16th Day of Spring, 513 AV
Outside Syliras
Outside Syliras
“I really hope she was worth it, Orion,” Dinah remarked, venom dripping with every word. “Now RUN!”
Dinah was not a happy woman this day. This doctor turned squire was quickly hitting her nerves. When she picked him after their trek to obtain that spy, it was because of the immense potential he’d shown when put in quite a dangerous position. Retreating when overmatched, taking risks when he knew they had to be taken. Chasing down a man who held much needed information, despite the risks it brought to himself. In the short time since she’d taken on Orion as her squire, he’d been nothing of what she had seen the previous season. Had it all be luck? Coincidence that he’d simply picked the right way to act. Had she misread him? Was he really cut out for this? Her squire had shown some signs of what he was, for both better and worse. He had determination that was for sure. There was determination in his training; determination in ignoring her rules. Curfew, now that was where they couldn’t see eye to eye. The only times he was in his quarters in time was if she beat him into submission. Rigorous training, running, endurance, strength, and anything else she could think of. If she didn’t wear him out enough, though, he’d end up wandering off, hitting up a tavern, falling into bed with some cheap floozy, and not making it back to the dorms until the third or fourth bell. It made her ill. And it had nothing to do with the women. Honestly. It was all about him following the rules…right?
“Keep your head up! And don’t you slow down!”
While Dinah was shouting commands, Orion was getting to enjoy Dinah’s new training plan. She’d taken them just outside the city walls so they could have space to do their work, and it was not going to be a kind work. About 50 yards apart she had placed two small logs. Orion would be sprinting back and forth between them until he threw up. Then he would do it again.
Orion touched hand to one of the logs and turned, taking off across the distance again. His feet crushed against the ground as fatigue was already rearing its ugly head. His form was horrible. Feet were opened wide, he was leaning too far forward, his arms were too high, and his hands were closed. Still, he ran. Sweat poured down his face, arms, chest, back, and well, everywhere. Wind rushed past him as his destination grew closer, and labored breaths escaped his lips as he lunged forward to place a hand on the log, coming abruptly to a stop. He was exhausted; it was all too much, if you asked Orion. If you asked patron knight, however, you would find a very different opinion.
That wasn’t enough. That wouldn’t get the message across.
She’d brought with her a fellow knight’s squire, to get a little extra training. Squire Levi Orison, a well formed, well-built fifteen year old trainee. Talented with a blade, shield, bow, and shield. In a year or two he’d be more than ready for his knighting quest. For now, Levi was here to teach Orion some humility. You see, after completing a few trips back and forth, he would pick up the training long sword and a shield and combat this teen. When one of them was felled, victor or not, Orion would run again until she decided it was time for him to fight Levi again. They would do this over and over and over. Dinah had Squire Orison’s patron knight’s permission to use him all day. If it took Orion all day to get the message, then so be it.
“Again!” Her cold voice snapped through the crisp air, as fiery eyes stared down her stupid, stupid, squire.
Orion tapped the log with his index finger and took off again. One foot after the next. That’s what he needed to remember. One foot after the next. Ignore the pain. Keep moving forward. It couldn’t go on much longer, right? He could feel the muscles in his legs tense and release with painful step. His heart raced, the beating of his heart echoing in his chest, threatening to pulse right out of his chest. Who would have thought there was so much work in being a knight? The dust kicked up as he moved, albeit slowly, towards the temporary finish line, and he prayed to whatever god would listen that they would lift this burden from him.
Of course no one would answer. As he reached his destination, the only voice which rang out was Dinah’s. It wasn’t a barked command to run, so that could only mean one thing.
“Are you ready, Orion?” A smirk came over the gorgeous redhead’s lips as she sized up Orion. Please, let this sink in. I don’t like using the stick.. “Squire Orison, commence this sparring round.”
Orion walked, limping slightly, over to where the squire waited, slowly retrieving his equipment from the ground beside him. A metal core weapon, a heavy steel shield, and a horrible beatdown awaited him.
“You know, Dinah, I could be sipping fine wine and rubbing elbows with the upper class.”
“Sera Lorene,” she corrected, for the millionth time. “And we both know you would be picking up cheap whores at a classless bar. Don’t play that game with me, Orion.” She strode over with precise, calculated steps as she approached Orion, intensity in her gaze. “Let’s get this going. Maybe he’ll hit you so hard you’ll actually see these imaginary high class people you claim to be such good friends with. Begin.”
Dinah was a scary woman. She would get what she wanted, Orion learned that quickly. He was her squire. She was a rather young Captain Knight. The last thing she wanted was a failed squire on her resume. Doctor Orion Michaels would embrace Squire Orion Michaels. Otherwise she would run him into the ground.
