, “Nicely done. All tied up. Next touch wins the spar. Are you up for the challenge?”
“I am not about to back down now, Gaidin Kestrin,” he replied as he stood up straight.
Denia nodded, “Glad to hear it.” She settled into a guard stance, “I’m ready to continue when you are.”
Bastian smirked as he sunk into a mid-guard stance. The Gaidin didn’t give him much of a chance to relax as she charged him right away, leading with her sword. Bastian swung his axe to deflect the blow, and she brought up her shield as she closed distance. He expected her to stop, but she sunk down and continued to push, getting inside his guard.
The shield was big enough that it made it difficult for Bastian to strike with his axe, or do much of anything aside from either go with the push, or some other action. It meant the woman couldn’t use her sword either. The Drin planted a foot and spun to the side, hoping to get a swing at an exposed mid-section.
The Gaidin seemed to be expecting the move and already had her shield up to block the blow. She followed this up with a diagonal slash that landed at Bastian’s neck, and she smirked, “Seems I get the second touch, and win the round. You are skilled. You need to learn how to minimize the disadvantage your size can be against smaller opponents, but you’ve got good speed and dexterity.”
“Thank you Gaidin. I appreciate the spar and the words of encouragement,” Bastian replied. He nodded towards the shield, “This is the first time I’ve sparred with someone using a shield, and it has been educational. My two axes aren’t as effective against your shield, but there are a few things I found I could take advantage of.”
Denia grinned, “You did well enough. Don’t be afraid to hook a shield and pull, but be careful of your balance. If you do it right, you catch your opponent off guard, and they will stumble forward, giving you a chance for a killing blow. I’m happy to spar with you whenever we both have time. For now, though, I must go. I’ve got a class to teach.”
Bastian watched her leave and wiped his brow with the back of his hand. He had his own lessons to get to, and would regret exerting himself when it came time for unarmed. What was done was done, though, and he did learn a useful skill or two against shields, so it was worth it.
“You are quite adept with your axes, Drin. You block with the one as if it were a shield, seemingly without regard for your fingers. I would suggest you either see about getting plate gauntlets or you be more careful. A well placed blow from a sword could see you fingerless,” the Gaidin offered criticism, though not in an overly harsh tone.
Bastian’s lips twitched upwards, “Thank you for the tip, Gaidin. The thought did cross my mind.” He ducked as the Gaidin swung her sword upwards towards his head. The woman’s shield protected her body, though the Drin thought he saw an opening. Using the head of the axe, he hooked it on the edge of the shield and took a step back as he pulled.
The goal was to pull the Gaidin off balance, and it looked as if it worked. As she came forward, shuffling her feet to regain her balance and footing, Bastian brought the other axe through an upward swing towards her mid-section. He’d gotten inside her defences, but she was fast and brought her sword down to block the shot.
Knowing better than being static, Bastian had already moved his right axe from the shield and brought it across in a horizontal swing. The woman was late getting her shield up, but Bastian pulled the strike that landed across her upper arm. She reacted by swinging her arm out, using her shield as a weapon and hitting Bastian in the mid-section, and brought her sword around to his neck, holding it there.
The Gaidin smirked, “I think I get the first touch. Don’t you?”
Bastian laughed as he stood up straight, “I yield the first point, Gaidin Kestrin. Best two out of three?”
Gaidin Denia Kestrin grinned, “I’m happy to oblige.” She looked around at the gathering crowd, “But I am sure the rest of you have other things to see to unless you wish to be at the mercy of the Mistress of the Kitchens.”
The crowd dispersed quickly, leaving the Drin and Gaidin to themselves. Looking back to the Drin, Denia nodded, “Ready when you are, Drin.”
Bastian twirled both axes as he sunk down into a mid-stance as he watched his opponent do the same thing. The big man took a quick stride towards the Gaidin, bringing his left axe through a horizontal swing, which was met by the woman’s shield. She swung her sword, bringing it in a horizontal swing of her own. The Drin pulled back, using his reach to his advantage and bringing his other axe down to bat the sword away as he pulled the other one off the shield and up in a diagonal strike.
The woman was slow in intercepting the strike, but she did manage to keep Bastian from getting a touch. She then pulled her knee up and aimed a well placed kick towards Bastian’s mid-section. He took two big steps back, but didn’t go down, and brought one axe up to knock the next swing of the woman’s axe, which was an overhand swing meant to strike him at his shoulder.
Whether it was smart or not, Bastian decided to press what he thought was an advantage and stepped forward as he brought the other axe around in an underhanded swing. Denia brought her shield down to block, and Bastian saw an opening as he pulled the other axe off of the sword. While Denia attempted an overhead swing, he ducked and brought the axe in horizontally, pulling the blow just as the edge touched her neck.
Both Gaidin and Drin stopped, and Denia smirked, “Nicely done. All tied up. Next touch wins the spar. Are you up for the challenge?”
“I am not about to back down now, Gaidin Kestrin,” he replied as he stood up straight.
Denia nodded, “Glad to hear it.” She settled into a guard stance, “I’m ready to continue when you are.”
Bastian smirked as he sunk into a mid-guard stance. The Gaidin didn’t give him much of a chance to relax as she charged him right away, leading with her sword. Bastian swung his axe to deflect the blow, and she brought up her shield as she closed distance. He expected her to stop, but she sunk down and continued to push, getting inside his guard.
The shield was big enough that it made it difficult for Bastian to strike with his axe, or do much of anything aside from either go with the push, or some other action. It meant the woman couldn’t use her sword either. The Drin planted a foot and spun to the side, hoping to get a swing at an exposed mid-section.
The Gaidin seemed to be expecting the move and already had her shield up to block the blow. She followed this up with a diagonal slash that landed at Bastian’s neck, and she smirked, “Seems I get the second touch, and win the round. You are skilled. You need to learn how to minimize the disadvantage your size can be against smaller opponents, but you’ve got good speed and dexterity.”
“Thank you Gaidin. I appreciate the spar and the words of encouragement,” Bastian replied. He nodded towards the shield, “This is the first time I’ve sparred with someone using a shield, and it has been educational. My two axes aren’t as effective against your shield, but there are a few things I found I could take advantage of.”
Denia grinned, “You did well enough. Don’t be afraid to hook a shield and pull, but be careful of your balance. If you do it right, you catch your opponent off guard, and they will stumble forward, giving you a chance for a killing blow. I’m happy to spar with you whenever we both have time. For now, though, I must go. I’ve got a class to teach.”
Bastian watched her leave and wiped his brow with the back of his hand. He had his own lessons to get to, and would regret exerting himself when it came time for unarmed. What was done was done, though, and he did learn a useful skill or two against shields, so it was worth it.
