26th Day of Spring, 514 AV
"Alright lad, I've got something special planned for you today," Crowe stroked his beard as he led Bitt through the Stormhold Citadel, "How's your shoulder by the way, lad?" A seed of worry began to sprout within Bitt; he was certain that Crowe was well informed regarding his shoulder, which had recovered several days ago. The young squire hesitantly answered;
"Very well, Ser Crowe."
"Very good lad, very good; you'll be needing it!" Bitt was convinced that he was being teased... Crowe had a tendency to do that. The older knight would try to make him overly excited, or overly worried, just to throw him into something deceptively mundane. It was irritating to no end! Bitt slightly craned his neck and studied his patron's face, as if to try and discern a clue from his expression; naturally, no such hint was found.
Well... I suppose I shouldn't be surprised by anything Crowe does any more.
The young squire sighed softly to himself, returning his attention back to the space ahead of him. He had a vague sense they here heading in the general direction of the Antinous Training Grounds, but he couldn't be certain; his sense of direction was still shaky at best.
The pair continued in silence, passing the occasional knight, squire or steward. As ticks turned to chimes, Bitt's confidence in regards to their destination grew substantially; this was definitely the way to the training grounds.
I definitely recognise that archway!
Proud of himself for making the correct assumption, a grin tugged at the corner of his lips, and there was a notable change in his stride, each step radiated an aura of certainty. Noticing this, Crowe couldn't help but comment;
"Need to use the privy lad?" Bitt flushed in embarrassment, resumed his earlier pace, and Crowe chuckled at his own humour. Despite everything, Bitt was never angry when Crowe made sport with him, they were just jokes after all, and he loved jokes. No, what frustrated him was that he was unsure if it was okay for him to make gibes at his patron's expense... he suspected it wouldn't be.
I'll definitely have to pay him back some day though.
The thought served to placate Bitt, who immersed himself in the imaginary pranks he would undoubtedly play on his patron... eventually.
Finally, both Bitt and Crowe emerged from the interior of The Stormhold Citadel onto The Antinous Training Grounds. The wide, open space was one of Bitt's favourite places, along with the Windmount Stables. The young squire inhaled deeply, and exhaled with a sigh of content.
Fresh air!
The stuffy corridors of Syliras' interior carried with them an unpleasant odour. Bitt was starting to get used to it, a fact he wasn't entirely pleased with; nonetheless he still loved his opportunities to get outside. There was something liberating about being under the sky as opposed to surrounded by stone.
"Alright lad, let's not sit here twiddling our thumbs all day. Follow me." Crowe allowed Bitt a couple of ticks to enjoy the moment, but they had work to do. Bitt nodded his head and turned to follow his patron out onto the grounds, convinced that a painstaking day was inevitable.
"Yes, Ser Crowe."
"So tell me lad, what do you think?" Both Bitt and his patron had ventured further out onto the training grounds than the young squire ever had before. Now, tucked away in one of its far corners, Crowe gestured towards a series of odd structures arranged in a straight line. What appeared to be a small section of wall with a rope hanging from it was the largest among them.
What is all this?!?
Bitt's mouth hung slightly ajar, his arms hung limply at his sides, and he was stunned into an awe-inspired silence. Crowe couldn't help but chuckle at the sight.
"Speechless ey, lad? I'd have thought you'd be a bit more excited." It took a few ticks, but Bitt eventually found his tongue. Without tearing his eyes away from the strange looking constructs, the squire asked;
"What is this Ser Crowe?"
"Well, officially it's called The Course... but a lot of people have their own little nicknames for it. We use it to help knights get used to more complicated movements while wearing their armour." At his patron's words, Bitt couldn't help but feel very concious of his own chain mail and plate;
"So does that mean-"
"Yes lad, you're going to run it."
"Very well, Ser Crowe."
"Very good lad, very good; you'll be needing it!" Bitt was convinced that he was being teased... Crowe had a tendency to do that. The older knight would try to make him overly excited, or overly worried, just to throw him into something deceptively mundane. It was irritating to no end! Bitt slightly craned his neck and studied his patron's face, as if to try and discern a clue from his expression; naturally, no such hint was found.
Well... I suppose I shouldn't be surprised by anything Crowe does any more.
The young squire sighed softly to himself, returning his attention back to the space ahead of him. He had a vague sense they here heading in the general direction of the Antinous Training Grounds, but he couldn't be certain; his sense of direction was still shaky at best.
The pair continued in silence, passing the occasional knight, squire or steward. As ticks turned to chimes, Bitt's confidence in regards to their destination grew substantially; this was definitely the way to the training grounds.
I definitely recognise that archway!
Proud of himself for making the correct assumption, a grin tugged at the corner of his lips, and there was a notable change in his stride, each step radiated an aura of certainty. Noticing this, Crowe couldn't help but comment;
"Need to use the privy lad?" Bitt flushed in embarrassment, resumed his earlier pace, and Crowe chuckled at his own humour. Despite everything, Bitt was never angry when Crowe made sport with him, they were just jokes after all, and he loved jokes. No, what frustrated him was that he was unsure if it was okay for him to make gibes at his patron's expense... he suspected it wouldn't be.
I'll definitely have to pay him back some day though.
The thought served to placate Bitt, who immersed himself in the imaginary pranks he would undoubtedly play on his patron... eventually.
Finally, both Bitt and Crowe emerged from the interior of The Stormhold Citadel onto The Antinous Training Grounds. The wide, open space was one of Bitt's favourite places, along with the Windmount Stables. The young squire inhaled deeply, and exhaled with a sigh of content.
Fresh air!
The stuffy corridors of Syliras' interior carried with them an unpleasant odour. Bitt was starting to get used to it, a fact he wasn't entirely pleased with; nonetheless he still loved his opportunities to get outside. There was something liberating about being under the sky as opposed to surrounded by stone.
"Alright lad, let's not sit here twiddling our thumbs all day. Follow me." Crowe allowed Bitt a couple of ticks to enjoy the moment, but they had work to do. Bitt nodded his head and turned to follow his patron out onto the grounds, convinced that a painstaking day was inevitable.
"Yes, Ser Crowe."
"So tell me lad, what do you think?" Both Bitt and his patron had ventured further out onto the training grounds than the young squire ever had before. Now, tucked away in one of its far corners, Crowe gestured towards a series of odd structures arranged in a straight line. What appeared to be a small section of wall with a rope hanging from it was the largest among them.
What is all this?!?
Bitt's mouth hung slightly ajar, his arms hung limply at his sides, and he was stunned into an awe-inspired silence. Crowe couldn't help but chuckle at the sight.
"Speechless ey, lad? I'd have thought you'd be a bit more excited." It took a few ticks, but Bitt eventually found his tongue. Without tearing his eyes away from the strange looking constructs, the squire asked;
"What is this Ser Crowe?"
"Well, officially it's called The Course... but a lot of people have their own little nicknames for it. We use it to help knights get used to more complicated movements while wearing their armour." At his patron's words, Bitt couldn't help but feel very concious of his own chain mail and plate;
"So does that mean-"
"Yes lad, you're going to run it."