Chapter 8- Practicing
The next morning, instead of joining the Yamani ladies she went in search of a more trying opponent. She had moved comfortably into her new quarters and, searching down the teacher's corridors, she found the door she was looking for. Eda Bell, Shang Wildcat. Hearing shuffles inside, she knew that her friend was awake and knocked.
In a matter of seconds the Wildcat had opened the door and invited her in. She smiled warmly at Liz.
"I was wondering who else would be up at this hour. What can I do for you so early in the morning."
"I would never have knocked if I wasn't sure that you were up. I was wondering if you would be up to a match. In anything. I have been so restless lately and a Shang is always a good opponent."
"I'm sure. Is my honour going to be at stake, though? You seem to always win."
"I have no idea. I haven't fought you in ages you may have improved. I promise not to use any magic, though. And if your honour you're trying to preserve, I'm sure that nobody will be up and about in the page's practise courts yet. I would do it here but these rooms are so cramped."
"I know what you mean. I accept your offer. Even if I am humbled, it's a good lesson to see where my weak points are. I've been settled down here so long that the only good opponent I ever have is Hakuin and he always seems to use the same drill, you can't help but get tired."
"With me you can't even find a good opponent. I've been looking for the Prince for so long, I feel as if I haven't had a proper workout in year." She gave a small sigh.
Eda grinned. "Give me a minute and I'll be ready." She walked into her room and came out changed into practice gear. They walked out and towards the practice courts, catching up on all that had been missed during Liz's absence. As they entered the practice court Liz looked around, making sure that no one would be there to come and disturb them.
"What do you want to try me out on?" Liz questioned as she started her stretches.
"How about a hand-to-hand match, anything but weapons allowed."
"Sounds fine to me. I can always test my sword skills on the big burly knights that fill this place."
Eda grinned. Liz was always free with her speech, no matter who could overhear.
"Well, I have a job I would like to keep," she said with a smile while she started her stretches, "and so I won't go insulting everything and anything."
"Yeah. Well, Jon can't do anything that will bother me much, so I don't really care who complains. He can take away all my lands, for all I care. It'll just be one less thing to worry over."
"You would see it that way. Don't worry; the whole court knows you don't care about what Jon says. Everyone knows of the argument between you and him yesterday on the fields."
"Everyone also knows of the little dare my brother set me. But, I have ways of getting around any problem and what do I care about what is said about me. I haven't got a perfect reputation so far and so it won't hurt to add a few more black marks."
"You really don't care, do you?" Eda said.
Liz shrugged. "The only people whose opinion means anything to me know enough about me to dismiss any rumours spread about me and if they believe them, if just goes to show how little they know me. Now, if you don't mind, I'd like to stop talking about me and get on with this fight before people actually wake up and decide to come and watch."
If she was bothered, Eda would have pointed out that that would happen no matter what time their match took place but she decided to leave it be. It meant that Liz would have learnt something at the end of their bout, even if it weren't a way to improve her skills, if there was any space to improve.
They positioned themselves opposite each other and shifted into unarmed stance. If Eda knew her as well as her parents did, she would know that Liz had made a study of stances. She had always found it fascinating that if one thing was to give away the next movement that it was the positioning of the body, for the attacker always positioned himself or herself in the easiest way to deliver the next blow. Liz had made many a note on the different techniques of all different types of people, from Tortallian to Scanran about stances used for each position no matter what weapon, and sometimes, as the case was here, no weapon, of each of the blows they were about to deliver. She found that this almost always gave her the upper hand and when she was shown a new move, it embedded itself in her mind so that she would never be in mystery about the opponent's moves again.
The only time this method didn't work when she was fighting a battle with her Gift. But then, she never needed any help. Well, hardly ever.
(A.N- If you are expecting a great detailed fight, think again. I'm not that good at describing) Liz counted quietly to three and then waited for Eda to attack. She had a plan that almost never failed. Eda took the first punch, aiming for her stomach. Liz ducked and rolled. She whipped back on to her feet, grinning. Eda's next try was a high kick. If she had been a hair slower, Liz would have caught her foot and pulled her of her feet. Luckily, she caught Liz's game before it was to late.
Eda tried a series of kicks and punches, always missing, while they kept on circling round each other. Liz, noticing that her opponents breathing was getting heavier decided that it was her turn to go. She sent a series of lightening fast punches, always purposely missing slightly. As Eda's attention was distracted by trying to shield her attacks, she didn't notice the foot that shot out and curved round the back of her right leg.
As Liz jerked her leg back, Eda fell, out of balance. But, the Shang was not to be defeated so easily. She fell, palms flat and rolled out of harms way. Springing back up, she grinned at Liz who grinned back. Should have known it wouldn't be that easy, she thought to herself. She ducked Eda's next punch and, picking her up round the waist, tossed her. Eda crouched into a ball and rolled, once again springing back up.
