53rd Day of Fall
Sweat dripped down Balians brow, one of many for that day. The days had already began to grow shorter and the temperature had cooled as fall progressed, however, as a squire, that had no effect on his training. It was something that his Patron, Ser Ulrin, made sure to remind him, much to the amusement of the other knights at the outpost. In fact, Balian was the only squire that currently resided at the Glynstein Master Station, just outside of Riverfall. In part this was usefull; Balian had access to a fair number of knights from whom he could learn from. However being the only squire also meant that those same knights would tease the young man, often sending him on some foolish errand that more often than not ended in roaring laughter at the dining hall. This afternoon however, he was spared such games by his Patron, who had instead decided that the day was a fine day for training.
“Up, boy!” growled the bear of a man, “Ye ain’t even ‘alf way done. Up!” Balian simply grunted as he pushed his arms out, already starting to feel the burn from the previous sets. “fifteen!” he yelled, as he completed the push up. This was usually how it went. Borr Ulrin would always start his training with either calisthenics or strength training. ‘Hardening the body’ he called it. It wasn’t until he was good and tired did the knight move on to the more martial aspects of the training. At the very least he had managed to get some practice with his bow earlier in the day. Although in truth Balian had grown accustomed to this regime.
“Gods, we’ll be here for the rest o’the season, at this rate.” Some of the nearby knights chuckled at the comment, as they went about their business. This too, he had grown accustomed to. No matter how harsh the words, Balian knew that all he had to do was look up and he would see his patron’s grin. Borr was demanding, but always in good humor. The young squire swore that nothing seemed to ever dampen it. “What, you think just because you’ve already 3 sets you can take a breather?” Borr was standing over Balian now, boots mere inches infront of him. “No, Sir!” Balian replied, as he lowered himself once more. He was sure to be quick about it, but precise, trying not to expend too much effort in it.
“Back straight!” Borr barked. Balian straightened his back.
“Lower!” Balian, lowered himself further, chest almost to the ground.
“Up!” Pushing, he extended his arms in front of him, raising his body from the ground.
“Good!” this time it was not a shout. Borr had lowered himself next to Balian, resting on the balls of his feet, arms across his knees and that ever present smile on his face. “We’ll make a man out of you yet.” he explaimed, slapping one of his heavy hands across Balians back. “Now, again!”
Sweat dripped down Balians brow, one of many for that day. The days had already began to grow shorter and the temperature had cooled as fall progressed, however, as a squire, that had no effect on his training. It was something that his Patron, Ser Ulrin, made sure to remind him, much to the amusement of the other knights at the outpost. In fact, Balian was the only squire that currently resided at the Glynstein Master Station, just outside of Riverfall. In part this was usefull; Balian had access to a fair number of knights from whom he could learn from. However being the only squire also meant that those same knights would tease the young man, often sending him on some foolish errand that more often than not ended in roaring laughter at the dining hall. This afternoon however, he was spared such games by his Patron, who had instead decided that the day was a fine day for training.
“Up, boy!” growled the bear of a man, “Ye ain’t even ‘alf way done. Up!” Balian simply grunted as he pushed his arms out, already starting to feel the burn from the previous sets. “fifteen!” he yelled, as he completed the push up. This was usually how it went. Borr Ulrin would always start his training with either calisthenics or strength training. ‘Hardening the body’ he called it. It wasn’t until he was good and tired did the knight move on to the more martial aspects of the training. At the very least he had managed to get some practice with his bow earlier in the day. Although in truth Balian had grown accustomed to this regime.
“Gods, we’ll be here for the rest o’the season, at this rate.” Some of the nearby knights chuckled at the comment, as they went about their business. This too, he had grown accustomed to. No matter how harsh the words, Balian knew that all he had to do was look up and he would see his patron’s grin. Borr was demanding, but always in good humor. The young squire swore that nothing seemed to ever dampen it. “What, you think just because you’ve already 3 sets you can take a breather?” Borr was standing over Balian now, boots mere inches infront of him. “No, Sir!” Balian replied, as he lowered himself once more. He was sure to be quick about it, but precise, trying not to expend too much effort in it.
“Back straight!” Borr barked. Balian straightened his back.
“Lower!” Balian, lowered himself further, chest almost to the ground.
“Up!” Pushing, he extended his arms in front of him, raising his body from the ground.
“Good!” this time it was not a shout. Borr had lowered himself next to Balian, resting on the balls of his feet, arms across his knees and that ever present smile on his face. “We’ll make a man out of you yet.” he explaimed, slapping one of his heavy hands across Balians back. “Now, again!”
