AN: I have to mention Georgette Heyer's 'Regency Buck' as I couldn't have written the second scene of this chapter half so well without her inspiration.
Chapter 11
Now that Guy was a squire he was given a new uniform. It was simply a jacket and trousers with a working coat for outdoor use made entirely of black leather. Guy wondered why the tanners had been given this much patronage. But put it on regardless.
The first time he walked into the Sheriff's presence in this new garb, instantly, there was a change in the atmosphere. The Sheriff's eyes raked all over him, lingering on his body. He'd never been looked at like that and he felt sick. He was sure it was wrong.
Guy had yet to feel the necessity of the opposite sex and he was almost fifteen. He had little comprehension of lust or desire and to be on the receiving end of lecherous eyes of none other than his own master, who was over twenty years his senior, made him extremely uncomfortable to say the least.
Their relationship had eased into one that was almost of father and son. Although it was a twisted one with no love or real affection, in fact one with an extreme indifference to each others pain. However, there was a strong bond and was definitely becoming unhealthy.
Thus, Guy grew up, not forgetting his early childhood with his parents, but very much leaving it behind mentally. He rarely dwelled on the past, although at first he did and could not help it. Guy soon learned not to. In comparing the happy life before with the one he had now achieved nothing and caused unnecessary anguish.
After these some five years in Vaizey's service his 'life before' seemed an eternity ago. Guy was sure that his past remained within him to some extent; his character and opinions had been shaped by those experiences and in this way, to Vaizey, he was not fully under his wing.
However, Guy he knew he was beginning as Vaizey wanted: to let go of his 'foolish hopes and dreams of ever returning to Gisborne'. He knew things would never go back to the way they were.
But on the plus side, he had led a very provincial life in Gisborne, being connected to the Earl the likelihood of actual power was much more probable, especially when joined to an Earl like Vaizey, who was power crazed to the point of near obsession, especially with the idea of becoming Sheriff of Nottingham. The lust to one day dictate over the larger more populated near by county was constantly in his mind.
The world was opening up to Guy, or at least to the Earl of Leicester, and in turn as he was frequently reminded, benefited him. Letting go of the idea that someone was magically going to arrive unexpectedly and take him home was hard to accept and with the acceptance came with it the death of his childish optimism. Guy stopped thinking about religion so much.
……………….
One day in March the Sheriff thought he was ready. Vaizey wanted a return on his investment – so he arranged for his Master of Arm's, Godfrey, to take Guy out twice a week to practice sword fighting and combat.
He had told Godfrey of his strategy and warned him not to go easy on the boy as it would be counterproductive. Godfrey, a simple man of few words understood the Sheriff and agreed on this matter, he in fact, would have been honoured to have received such training when he was young.
It was similar to bear baiting. The idea was to insight an opponent in order to get them to fight with purpose, aggression and real necessity. Although, in reality, it meant a lot of pain for the one receiving the training.
It was all part of the Sheriff's plan to toughen him up and get him used to real combat. In an actual fight anything to gain the upper hand was allowed, and so instead of having a formal lesson; Guy's lessons were timetabled fights to the deaths, as it were.
There had been a few close shaves; the whole point of this type of training was to encourage aggression and the ability to fight better out of necessity and danger. Therefore, Guy had to raise his abilities very quickly in order to not sustain serious injuries each week.
Guy very quickly improved, and the Sheriff informed by Godfrey of his improvement came to watch his progress. Today was such a day. The fight, as usual, was taking place in the main private courtyard, where on the less fortunate days peasants were hung from the scaffold.
For about a minute the two sparred cautiously. Then Godfrey made play to the left and right testing the boy's reactions. They were merely flourishing and warming up. A brisk rally followed. Godfrey put in a blow to the throat and Guy fell.
He got up and setting at the Master of Arms immediately another brisk rally followed. Godfrey skilfully lunged using a stab of his wooden sword at Guy's leg as a decoy to put in a good right punch to his face. So, Guy drew the first blood at the mouth. But he recovered his wits and returned to the fight like lightning.
Some quick fighting followed at half arm. All parries were blocked. To any observer their fight might have looked like a vicious Morris dancing practice. The loud wooden clatters made the similarity possible.