Dinah was not a happy woman this day. This doctor turned squire was quickly hitting her nerves. When she picked him after their trek to obtain that spy, it was because of the immense potential he’d shown when put in quite a dangerous position. Retreating when overmatched, taking risks when he knew they had to be taken. Chasing down a man who held much needed information, despite the risks it brought to himself. In the short time since she’d taken on Orion as her squire, he’d been nothing of what she had seen the previous season. Had it all be luck? Coincidence that he’d simply picked the right way to act. Had she misread him? Was he really cut out for this? Her squire had shown some signs of what he was, for both better and worse. He had determination that was for sure. There was determination in his training; determination in ignoring her rules. Curfew, now that was where they couldn’t see eye to eye. The only times he was in his quarters in time was if she beat him into submission. Rigorous training, running, endurance, strength, and anything else she could think of. If she didn’t wear him out enough, though, he’d end up wandering off, hitting up a tavern, falling into bed with some cheap floozy, and not making it back to the dorms until the third or fourth bell. It made her ill. And it had nothing to do with the women. Honestly. It was all about him following the rules…right?
“Keep your head up! And don’t you slow down!”
While Dinah was shouting commands, Orion was getting to enjoy Dinah’s new training plan. She’d taken them just outside the city walls so they could have space to do their work, and it was not going to be a kind work. About 50 yards apart she had placed two small logs. Orion would be sprinting back and forth between them until he threw up. Then he would do it again.
Orion touched hand to one of the logs and turned, taking off across the distance again. His feet crushed against the ground as fatigue was already rearing its ugly head. His form was horrible. Feet were opened wide, he was leaning too far forward, his arms were too high, and his hands were closed. Still, he ran. Sweat poured down his face, arms, chest, back, and well, everywhere. Wind rushed past him as his destination grew closer, and labored breaths escaped his lips as he lunged forward to place a hand on the log, coming abruptly to a stop. He was exhausted; it was all too much, if you asked Orion. If you asked patron knight, however, you would find a very different opinion.
That wasn’t enough. That wouldn’t get the message across.
She’d brought with her a fellow knight’s squire, to get a little extra training. Squire Levi Orison, a well formed, well-built fifteen year old trainee. Talented with a blade, shield, bow, and shield. In a year or two he’d be more than ready for his knighting quest. For now, Levi was here to teach Orion some humility. You see, after completing a few trips back and forth, he would pick up the training long sword and a shield and combat this teen. When one of them was felled, victor or not, Orion would run again until she decided it was time for him to fight Levi again. They would do this over and over and over. Dinah had Squire Orison’s patron knight’s permission to use him all day. If it took Orion all day to get the message, then so be it.
“Again!” Her cold voice snapped through the crisp air, as fiery eyes stared down her stupid, stupid, squire.
Orion tapped the log with his index finger and took off again. One foot after the next. That’s what he needed to remember. One foot after the next. Ignore the pain. Keep moving forward. It couldn’t go on much longer, right? He could feel the muscles in his legs tense and release with painful step. His heart raced, the beating of his heart echoing in his chest, threatening to pulse right out of his chest. Who would have thought there was so much work in being a knight? The dust kicked up as he moved, albeit slowly, towards the temporary finish line, and he prayed to whatever god would listen that they would lift this burden from him.
Of course no one would answer. As he reached his destination, the only voice which rang out was Dinah’s. It wasn’t a barked command to run, so that could only mean one thing.
“Are you ready, Orion?” A smirk came over the gorgeous redhead’s lips as she sized up Orion. Please, let this sink in. I don’t like using the stick.. “Squire Orison, commence this sparring round.”
Orion walked, limping slightly, over to where the squire waited, slowly retrieving his equipment from the ground beside him. A metal core weapon, a heavy steel shield, and a horrible beatdown awaited him.
“You know, Dinah, I could be sipping fine wine and rubbing elbows with the upper class.”
“Sera Lorene,” she corrected, for the millionth time. “And we both know you would be picking up cheap whores at a classless bar. Don’t play that game with me, Orion.” She strode over with precise, calculated steps as she approached Orion, intensity in her gaze. “Let’s get this going. Maybe he’ll hit you so hard you’ll actually see these imaginary high class people you claim to be such good friends with. Begin.”
Dinah was a scary woman. She would get what she wanted, Orion learned that quickly. He was her squire. She was a rather young Captain Knight. The last thing she wanted was a failed squire on her resume. Doctor Orion Michaels would embrace Squire Orion Michaels. Otherwise she would run him into the ground.
