Zev thread prompt: involve Zevran in a specialization other than Assassin.
So a tiny spoiler for my fic, but the prompt this week made me think about how the children's early lessons would go.
Antivan Evening
Shadows crept and lengthened as the sun dipped below the trees, the musky scent of jasmine filled the humid air and in the twilight courtyard Zevran corrected Raelin's stance again.
"No, set your feet thus." He demonstrated, again. "Your balance is better and it's easier to evade a thrust when you aren't square to your opponent." His tanned hands closed gently over his daughter's small fists as she tried to bring her blunted rapier to a ready position. "Feel the way your weight moves, use footwork, not force, to carry your attack. Your advantage is lightness and speed, deft maneuvers and balance. If you try a contest of strength you will lose. Now, again!" He smiled and retreated a few steps, watching his daughter try to implement his words in her coltish, pre-adolescent body. It would be a few years yet, before she was able to use more than the most basic of the skills he taught, but every bit she mastered made her less vulnerable.
Raelin pressed an attack as he brought his dagger up to block her swings. Two steps, three, she lost her pattern, foiled by his unexpected parry. With a twist of his weapon he sent her rapier sailing in the air and caught it with his left hand.
"No fair, dad. I don't know that one yet." She paused her green eyes alight. "Will you show me?"
"All's fair in war. Do you think an attacker will fail to press you if you flail about and tell him you don't know his tricks?" His voice was soft, teasing; none of the harsh correction a Crow Master should give a pupil. Already he was handing her back the weapon and demonstrating the quick twist of his wrist Isabela had shown him so many years ago. Small hands followed his instructions, repeating the precise movement. He nodded in praise and dropped back to a ready stance.
They danced across the courtyard, his sallies designed to test her growing abilities and push her to greater speed. A subtle movement from the shadows alerted him a moment before a gout of flame flashed in the dim light. Eyes closed, he was already moving in the shadows before his eldest daughter could change positions.
"Very clever, light to destroy night vision, it might work on some opponents." He set blunt edged dagger to his adopted daughter's throat.
Mei, golden-haired and something a bit more than human, giggled.
He shifted and caught Raelin's hand as she blurred out of the shadows to press her attack in his distraction.
He laughed. "Lesson over, working together like that, you two will be the death of me. Let's see if we can sneak up on your mother."
More giggles erupted behind him as he again sought the concealment of shadow. Rae was a wraith behind him, blending in the night as comfortably as he did. Mei was credibly silent for a mage, but to his attuned senses she might as well have been an armored knight.
They found Aithne, seated cross-legged on the park-like lawn surrounding the villa, with Leif, their young son, mirroring her stillness as she spoke quietly. "Reach out and feel the life around you, feel the essence of the rabbit and call her to you."
"Want a wolf, not a rabbit. Rabbit's don't fight."
"When you can call a rabbit, we can talk about a wolf. It's the same talent, but you must master it before you call on a creature that may view you as dinner. Now think of the rabbit, nervous, hiding in her burrow. She can smell the Mabari; tell her not to be afraid. Insist she come, don't simply ask. Summon her to you." Aithne's voice wove a trance around the slender child, only just old enough to start to learn her skills.
Zevran waved the girls to remain where they were, afraid of disrupting the lesson.
Some minutes later, a small rabbit emerged from a nearby burrow and hesitantly hopped over to the child. Even in the uncertain light of dusk, Zevran could see the look of pride and delight on his son's face as the child lifted the furry body into his lap and stroked the twitching nose. He exchanged a smile with his Dalish lady, a mere flash of teeth as dusk sped toward evening.
"Time to go in. Let her go and you can call her another night." Aithne gave her son an affectionate pat on the head as she rose.
Leif released the rabbit to hop off and stood to be swept into his fathers arms. "You'll make a ranger yet, my lad." Zevran found a ticklish spot and the child dissolved into peals of laughter as the family walked back to the villa, silent Mabari guarding their retreat.