To break the deadlock Godfrey aimed a potent kick a Guy's shin and it struck home. Guy grimaced in pain and after a fierce struggle Godfrey aided by his superior weight threw Guy across buttock, slamming him into contact with the floor.
Godfrey it appeared was getting the best of it. He had tremendous brute strength and a marked ferocity. But Guy was generally quicker and his youth would come into importance later in the fight.
Guy doubled in pain as a thrust of Godfrey's wooden sword plunged into his stomach. He pushed Godfrey away when he approached to finish him off. Godfrey stuttered backwards but kept his legs and rushed in again.
For one and a half minutes there was some quick fierce fighting and Godfrey aiming at Guy's head drew more blood. By this stage both Godfrey and Guy's chests were heaving with the exertion and sweat was pouring off them. Godfrey must win, the small audience that had gathered to watch reckoned, he had the all the success so far and looked very strong. Guy on the other hand felt he could mill the man yet.
Godfrey's hits to the face hurt but had not beaten him, it was the body blows that truly finished a man off. Both rallied enthusiastically but Godfrey was now slowing. Guy was able to swing his sword at his ankles. The hit fully on target made Godfrey fall to a sitting position and he was becoming distressed; Guy was if possible more energetic.
He hit Godfrey in his weakened position to maintain his advantage. Then wildly lunged again but this time Godfrey was ready for the attack and evaded it.
Godfrey deflected a couple more blows but came down immediately by a terrific blow to the neck. Godfrey stubbornly got to his feet. He had his arm out to balance himself and ward off an attack. He was still very determined to beat Guy. He could sense the Sheriff watching them and he wanted to prove himself worthy of his position. However, the latest blow had shaken him up and when he struck out the thrusts were too short.
Guy mirrored him waiting for Godfrey to attack so he could exploit some mistake and end the fight. However, Godfrey charged in and planted some straight blows and some sweet hits on Guy's torso before stepping sensibly back.
The man's exhaustion was working against him and was eager to create the final 'killer' blow. Godfrey lunged with his full weight behind the sword. It was ill judged. Guy saw it coming and leaped out of the way. The momentum of his lunge carried Godfrey forward and past Guy until he collided with the floor stupidly.
Guy quickly turned got Godfrey into a headlock and sent a series of sharp punches to his face to finish the contest. Godfrey went down like a log – his jaw was evidently broke as it flopped to one side but he was still conscious.
Guy panted he was out of breath, exhausted and aching from the fight. But he sighed in relied that it was all over. Guy could now relax and tend to his injuries in his room. Though, it appeared he had thought too soon.
Godfrey, still lying on his back, was resentful that he'd lost against the boy and in view of his employer. He wanted to bring the boy down so he couldn't too be cocky in their next meeting. Godfrey stretched his leg out deliberately to trip him. Guy had let his guard down and was slowly moving towards the steps.
He collided with the outstretched leg and fell flat on the floor violently smashing his forehead on the bottom step. From the top of the steps Guy heard a snort of laughter where he knew the Sheriff and a few nobles had gathered to watch for entertainment.
It was maddening! He had won fairly and had been brought without honour to the amusement of the crowd. Guy was really angry. The blood from his forehead was gushing down his face. Anger like he had never experienced before pulsed through his body.
He straddled Godfrey and picked up one of the discarded wooden swords, drawing it over his head. It was in that spilt second before he brought the blade down he knew he was going to run the blade into Godfrey's face, killing him. The Sheriff shouted out seriously,
"Finish him."
The encouragement awoke Guy to his senses, he was about to pre-empt Vaizey order and kill Godfrey anyway. He jumped up as if struck by lightning. As he'd seen himself defence could soon turn into attack. He would not kill a man, and instead battered and bruised Guy limped over to the stables to find solace.
He stood in the sweet smelling stables with the horses. He didn't have any reason to be here right now, but when he did, it was one of the few duties he didn't mind attending to. The horses were intelligent and gentle they gave him peace to be near them.
Guy combed out the bay's mane and brushed down her coat. He rested his head against the bay's neck and let his mind wonder. Then a female voice called out in his direction…
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