Solo Bitter Taste

[Alexander Faircroft]

49th Summer 516AV
10AM

Description "Alex Common" Alex thoughts "Myrian" "Fratava" "Others"

Alex stood opposite the training dummy, his hand firmly wrapped around the scabbard of his bastard sword, the other upon the handle. During his days and weeks of training Alex had only really thought about one thing and one thing. The Initial Confrontation. That moment when Weapons are brandished against one. It had occurred to him that he should work on something that could be incredibly useful should he not have his own blade drawn. A fast draw technique. Something where he could aim it from his scabbard. Useful should he be caught without a blade in hand as some were predisposed to do. Leading with his right foot he Took his usual stance however his body was more turned away from the dummy almost side on. He was used to swinging his blade by this point however this was an entirely new avenue. He stared straight on at the dummy his fingers motioned lightly flexing, testing his grip. Then it happened the blade streaked from the leather and wood and across the dummy’s torso. The blade biting deep with a long arc into the wood. The draw was fast enough but felt somewhat inaccurate.

Shifting his stances Alex twisted into the strike with his left foot leading, his upper body not moving. In an odd semi twisted stance he stood there taking a moment to breathe. Like lightning striking twice the sword snapped out of its scabbard. Striking across the dummy in a slightly more horizontal motion and a much faster and broader arc. Something about this told Alex it was possibly more beneficial to do it from the other side. Should he get the opportunity this would be better for instant incapacitation strikes. Much like cutting deep into the flash or severing tendons.

Sighing he slipped the blade back into the scabbard again. Something lingering in the back of his mind. A point quickly snapped out of by the appearance of someone he recognized. Cameron. The happy go lucky squire was one he’d earned some respect with a little earlier in the season. He hand’t expected to see him here but never the less it was good that he did and it also meant that he could get some dagger practice in. After all that would possibly be the best use of weapon for a situation he was unprepared for.

“Cameron, fancy a quick training session?” Alex asked with a calm manner. Cameron simply smiled and spoke curtly.
“Sure, first though d’ya know about any people in black robes? One just slipped a message into your room for ya.” The colour drained from Alex’s face faster than it had any right too. Alex let go of the hilt of his blade and bolted off. So fast he was either in a blind panic or he really needed the bathroom. Given the fact he’d simply not said a word to Cameron and just ran, it was likely panic.

[Alexander Faircroft]

Description "Alex Common" Alex thoughts "Myrian" "Fratava" "Others"

Damned near kicking the door off of it’s hinges as he pushed into the open room. His three roommates sat around a table playing a game of Knights bluff.
“Letter. Where.” The calm composed demeanour of Alex had almost completely dissolved, and now stood a man ready to slice open a man or at least cause him serious discomfort. One of then stabbed a thumb towards Alex’s bunk and then went back to the game. A little more rattled than before.

Pushing the door in Alex saw the letter, the white parchment tied with black string like the others had been. Sitting before him the letter simply seemed sinister. Almost malicious. Closing and reopening his eyes Alex leered at where the letter was, a small Black flower rising from the parchment. The “sight beyond sight” only lasted a few seconds for him to get the gist of it. This was something of an ill omen but one ne needed to see for himself. Loosing the string with a slow pull almost like he expected the letter itself to bite him. No instead the letter rolled open and onto the bed before him another sigil for his necklace sat. A piece of Zebra wood carved into an intricate flame. Along the longest of the licking flames was carved the name Ivak. Pocking the small piece of wood Alex lifted the letter. Was this just a hoax from his roommates and the other squires or was this the genuine article from the people who’d been watching him and tailing his father. And supposedly killed his father? A single glance at the penmanship told him it was the same as the prior two letters he’d received. And that meant that this letter was possibly the worst thing he’d received to date, this season at least.

[Alexander Faircroft]

Description "Alex Common" Alex thoughts "Myrian" "Fratava" "Others"

Pleasure to be speaking to you again Alex.
How’s the training going? Try not to over exert yourself working so many hours and sleeping so little, it’s bad for your health.
Alas I must admit it’s somewhat admirable to see the son surpass the father. SO would you like the good news or the bad news?
Ah I know you well enough by now you want the bad news. Well that’s a shame because the bad news is that were not so much interested in you any more, shame isn’t it?
No more of our loving guidance, ah we know you’ll miss us. Onto the good news well mostly for us. Turns out, dear old dad is alive and well. Working in a little scum soaked cesspool known as Kenash. And it’s only a little ways away from you.
So how about it sport?

You wanna go and reunite with daddy? Learn from your old man why he ditched you himself? Or perhaps you just wanna release that pent up aggression and daddy issues. Either way I know one thing sonny. Odds are you won’t find him before we do. Still game on eh?

Toodles, until we meet face to face.
Kraven Edge.

Alex dropped the parchment onto the bed. A look os disbelief and shock on his face and yet just beneath the surface, almost untold anger. A brimming hatred and fury. Not just at being told that his father was alive, but that he was right in being abandoned. He wasn’t just left in Syliras to keep himsafe. No he was left there because he was a liability a burden. With a single string of thought, Alex pushed all of his even remotely fond memories to the back of his mind, the moments of anguish and pain rising to the front. Each one cutting like a jagged knife into Alex’s confidence. His fists curled so tight he could feel the steel creaking and scraping against itself.

He wanted to scream to let loose his anger. To just let fly two years of abandonment and five long years of abuse and squalor. And the fifteen years of utter disparity and scorn. With a single motion he hit the door, the wood creaking and groaning from the impact but unyielding. Alex fumed but focused harder. Thirty chimes of fuming passed before Alex emerged from the room. A look of steeled resolution and anger on his face. He was going to have to ask to get some personal time. He needed it. And the only person he could ask for it was out for the day. So he’d bite his tongue bide his time and quietly simmer on the fact that to his own father he was nothing more than a burden.

[Ball]

Skipped due to being retired.