~"Haha!" She laughed, clapping her hands together with glee, "You're pretty good!"~
Gilan noticed Will seemed a little too relaxed shooting arrows at pinecones with Maia.
He was sitting running a stone down the edge of his sword after a practice session with Horace when he glanced quizzically at the apprentice ranger who was now shooting arrows at a non-moving target. Maia having left him only moments ago.
Her sudden breath on his neck did nothing for his concentration. "I know that look, Gil," she breathed, "what's going on in that pretty little head, hmm?" She asked in a hushed whisper.
"Has Halt shown you the double knife sword defense yet?" He asked suddenly hopping to his feet and shooting a half hearted glare at the smirking girl.
"The double knife... what?" He asked uncertainly. A smile grew on her face as Gilan sighed.
"Sword defense. Damn! I should have realized there'd be more for us to do. Serves us right for taking two apprentices along," he sighed with another half hearted glare. She hopped to her feet lightly, motioning for Will to follow. He did, however, puzzled.
The three walked to the small clearing where he and Horace had been practicing earlier. Horace still there, was making shadow lunges and cuts at an invisible foe.
"Right, Horace," Gilan called, "Take a break."
Gratefully, Horace complied lowering his sword and sinking onto the trunk of a fallen tree.
"I think I'm getting the feel of it," he said. Gilan nodded approvingly.
"Good for you," she smiled.
"Another three or four years and you might just have it mastered, " Gilan said cheerfully. Horace's face dropped at the prospect of the long years ahead stretched out before him.
"Look on the bright side, Horace," Gilan said. "By that time, there'd be less than a handful of swordsman in the kingdom who could best you in a duel."
Horace's face brightened somewhat then sagged once more as Maia added: "The trick is knowing who those handful are... be mighty uncomfortable if you accidentally challenged one of them and then found out, wouldn't it?"
Gilan then turned to the boy with a small grin. "Now, Will, let's see those knives of yours."
Horace found it quite amusing (and somewhat alarming) how she perked up at just the mere mention of knives.
"Both of them?"
The two older ranger looked to eachother rolling their eyes to heaven. The expression was remarkably like the one Halt used after Will had asked one too many questions.
"Sorry," the apprentice mumbled unsheathing his knives and holding them out to the Rangers.
Gilan didn't take one, merely examined the edges and checked for the fine layer of rust-proof oil. Maia on the other hand, took one, examining it closely before tossing it in the air and catching it with practised ease.
"Right," she said, handing it back at the annoyed look from Gilan.
"Saxe knife goes in your right hand, because that's the one you block a sword cut-"
Will interrupted with a frown, "Why would I need to block a sword cut?"
Maia raised an amused eyebrow as Gilan rapped him none too gently on the top of his head. "Well, perhaps to stop it from splitting your skull might be a good reason."
"But Halt says rangers don't fight at close quarters," Will protested.
Maia shrugged as Gilan nodded in agreement. "It's certainly not our role. But, if the occasion arises when we have to, it's a good idea to know how to go about it."
"You don't think a little knife like that is going to stop a proper sword do you?" Horace interrupted a tad scornfully.
Gilan raised an eyebrow looking to the boy.
"Take a closer look at that 'little knife' before you sound so certain," Maia regarded him calmly though Gilan could see the insult behind it. She had a strange affection for knives. All sorts.
"It's heavy," he said finally after swinging the knife experimentally.
"And hard. Very, very hard," Gilan told him. "Ranger knives are made by craftsmen who've perfected the art of hardening steel to an amazing degree."
"You'd blunt your sword edge against that, and barely leave a nick on it," Maia added with a smirk.
"Even so, you've been teaching me the idea of movement and leverage all week." Horace said. "There's a lot less leverage in a short blade like this."
"That's true," Gilan confirmed. "So we have to find another source of leverage, don't we?"
"And that's the shorter knife. The throwing knife." Maia smirked triumphantly.
