Training Yard

There is a Quintain, a fake swordsman to practice against and much more for you to work out with.

Alanna, after a lesson with Duke Roger, walked down to the training yard. She really didn't want to deal with anyone. Being on her monthlies, and cramping, she didn't think she could deal with anyone without killing someone. Literally. "Hm. Figures. I am so glad no one dares train in the dead of winter out here..."

Which, of course, wasn´t true. Winter or not, Alex went to the training yard on a daily basis. He had been working on a complicated series of steps and sword moves, and he was frustrated because he still wasn´t getting them right. It was much easier with an opponent. But Raoul had left half an hour ago, complaining about the cold, and Geoffrey had followed soon after, complaining that it was no fun fighting against somebody who always won.

Alex was not cold. The training had warmed up every part of his body. He was beginning to tire, though, and was considering calling it quits for this afternoon, when Alan appeared. Alex reconsidered. Alan was always up for some fencing practice, and it would be nice to try out his newly acquired moves against somebody who knew what he was doing. So Alex stepped forward and called out “Hey Alan, how about a round of fencing? I´ll do your maths homework if I lose; if I win, you´ll help me with this history essay Olau wants til Friday. Deal?”

As he stepped closer, he noticed Alan´s expression. He looked as if he was in pain, or in a very bad mood.* Alex frowned. “Are you okay?”


*I can edit that, of course.

*no, not at all. Perfect. And who will win?*

Alanna looked up at the sound of her name. "What do you want, Alex? A duel?" And she knew she'd probably have helped Alex if he had asked.

Faithful padded forward, pawing gently at Alanna's leg. I think it will take your mind off the pain. Try it. He then leapt up to a post to watch.

Alanna looked down at her cat. "Thanks Faithful..." she muttered. "But I think this is more than just that."

Are you just going to stand there? Faithful asked, yawning. You want to pratice and get your mind away? Well go ahead. The boy asked you Unless you're scared. Fatith peered out between slitted eyes at the girl. He purred at his own brillance.

„A duel?“ Alex raised his eyebrows, then shrugged. „If you want to call it that.” Somehow, a duel sounded more serious than just a round of fencing, but in the end it was just words. They would be fighting with training swords anyway; whoever rendered the other defenseless would win, no drawing blood.

“I see you brought a referee”, he said as he took up the starting position, nodding at Faithful. He observed the interaction between the two. It was fascinating, though slightly unsettling. They looked as if they were talking to each other.

He waited until Alan had assumed his starting position, too, and then attacked immediately.

Alanna stepped into the "guard" position. "Let's fight. Faithful isn't a referee. He's bored."

((Chris, no double posting. Go take a look at the rules and re-sign them if you do. This is your first warning.))

Other people wasted time circling their opponent, looking for weak spots, calling out insults. Alex did none of that. He knew Alan, he knew how Alan fought, and looking for weak spots was not going to take him anywhere, since Alan rarely showed any. What Alex also knew was that Alan was fast, and so he had to be faster. He started off with a series of quick blows, then seemingly retreated, but while he took one step back the next few brought him around the younger boy, hopefully fast enough that he could attack him from behind before Alan found the time to turn around.

Alanna smirked as Alex attacked. She parried his attacks, realizing as she went, that exercise did help.

She thought about attacking, she noticed Alex spin around her. "Well, by all the Gods!" she though as she tried to spin around to face her opponent.

Watch it Alanna! Faithful yowled.

"Fat lot of good that's doing me, Faithful!" Alanna thought.

Now, finally, there was the opportunity Alex had waited for to apply the newly learned technique. One, two steps, a dance almost, his sword faking a blow upwards but then going to the side and slashing through the air in a downwards motion as quick as a flash – if he had gotten everything right, the blunt tip of the training sword should end up pointing at Alan´s throat, thus rendering the boy utterly defenceless.

(OOC: You decide whether this is the end of the fight or not)

Faithful stood on the fence, lashing his tail. He'd seen this move before of course. You aren't a constelation cat if you don't pay attention to Earth. But this was Alanna's fight and he wouldn't always be there for her. She needed to learn how it goes. But, ye gods, he hope she didn't get hurt. She was his charge and it would take quite a bit of restrant from attacking. if this boy got cocky. He gouge his claws into the wood, hoping that nothing would go wrong with this innocent girl, so young and yet so strong. Mother Goddess, protect her please! he prayed as the move was closing in on Alanna.

Alanna almost growled, "I yield, Alex." Oh, how she hated this.

Faithful hung his head. Alanna had such pride. This wasn't going to end well. He had wanted something to distract her and this had. Now she was more upset and probally with him. Guess who's sleeping outside tonight! He mutttered under his tuna fish smelling breath. He leapt down next to his mistriss gently nudging her leg, trying to turn her before the boy said something he was going to regret.

A flicker of a smile crossed Alex´s face. He knew he shouldn´t be so satisfied about having beat a mere page, but the fact remained that he had been exercising for more than an hour, while Alan had been fresh.
“You were good”, he said as he lowered his training sword. “Just take care to use your strength for swinging your sword rather than holding it. When you get nervous, when things go too fast, you tend to tighten your grip around the hilt. That way you´re depriving yourself of a small portion of your strength that you could put to better use in other ways.”

Faithful paused. Maybe this boy could help! He looked up to Alanna, hoping for a change in her emotions.

((Oh, we're going to have fun with this.))

Alanna thought back onto her fight with Alex. "Now that you mention it, I do managed to do that... Thank you, Alex." She smiled lightly. "That helps."

She looked at Faithful. "There will be a day when I beat Alex, and have him at sword point like he had me." And somehow, she knew it to be true.

Faithful sighed in relief and trotted away. Alanna was grasious about it and he couldn't be prouder. But what bothered him was that determined look she had on her face when she had gazed at him. Maybe it was nothing. But the girl did need to learn and if she was willing Alex could help.