4th of Summer| Antinous Training Grounds
Plate armor was miserable in the summer. That was all Imellion could think about as she strode alongside her patron through the training grounds. Heavy on a normal day, in this humid heat, her armor felt like a cage all its own. Not even a nice display cage, but one of the punishment cages. Sealed shut with no ventilation. She shuddered, then grimaced at the cold slimy feel of sweat on the small of her back.
Sera Lyonia seemed unfazed. Her cane rapped the stone in as sharp a fashion as any other time, hair impeccable, and armor as crisp as if she had just stepped out of a story. She carried a shield, much larger than the one Imellion held, and a longsword sheathed at her side.
"Now Imellion," Lyonia began, not even turning her head, "You are rather small for a knight, and most of your opponents will be larger than you."
Even in training, that had been the case, Imellion thought. Sometimes much larger. Her mentor continued.
"That means you will likely lose your weapon or shield. It happens to many," Lyonia paused at a training ring and set down her sword, hefting her shield in front of her. "And such, always carry a dagger just in case, but even without, you still hold a shield. Put down your sword."
Imellion tilted her head and stared for a few moments, but unbuckled the sword belt and leaned it against the fence. Now she held only her shield in her left hand, and without the blade in her right, she felt vulnerable. Exposed. Not something she liked at all. She found herself moving the shield farther to her right as well. She stopped and moved it back to her left.
"Stop!" Lyonia snapped, and Imellion froze. "You were correct initially. When your right side is exposed by a lack of a blade, you must compensate with the shield. Now, move into the ring." The older woman moved into the ring, hefting her shield and unsheathing the sword.
Imellion watched her, but hefted the shield again and moved into the ring opposite her. How was she supposed to do this? Just avoid taking hits? Keep blocking? Dodge them?
"Think of your shield as a weapon, Imellion," Lyonia was moving now, circling her, towards Imellion's right side. Imellion moved again to get the shield between her and the sword. "Not just as a defense. Try and get past my defense."
With a shield? How? It wasn't meant for that. She lifted it a little higher and walked forward.
"Good," Lyonia called, "Get inside sword range, but quick footwork. Not a walk. Think of it like a dance. Square perpendicular to your opponent."
"I don't know how to dance," Imellion answered after a moment as she twisted so her side faced Lyonia. The other woman froze in surprise at the comment, but started moving again.
"We'll teach you that too," Lyonia darted forward and lunged forward with the longsword. Imellion raised her shield. The sword and shield clashed, and Imellion held it solid, filling the air with a resounding crash.
Then the two backed up to circle again.
"Deflect the blade next time," Lyonia added, "Deflect and counter-attack."
That made more sense.
Sera Lyonia seemed unfazed. Her cane rapped the stone in as sharp a fashion as any other time, hair impeccable, and armor as crisp as if she had just stepped out of a story. She carried a shield, much larger than the one Imellion held, and a longsword sheathed at her side.
"Now Imellion," Lyonia began, not even turning her head, "You are rather small for a knight, and most of your opponents will be larger than you."
Even in training, that had been the case, Imellion thought. Sometimes much larger. Her mentor continued.
"That means you will likely lose your weapon or shield. It happens to many," Lyonia paused at a training ring and set down her sword, hefting her shield in front of her. "And such, always carry a dagger just in case, but even without, you still hold a shield. Put down your sword."
Imellion tilted her head and stared for a few moments, but unbuckled the sword belt and leaned it against the fence. Now she held only her shield in her left hand, and without the blade in her right, she felt vulnerable. Exposed. Not something she liked at all. She found herself moving the shield farther to her right as well. She stopped and moved it back to her left.
"Stop!" Lyonia snapped, and Imellion froze. "You were correct initially. When your right side is exposed by a lack of a blade, you must compensate with the shield. Now, move into the ring." The older woman moved into the ring, hefting her shield and unsheathing the sword.
Imellion watched her, but hefted the shield again and moved into the ring opposite her. How was she supposed to do this? Just avoid taking hits? Keep blocking? Dodge them?
"Think of your shield as a weapon, Imellion," Lyonia was moving now, circling her, towards Imellion's right side. Imellion moved again to get the shield between her and the sword. "Not just as a defense. Try and get past my defense."
With a shield? How? It wasn't meant for that. She lifted it a little higher and walked forward.
"Good," Lyonia called, "Get inside sword range, but quick footwork. Not a walk. Think of it like a dance. Square perpendicular to your opponent."
"I don't know how to dance," Imellion answered after a moment as she twisted so her side faced Lyonia. The other woman froze in surprise at the comment, but started moving again.
"We'll teach you that too," Lyonia darted forward and lunged forward with the longsword. Imellion raised her shield. The sword and shield clashed, and Imellion held it solid, filling the air with a resounding crash.
Then the two backed up to circle again.
"Deflect the blade next time," Lyonia added, "Deflect and counter-attack."
That made more sense.
Textbox by Aydel
