In the Past...
"Barbarian!" cried a small boy, swinging his glaive at her wildly. "Tortallan barbarian!"
"Haven't you tired of calling me that yet?" Kel asked, her face bored as she swung the long staff with a blade on the end up and across, nicking the boy on the cheek. She had lived with the Yamanis for three years, and showing emotian was very rude in the Yamani Isles. This boy was new at court.
"No. Have the others?" Rather than explain that those that had teased her now flattered her because of her families new status, she followed through with the strike, 'the broom strikes clean.' The boy's repeat of his question fell upon deaf ears as screams tore the
silence. Nariko, the Emporor's armsmistress, raced into the room, face calm.
"Bandits from Scanra are attacking. How many can you handle?" Kel scrunched up her face. She was only seven!
"Only two." Kel admitted, ashamed. "I haven't studied with you long." Nariko nodded.
Their eyes were drawn to the door as five armed men rushed in. They looked around, their eyes taking in the tough woman and two young children. They relaxed...a fatal mistake. Nariko dashed into their midst, moving like a bolt of lightning and leaving two dead men in her wake. Kel followed more warily, using her skill and longer weapon to dispatch another soldier. An arrow took one man in the throat, leaving the two females to dispose of the remaining Scanran. The battle over, Kel and Nariko turned to stare at the boy.
"I am not as bad with a bow as with a glaive." he remarked quietly.
"I'll say." Kel was envious; she had never been skilled with a bow. "Lets go check on the rest of the battle.
Students and teacher began slowly walking towards the courtyard. The Scanran pirates had been subdued, the hidden talents of the young nobleman had been unlocked, and they had had some good glaive practice. All in all
it had been an interesting morning.
"Barbarian!" cried a small boy, swinging his glaive at her wildly. "Tortallan barbarian!"
"Haven't you tired of calling me that yet?" Kel asked, her face bored as she swung the long staff with a blade on the end up and across, nicking the boy on the cheek. She had lived with the Yamanis for three years, and showing emotian was very rude in the Yamani Isles. This boy was new at court.
"No. Have the others?" Rather than explain that those that had teased her now flattered her because of her families new status, she followed through with the strike, 'the broom strikes clean.' The boy's repeat of his question fell upon deaf ears as screams tore the
silence. Nariko, the Emporor's armsmistress, raced into the room, face calm.
"Bandits from Scanra are attacking. How many can you handle?" Kel scrunched up her face. She was only seven!
"Only two." Kel admitted, ashamed. "I haven't studied with you long." Nariko nodded.
Their eyes were drawn to the door as five armed men rushed in. They looked around, their eyes taking in the tough woman and two young children. They relaxed...a fatal mistake. Nariko dashed into their midst, moving like a bolt of lightning and leaving two dead men in her wake. Kel followed more warily, using her skill and longer weapon to dispatch another soldier. An arrow took one man in the throat, leaving the two females to dispose of the remaining Scanran. The battle over, Kel and Nariko turned to stare at the boy.
"I am not as bad with a bow as with a glaive." he remarked quietly.
"I'll say." Kel was envious; she had never been skilled with a bow. "Lets go check on the rest of the battle.
Students and teacher began slowly walking towards the courtyard. The Scanran pirates had been subdued, the hidden talents of the young nobleman had been unlocked, and they had had some good glaive practice. All in all
it had been an interesting morning.