Eda wasn't surprised to see that Liz was still grinning ear to ear. Nothing gets that girl down, she thought to herself as she blocked a punch thrown her way. Out of the corner of her eye she saw that despite of Liz thoughts, a crowd had gathered. Oh well. It seems that I'm may lose my hard earned reputation. At least I get to see the face on Liz's face when she sees that she isn't always right, she thought to herself. It seemed that she hadn't noticed the crowd. Eda was amused to see that Johnny was in the front row of spectators. It seems that Liz has got herself a fan, she thought wryly.
As Eda let herself get carried away with her thoughts, Liz took advantage of her distraction and planned her next move. She let a kick go up slowly and watch, smug, as Eda caught it. Liz was ready. Throwing all her weight into it, she flipped back. Eda, who was gripping her foot, found herself flying over Liz and only just managed to break her fall. But, before she could spring back up, Liz was on top of her and had her body pinned under her arms. She grinned down.
"Yield?" she asked smiling.
"What else do you expect me to do?" Eda muttered. "You're too damn strong for your own good!"
Liz's grin just widened at the remark. Ignoring the claps and whistles going on behind her (she had finally realised they had company) she got up, giving Eda a helping hand up. After a small mistrusting glance, she accepted the hand.
"That was a nice war-up, don't you think?" she teased.
"If you call that a warm up, I advise you to find another opponent for your actual battle."
"I would like to try out my Gift against Numair but Jon seems to think it's a waste of energy."
"Yeah, well maybe Hakuin would like a try," she suggested.
"You are humbled enough so I won't accept unless it is totally private. I do have a reputation." The other Shang had come over whilst they had been talking.
"Well I did have a reputation before this."
"You get any problem and send them to me. I'll send them back with plenty of respect for you. Most people I battle last only a few moments and come out black and blue all over. Not that I should be proud of that fact." She eyed he crown with disdain. "Maybe I'll take my leave now. I don't think I have the patience for congratulations today. I'll see you around." With a smile, she disappeared. The crowd expressed some surprise and disappointment but soon dispersed. Eda gave Hakuin a tired glance. He just smiled and led her towards the Pages mess.
*~*~*~*
I know there was a lot of grinning in that chapter. I'm sorry. I couldn't think of a better word. Please REVIEW.
StarFire
The next morning, instead of joining the Yamani ladies she went in search of a more trying opponent. She had moved comfortably into her new quarters and, searching down the teacher's corridors, she found the door she was looking for. Eda Bell, Shang Wildcat. Hearing shuffles inside, she knew that her friend was awake and knocked.
In a matter of seconds the Wildcat had opened the door and invited her in. She smiled warmly at Liz.
"I was wondering who else would be up at this hour. What can I do for you so early in the morning."
"I would never have knocked if I wasn't sure that you were up. I was wondering if you would be up to a match. In anything. I have been so restless lately and a Shang is always a good opponent."
"I'm sure. Is my honour going to be at stake, though? You seem to always win."
"I have no idea. I haven't fought you in ages you may have improved. I promise not to use any magic, though. And if your honour you're trying to preserve, I'm sure that nobody will be up and about in the page's practise courts yet. I would do it here but these rooms are so cramped."
"I know what you mean. I accept your offer. Even if I am humbled, it's a good lesson to see where my weak points are. I've been settled down here so long that the only good opponent I ever have is Hakuin and he always seems to use the same drill, you can't help but get tired."
"With me you can't even find a good opponent. I've been looking for the Prince for so long, I feel as if I haven't had a proper workout in year." She gave a small sigh.
Eda grinned. "Give me a minute and I'll be ready." She walked into her room and came out changed into practice gear. They walked out and towards the practice courts, catching up on all that had been missed during Liz's absence. As they entered the practice court Liz looked around, making sure that no one would be there to come and disturb them.
"What do you want to try me out on?" Liz questioned as she started her stretches.
"How about a hand-to-hand match, anything but weapons allowed."
"Sounds fine to me. I can always test my sword skills on the big burly knights that fill this place."
Eda grinned. Liz was always free with her speech, no matter who could overhear.
"Well, I have a job I would like to keep," she said with a smile while she started her stretches, "and so I won't go insulting everything and anything."
"Yeah. Well, Jon can't do anything that will bother me much, so I don't really care who complains. He can take away all my lands, for all I care. It'll just be one less thing to worry over."
"You would see it that way. Don't worry; the whole court knows you don't care about what Jon says. Everyone knows of the argument between you and him yesterday on the fields."
"Everyone also knows of the little dare my brother set me. But, I have ways of getting around any problem and what do I care about what is said about me. I haven't got a perfect reputation so far and so it won't hurt to add a few more black marks."
