9th of Spring, 11th Bell
The sun was near its midday point, shining brightly and clearly in the sky above Syliras. Aleric could feel the heat of the newborn spring as he moved about the small practice field, unfortunately he did not recieve it well.
Aleric ducked quickly, his opponent's weapon sailing over his head grazing his brown hair. The young squire backed up quickly, his shield up and ready to block another visious blow from the armored man in front of him. He struck out with his own weapon but found it blocked by his opponent's shield, who swung it out, sending Aleric's weapon out wide. The man's weapon rose quickly and fell down upon the the young squire hard.
Aleric cursed at the hard blow and dropped his heavy wooden practice sword, a pained look on his face. His opponent merely shook his head in slight disgust, a look of exasperation on his face. The young squire clutched his shoulder, blanching slightly as he felt his new briuse.
"I told you to keep yourself on guard, yet you alway strike out when you think I'm open," The tall and broad shouldered man said in a lecturing tone.
Aleric managed a half hearted grin, still hurting from the heavy handed blow.
"What can I say, dear brother, I like to take chances," He answered, his breath coming out heavy.
Aleric's brother Roland sighed in disgust at the squire's joking levity. It was about the normal reaction he had to most things that Aleric did.
Well that and the head shake that should be happening in 3, 2, 1. The young squire thought, his grin widening by a fraction when his brother did indeed shake his head slowly.
"Taking chances does not usually end well on the battlefield. Especially foolish chances like yours. What if the oppenent is merely luring you into a feint?" Roland said at length, scolding his younger brother as per the usual.
Aleric rolled his eyes slightly as his brother took on the role of instructor again. It was a role he played all to well, in fact his brother was one he could see becoming an instructor for future generations of squires. The youngest child of the Leoric family pitied them if that was the case, his brother was a very difficult teacher to like.
"Then I would have surely been dead. Woe to all the women across Sylira that would be deprived my company." Aleric answered, still wearing his usual cavalier smile.
His brother chose to ignore the last part of his answer, continuing his instruction as if Aleric had said nothing.
"Exactly, and I doubt you want to die brother. That being said pick up your practice sword, this time focus on blocking my attacks with both your shield and sword. Using them in harmony will thwart most opponent's, even experianced ones." The young Syliran Knight said to his younger brother, gesturing to the wooden sword lying at Aleric's feet.
Aleric began to reach down, then pretended to clutch his shoulder in pain, screwing up his face convincingly while he was at it.
"Ah, it looks like I am too injured to continue today dear brother, looks like we'll have to continue this tomorrow. Wouldn't want to cause me any perminant damage would we?" Aleric said quickly, really not eager to get back into fighting his brother.
Roland's eyes narrowed as he brought his practice sword and shield up and fell into a ready stance, his legs wide apart. The fact that the heat didn't seem to bother him amazed Aleric, considering that he was still wearing his full plate armor. Ever since the man had become a knight Aleric had never actually seen him not wearing the fine suit of armor, which still managed to shine as though new.
He probably sleeps with it on, Aleric thought, slightly amused by the image of his brother sleeping in his armor, helmet and all. It would certainly explain why he has shown no interest in a woman yet, they would probably find the armor uncomfortable.
The young squire sighed melodramatically as he picked up his practice sword and fell into a rough defensive stance. Unlike his brother he was only wearing his casual clothes today, and yet he was the one working up a sweat and barely keeping up.
Aleric had no time to ponder his own ineffectiveness with a blade as Roland struck out at him with more speed than seemed possible with his heavy armor on. The young squire barely had time to get his shield up to block a swift and hard backhanded slash. He jumped back as the knight swung out with his shield next, which was followed by a thrust Aleric managed to swat aside with his sword.
Roland bashed the young squire with his shield, sending him stumbling back slightly, his shield out wide. The Syliran Knight was quick to continue his relentless offensive, this time aiming an overhanded chop at Aleric. The younger Leoric managed a weak and flimsy block with his sword, which still allowed his brother to smack his leg.
"Hit," the armored knight called.
Aleric growled slightly, more than a little irritated by this whole defensive fighting thing. The young squire was brash and impulsive by nature and favored a much more offensive style, usually with a spear as he was not profficent in swordplay as his many sessions with his brother proved. Unfortunately his brother's relentless assult and quick movements were forcing him to continue to use this defensive style, much to the young warrior's frustration.
His brother scored another hit, this one a hard slap on the arm. Aleric backed up again, trying to adjust his stance but his brother gave him not such time. In no time at all the tall knight was upon him again, slashing, hacking, and bashing visciously at his younger brother.
Damn it all, Aleric thought with a snarl, quickly blocking a strike that would have hit his chest with his sword.
Aleric stayed on the defensive, still struggling against the seemingly endless series of attacks his brother launched at him. When his brother did eventually take a step back Aleric didn't dare move out of his defensve stance, fearing another feint. After a moment his brother was back at it, though this time his movements seemed somewhat more pradictable. Maybe he was finally getting the hang of this whole defensive thing.
This thought caused him to get unconsciously lax in his stance, something Roland noticed a sprung upon almost immediately. He struck out against Aleric with his shield, sending the squire stumbling back once again. The knight then followed up with a quick series of thusts and chops that scored a few hard hits against his brother.
Aleric was sweating heavily by this point, his breath coming out in ragged gasps as he struggled to readjust his stance. Roland was showing some signs of exaustion as well but to now where near the degree his brother did, and he kept on the offensive.
The young squire blocked and parried even though his arms felt like leaden wieghts by this point. He kept on the defensive now because it was all he could do, as brash and hot headed as he was even he recognized that trying to attack at this point would accomplish nothing but a swift defeat. As tired as he was he refused to give in, he was going to keep this up until either his brother called an end to this or his arms fell off. At least if the former happened it would be something of victory for him, that he managed to hold off against his brother.
His brother continued his renewed assault for a good ten minutes more and when the knight finally decided to stop, Aleric felt like he was about to collapse.
Roland pointed his training sword down at the ground looked up at the sky for a moment and nodded slightly.
"That will be all for now, brother, your stance still needs some work but your getting the handle on swordplay and shield work. Its nearing the 12th bell, I suggest you recover some and get some food. We will meet back here at the 16th bell and conclude your lesson's for today." It was clear that Roland was dismissing him.
Aleric dropped his sword on the ground and tore his shield off. After that he promptly layed himself out on the ground, ignoring his growling stomach. The squire was too tired to move much of anything at the moment, he'd eat when his limbs felt less like they were on fire.
His brother merely shook his head at the sight and walked away slowly, his armor clanking loudly.
Aleric snorted slightly in between gasps for air. That was some real brotherly love right there. However at least he hadn't said he'd done terrible, that was more than he usually got out of his dutiful older brother. For now all Aleric intended to do was lay on the ground for about an hour, then go find something eat. Then it was back to the hell that was his brother's training.
At least the sun is shining, Aleric thought, managing a small grin at that.