"I don't get it." Horace admitted, the frown deepening between his eyebrows.
She noticed Will's knowing look and nudged Gilan with a smirk.
"Well, perhaps Will could explain it for you?" Gilan said pleasantly. Maia smiled sweetly.
Will hesitated, "Well... it's the... ah... um... the two knife defense," he stammered. There was a long pause and neither of the rangers said a word. "Isn't it?"
"Of course it is!" Gilan replied, "Now would you like to demonstrate?"
Maia took over leaving Will no time to answer, "We thought not. So, please, allow me."
She took Will's saxe knife and withdrew her own throwing knife from its sheath. She then gestured to Horace's sword with the smaller knife.
"Right then," Gilan said, businesses again, "Pick up your sticker.
Horace did so doubtfully. Gilan gestured for him to join Maia who was smiling evilly twirling the knives in her hands. As she took a steady stance Horace did the same, however reluctantly.
"Try an overhand cut," Gilan suggested crossing his arms over his chest.
"But..." Horace gestured unhappily to Maia and her set of daggers.
"Just do the overhand cut. Dammit!" She snapped angrily.
"When will you two learn?" Gilan sighed.
"But she-"
"We know what were doing. Get on with it!"
He actually shouted the last words at Horace who galvanized into action. His sword swung in a murderous overhand cut at Maia's head.
A ringing clash of steel and the blade stopped dead in the air. Maia had crossed the two ranger knives in front of it, the throwing knife supporting the saxe knife blade, and blocked the cut easily. Horace stepped back, surprised.
"See?" Gilan said, shaking his head at the smug satisfaction on Maia's face. "The smaller knife provides the support, or the extra leverage, for the bigger weapon." He addressed these remarks mainly to Will who looked on with great interest.
"Right," Maia stated, "Upper hand cut, please."
Horace took a breath obviously still not pleased he was 'attacking' Maia. He swung. Maia locked the two blades once more, blocking the stroke.
She glanced at Will, who nodded with a small smile.
"Sidecut," Gilan ordered gently.
Horace swung again. Again the sword was stopped cold.
"Getting the idea," the two rangers asked in unison glancing to each other with an amused smirk.
"Yes... what about a straight thrust?"
Gilan nodded approvingly. "Good question. That's a little different." He turned back to Horace. "Incidentally, if your ever facing a man using two knives, thrusting is your safest and most effective form of attack. Now, thrust, please."
Horace lunged with the point of his sword. His right foot lead the way in a high-stepping stamp to deliver extra momentum. This time, Maia used only the saxe knife to deflect the blade, sending it gliding past her body with a slithering of steel.
"We can't stop this one," she explained, "so we simply deflect it."
"On the positive side," Gilan added, "there's less force behind a thrust, so we can just use the saxe knife."
Horace had stumbled forward, meeting no resistance to the thrust deflected by the blade.
Instantly, Maia's left hand was gripping a handful of his shirt and had pulled him closer, until their shoulders were almsot touching. It happened so quickly. So calmly. Horace's eyes widened in surprise. "And this is where a short blade becomes ever so handy indeed." Maia pointed out, miming an under arm thrust into Horace's exposed side.
"And of course, if you don't want to kill him-"
"-or if he's wearing a mail shirt," Gilan added.
"-you can always use the saxe blade to cripple him." She mimed a short swing to the back of Horace's knee. The blade was only a few inches from his leg.
Horace gulped.
"Or remember," Gilan added cheerfully, "that left hand, holding his collar, also has a rather nasty, rather sharp stabbing blade attached to it." Maia waggled the short broad bladed throwing knife to being their attention.
"A quick thrust up under the jaw and its good night swords-man," Maia said.
Will shook his head in admiration, "That's amazing!" He breathed, "I've never seen anything like it."
Maia released Horace's shirt. The boy stepped back quickly... before any more demonstrations of his vulnerability might be made.