"You really don't care, do you?" Eda said.
Liz shrugged. "The only people whose opinion means anything to me know enough about me to dismiss any rumours spread about me and if they believe them, if just goes to show how little they know me. Now, if you don't mind, I'd like to stop talking about me and get on with this fight before people actually wake up and decide to come and watch."
If she was bothered, Eda would have pointed out that that would happen no matter what time their match took place but she decided to leave it be. It meant that Liz would have learnt something at the end of their bout, even if it weren't a way to improve her skills, if there was any space to improve.
They positioned themselves opposite each other and shifted into unarmed stance. If Eda knew her as well as her parents did, she would know that Liz had made a study of stances. She had always found it fascinating that if one thing was to give away the next movement that it was the positioning of the body, for the attacker always positioned himself or herself in the easiest way to deliver the next blow. Liz had made many a note on the different techniques of all different types of people, from Tortallian to Scanran about stances used for each position no matter what weapon, and sometimes, as the case was here, no weapon, of each of the blows they were about to deliver. She found that this almost always gave her the upper hand and when she was shown a new move, it embedded itself in her mind so that she would never be in mystery about the opponent's moves again.
The only time this method didn't work when she was fighting a battle with her Gift. But then, she never needed any help. Well, hardly ever.
(A.N- If you are expecting a great detailed fight, think again. I'm not that good at describing) Liz counted quietly to three and then waited for Eda to attack. She had a plan that almost never failed. Eda took the first punch, aiming for her stomach. Liz ducked and rolled. She whipped back on to her feet, grinning. Eda's next try was a high kick. If she had been a hair slower, Liz would have caught her foot and pulled her of her feet. Luckily, she caught Liz's game before it was to late.
Eda tried a series of kicks and punches, always missing, while they kept on circling round each other. Liz, noticing that her opponents breathing was getting heavier decided that it was her turn to go. She sent a series of lightening fast punches, always purposely missing slightly. As Eda's attention was distracted by trying to shield her attacks, she didn't notice the foot that shot out and curved round the back of her right leg.
As Liz jerked her leg back, Eda fell, out of balance. But, the Shang was not to be defeated so easily. She fell, palms flat and rolled out of harms way. Springing back up, she grinned at Liz who grinned back. Should have known it wouldn't be that easy, she thought to herself. She ducked Eda's next punch and, picking her up round the waist, tossed her. Eda crouched into a ball and rolled, once again springing back up.
Eda wasn't surprised to see that Liz was still grinning ear to ear. Nothing gets that girl down, she thought to herself as she blocked a punch thrown her way. Out of the corner of her eye she saw that despite of Liz thoughts, a crowd had gathered. Oh well. It seems that I'm may lose my hard earned reputation. At least I get to see the face on Liz's face when she sees that she isn't always right, she thought to herself. It seemed that she hadn't noticed the crowd. Eda was amused to see that Johnny was in the front row of spectators. It seems that Liz has got herself a fan, she thought wryly.
As Eda let herself get carried away with her thoughts, Liz took advantage of her distraction and planned her next move. She let a kick go up slowly and watch, smug, as Eda caught it. Liz was ready. Throwing all her weight into it, she flipped back. Eda, who was gripping her foot, found herself flying over Liz and only just managed to break her fall. But, before she could spring back up, Liz was on top of her and had her body pinned under her arms. She grinned down.
"Yield?" she asked smiling.
"What else do you expect me to do?" Eda muttered. "You're too damn strong for your own good!"
Liz's grin just widened at the remark. Ignoring the claps and whistles going on behind her (she had finally realised they had company) she got up, giving Eda a helping hand up. After a small mistrusting glance, she accepted the hand.
"That was a nice war-up, don't you think?" she teased.
"If you call that a warm up, I advise you to find another opponent for your actual battle."
"I would like to try out my Gift against Numair but Jon seems to think it's a waste of energy."
"Yeah, well maybe Hakuin would like a try," she suggested.
"You are humbled enough so I won't accept unless it is totally private. I do have a reputation." The other Shang had come over whilst they had been talking.
"Well I did have a reputation before this."
"You get any problem and send them to me. I'll send them back with plenty of respect for you. Most people I battle last only a few moments and come out black and blue all over. Not that I should be proud of that fact." She eyed he crown with disdain. "Maybe I'll take my leave now. I don't think I have the patience for congratulations today. I'll see you around." With a smile, she disappeared. The crowd expressed some surprise and disappointment but soon dispersed. Eda gave Hakuin a tired glance. He just smiled and led her towards the Pages mess.
*~*~*~*
I know there was a lot of grinning in that chapter. I'm sorry. I couldn't think of a better word. Please REVIEW.
StarFire