Your Words I My Words I My Thoughts
7th of Winter, 514
The dull clamor of the men and women that populated the fighting pits had already ground itself into background noise in Balians mind, focused as he was on observing the many small battles that took place there in. There was order in this chaos, as far as he was able to tell; those that fought with weapons seemed to congregate from the middle to one of the far walls, where as those that practiced with their fists seemed to have placed themselves along the closest area to the entrance of Winthop alley. There were even posts and straw filled dummies for the men and women who chose to practice on their own. His gaze in particular was on those that clashed with their weapons against one another.
He had grown agitated by his lack of progress. Sure, his skill with the bow had improved considerably, as well as some of the other skills that the knights seemed to favor, yet he was still woefully inadequate when it came to melee combat. His Patron, Ser Uldrin had promised to take time and help in his training, however he has been detained by some duty or another, and the opportunity had yet to present itself. So it was the he found himself here, at the fighting pits, at the suggestion of Wynn, his roommate. At Balian was skeptical; for the most part those that trained here were not Knights or squires, but instead mercenaries and citizens that wished to practice in the martial arts. He wasn’t sure if going to such a place would help him at all.
He saw that he was wrong almost from the moment that he got there. Both men and women were present, and more than a few showed great skill, or at least much greater skill than Balian. A match between someone wielding an axe against another with sword had had caught his eye. It seemed to him that the axemen had the advantage, he was larger and seemingly stronger, and constantly attacking, yet the swordsmen was able to hold his own against him. He knew it was a good fight, however unfortunately he could tell little else, given his lack of experience. Even so, he did his best to pay attention. Perhaps he could pick up a thing or two?
The swordsmen skill was evident. What he at first thought to be a one sided match was clearly even between the two. The axemen kept up his attack, however his foe was able to duck and weave away from most of him, and using his blade on the counter attack. He immediately saw two different attack patterns; the axemans attacks were full of power, yet they were slower than those of his opponent, having only enough time the block or parry between attacks. The Swordsman on the other hand was quicker and seemingly more precise as well, however it was spent more on evading his attacker than going on the offensive.
The fight lasted for several more chimes, but neither man seemed to be able to gain the advantage over the other and eventually they called the match a draw; both men barely able to hold their weapons upright from exhaustion. Balian tried to analyze what he had seen, seeing if there was some trick that the swordsman had used, something that he himself could do, but for the most part, he came up with nothing. Balian let out a frustrating sigh. If he wanted to get better, he had to do it by doing.
Perhaps there is some one here who could help him? For a few small coins he was sure he could find someone. He scanned the area, trying to see anyone who might be willing and able. Most of those present were already engaged in some activity or other, and not just idling about. He was just about to the man who he had just seen fight to see if he could at least give the young squire a few pointers, if not a full lesson when he spotted a woman standing by one of the walls, who had apparently been watching the same match as he.
She was tall. And lean. The first thing that came to Balians mind was an image of a wild cat, poised to strike. Even from where he stood, he could tell that this was someone who knew how to fight. Plus at her hip hung a longsword, a very similar weapon to his bastard sword that hung at his hip. He gathered his courage and made his way towards her, briefly wondering if he should have worn some indicator of his affiliation to the order. At it were he only wore the light armor that lent to him when he joined. His thoughts were cut short as he approached her.
“Ah… excuse me?” he started, keeping his voice steady, trying not to sound like a child to this intimidating woman. “I was wonder’n if you could help me with some train’en, I would be will’n to pay?”
He had brought a few coins in the case he could find someone to help him, if failing that, to at least grab some food before heading back to the dormitories
He had grown agitated by his lack of progress. Sure, his skill with the bow had improved considerably, as well as some of the other skills that the knights seemed to favor, yet he was still woefully inadequate when it came to melee combat. His Patron, Ser Uldrin had promised to take time and help in his training, however he has been detained by some duty or another, and the opportunity had yet to present itself. So it was the he found himself here, at the fighting pits, at the suggestion of Wynn, his roommate. At Balian was skeptical; for the most part those that trained here were not Knights or squires, but instead mercenaries and citizens that wished to practice in the martial arts. He wasn’t sure if going to such a place would help him at all.
He saw that he was wrong almost from the moment that he got there. Both men and women were present, and more than a few showed great skill, or at least much greater skill than Balian. A match between someone wielding an axe against another with sword had had caught his eye. It seemed to him that the axemen had the advantage, he was larger and seemingly stronger, and constantly attacking, yet the swordsmen was able to hold his own against him. He knew it was a good fight, however unfortunately he could tell little else, given his lack of experience. Even so, he did his best to pay attention. Perhaps he could pick up a thing or two?
The swordsmen skill was evident. What he at first thought to be a one sided match was clearly even between the two. The axemen kept up his attack, however his foe was able to duck and weave away from most of him, and using his blade on the counter attack. He immediately saw two different attack patterns; the axemans attacks were full of power, yet they were slower than those of his opponent, having only enough time the block or parry between attacks. The Swordsman on the other hand was quicker and seemingly more precise as well, however it was spent more on evading his attacker than going on the offensive.
The fight lasted for several more chimes, but neither man seemed to be able to gain the advantage over the other and eventually they called the match a draw; both men barely able to hold their weapons upright from exhaustion. Balian tried to analyze what he had seen, seeing if there was some trick that the swordsman had used, something that he himself could do, but for the most part, he came up with nothing. Balian let out a frustrating sigh. If he wanted to get better, he had to do it by doing.
Perhaps there is some one here who could help him? For a few small coins he was sure he could find someone. He scanned the area, trying to see anyone who might be willing and able. Most of those present were already engaged in some activity or other, and not just idling about. He was just about to the man who he had just seen fight to see if he could at least give the young squire a few pointers, if not a full lesson when he spotted a woman standing by one of the walls, who had apparently been watching the same match as he.
She was tall. And lean. The first thing that came to Balians mind was an image of a wild cat, poised to strike. Even from where he stood, he could tell that this was someone who knew how to fight. Plus at her hip hung a longsword, a very similar weapon to his bastard sword that hung at his hip. He gathered his courage and made his way towards her, briefly wondering if he should have worn some indicator of his affiliation to the order. At it were he only wore the light armor that lent to him when he joined. His thoughts were cut short as he approached her.
“Ah… excuse me?” he started, keeping his voice steady, trying not to sound like a child to this intimidating woman. “I was wonder’n if you could help me with some train’en, I would be will’n to pay?”
He had brought a few coins in the case he could find someone to help him, if failing that, to at least grab some food before heading back to the dormitories