"We don't make a lot of noise about it," she admitted brushing a stray hair behind her ear.
"It's preferable to run into a swordsman who doesn't know the dangers of the double knife defense," Gilan said before glancing apologetically at Horace. "Naturally it's taught at the kingdoms Battleschool," he added, "but it's a second year subject. Sir Rodney would have shown you next year."
Will stepped forward onto the practice ground. "Can I try it?" She smiled at his eagerness.
"Of course," she said laughing and handing him his saxe blade.
"You two may as well practice together in the evenings from now on, but not with real weapons. Cut some practice sticks to use." Gilan said.
Horace nodded at the wisdom. "That"s right, Will. After all your just starting to learn this and I wouldn't want to hurt you." He paused a grin over coming his features, "Well not too badly anyway."
"That's one reason, of course, but we also don't have time for you to be resharpening your sword every night," Gilan smiled glancing meaningfully down at Horace's blade.
She couldnt help but laugh as the apprentice left out a low moan. There were two deep nicks in the edge of his blade. They were obviously from the over and upper hand cuts that Maia had blocked. She flashed a smile.
One look from Gil told the young apprentice he'd spend at least an hour honing and sharpening the blade to get rid of them.
He looked questioningly to the saxe knife. No doubt hoping for the same result.
Maia shook her head cheerfully as Will handed him the blade. "Not a mark," she grinned
"Remember I told you that ranger knives are specially made," Gil grinned.
Horace grumbled to himself as he rummaged about for his sharpening steel. He sat down on the handpicked sand and began to draw it along the edge.
Maia smirked, stripping off her second layer so she wore only her loose fitting green tunic and brown belt and breeches... not to mention her favorite boots.
"Maia... Gilan?" Will asked. They looked to him. "I've been thinking..."
"Oh dear," she smiled.
Gilan shook his head in mock despair, "Always a problem... And what, pray tell, have you been thinking?"
"Well," the boy began slowly, "this double knife buisness is all well and good." He snuck a look at a serious looking Maia. "...but wouldn't it be better to shoot the swordsman before he got to close quarters?"
"Well...yes," Maia shrugged.
"It certainly would," Gilan agreed patiently, "But what if you were about to do that and your bowstring broke?"
"I could run and hide," Will suggested.
Maia pressed him, "What if there were nowhere to run? You're trapped against a sheer cliff. Nowhere to go, your bowstring just broke, and a swordsman is coming at you. What then?"
Will shook his head, "I suppose then I have to fight," he admitted however reluctantly.
"Exactly," Gilan agreed. "We avoid close combat wherever possible. But if the time comes when there's no othe choice, it's a good idea to be prepared, isn't it?"
"I guess," Will said.
Then Horace chimed in, "What about an axman?"
Both Gilan and Maia looked nonplussed for a moment. "An axman?"
"Yes," Horace continued, warming up to his theme, "What about if your facing an enemy with a battle ax? Do your knives work then?"
Gilan looked to Maia hesitantly. "I wouldn't advise anyone to face a battle ax with just two knives," she began carefully.
"So what should I do?" Will asked. Gilan shigted his glare from one boy to the other. He had the feeling they were being set up.
"Shoot him," he said.
Will grinned, "Can't my bowstring is broken."
"Then run and hide," Gilan said through gritted teeth.
"But theres a cliff," Horace pointed out. Gilan glared at Maia. She shrugged as Horace continued, "A sheer drop behind him and an angry axman coming at him."
"What do I do?" Will prompted.
"Throw a dagger in his eye," Maia deadpanned, "And don't you dare miss."
"What if I do?" Will asked.
Maia glared.
Gilan took a deep breath and looked them in the eye, one after the other. "Jump off the cliff. It'll be less messy that way."
The boys gasped as Gilan stepped out of the clearing back to the camp. Maia sighed, clapping Will on the shoulder as she went after him.