Modyn's fist connected with his ribs and Teldryn sorely missed his chitin armor as his breath was pushed from his lungs. He flared a fireball up between them as he backed away, sucking in air as the captain cursed him. They circled briefly with swords raised, Teldryn squinting in the sun without the shade of his helmet. He'd left his entire set of armor with Glover for repairs and had donned his old netch leather, the helmet of which had always chafed his ears so he'd decided not to wear it.
Good sport that he was, Modyn had removed his helmet as well and Teldryn could have made him regret it with an elbow to the chin instead of retreating but he'd needed to get distance from the captain's feet.
"Almost got you that time," Modyn said with a grin as he stepped toward him.
"I'm just letting you build up some confidence."
"Feh, you could do with a little humility yourself," the captain chided as he arced his sword down. Teldryn dodged and feinted with his sword to the right, returning the jab to the gut as the captain raised his arm to parry. It did little more than causing the larger man to grunt in annoyance, though it gave Teldryn the precious second he needed to sweep his leg behind the man's feet. He connected with nothing as Modyn twisted away then stretched his own leg out in a back sweep toward the foot that Teldryn still had on the ground.
"No!" Teldryn barked with a laugh as he put all his effort into hopping over Modyn's leg while being thrown off balance by his own momentum. He landed somewhat clumsily and had to take a few steps back to steady himself, quickly readying for another assault.
He'd knocked Modyn on his back once already and they were going for best of three. The captain was the only one Teldryn could spar with who would give him a workout since he had seen actual battle and was not as entirely predictable as the rank and file. Teldryn could cut through all of them in his sleep. Sometimes when the two of them were bored- and because they were so familiar with each other's fighting style- they would put conditions on their contest to make it more interesting. They had more practical ones like disarming one another or boxing the ears, and more frivolous ones like landing a slap on the face. Today was one of his favorites where they had to sweep the other's feet out from under him.
Teldryn again dodged Modyn's cross and spun before sweeping his sword back in retaliation, his actions garnering coos and gasps from the women that were hanging their legs off the edge of the Bulwark stairway next to the training yard. It had been a long time since there had been any crowds that gathered to watch their sparring, but the town was now brimming with curious onlookers. The elder of the temple likely did not appreciate all the foot traffic bypassing his door as people made their way to the yard.
Teldryn also knew his more serious-minded sparring companion did not appreciate being a spectacle, so it was with this knowledge he made a show of spinning his sword in his hand, earning him more coos and a dark glare from the captain. He parried another cross and pulled out his dagger, pressing Modyn with a series of blinding fast down-strokes in an attempt to keep his momentum moving backward and just when he felt he'd pushed far enough he kicked low hoping to trip him by knocking one foot into the other. By some divine intervention, the captain recovered his footing and though he was still off-balance, Teldryn was, too. The captain smirked and jabbed his leg toward Teldryn's planted foot bringing him down painfully on his knee. A shove to the shoulder followed and as Teldryn fell he locked his arm around the leg closest and pulled.
Both men were flat on their backs.
"That's two," Teldryn said, eyes watering as the fully risen sun punished them.
Modyn laughed, "It doesn't count if you only took me down because you fell."
He sat up. "You can't add rules at your leisure. Are your feet not out from under you for the second time?"
"Boethiah curse you," the captain groused as he rolled over and got to his feet.
Teldryn stood, wincing as the knee he landed on throbbed. His chitin armor had better knee guards. He cast a healing spell and moments later the pain alleviated. As he walked with Modyn toward the door to the barracks, a woman called from the stairs. "Can I hold your sword?" A fit of laughter erupted from the group and Teldryn shook his head as Modyn held the door open with a wicked grin.
"I think she was talking to you," he said as he shut the door behind them and they headed toward their clean sets of clothing.
"And eighty year old me would have listened. It's not worth the hassle," Teldryn said, shucking off his armor. "They're mad."
"Perhaps if you stuck to one..." Modyn proposed as he followed suit.
"And allow the madness to infect me? I think not. The only women I'll consider are ones I can easily get away from." He pulled his sweat-soaked shirt over his head before adding with a shake of his head, "Even then..." He simply didn't have the patience anymore to deal with the longing looks that eventually turned sour when his lust didn't turn to affection. And worse was the tedious drama that ensued if he showed interest in another. He was exhausting his mind just thinking about it.
"One is not so bad," the captain smirked as he laced up clean breeches.
"I've finally lost you, hm?" Teldryn quipped, glancing over and briefly remembering the way he used to envy the older man's physique in his youth before he learned to appreciate the advantages his own leaner frame provided. "How did you get old Fethis to change his mind anyhow?"
The captain had fully dressed and started reapplying his armor. "He didn't. Dreyla just stopped caring. If I knew nearly dying at the hands of the Morag Tong was what it was going to take, I'd have done it years ago."
Teldryn paused momentarily while lowering his clean shirt over his stomach."Morag Tong?"
"Ah, that's right. You were not here for that. Turns out the Severins were planning to take out Counselor Morvayn, courtesy of the Ulens and House Hlaalu."
"That is...quite a plot," he chuckled as he started reapplying his own armor. "How was it discovered?"
"In truth," The captain leaned against a wooden support, glancing around to make sure they were alone. "It all started with Vanya."
Teldryn gave him an incredulous look and the captain began a recount of the events. Teldryn was pulling on his gauntlets when the captain got to the part about Vanya going into the tomb. "Hold on." He stepped toward Modyn, standing face to face. "You knowingly sent her, an unarmed barmaid, into a dangerous situation involving the Morag Tong? I thought you had more sense than that."
The captain put his hands up defensively. "She performed flawlessly. I'm sure my own guards could not have done better. I planned carefully, Teldryn, her safety was assured."
"A foolish thing to say." Teldryn waved his hand in dismissal as he turned and began pacing to burn off his growing anger. "You can't assure things like that."
"It was the best method I had at my disposal to catch them."
"Disposal," Teldryn spat as he pinned the other man with a glare. "Her life is not something for you to use at your disposal like you would one of your guards. She's..." he bit his lip and continued pacing, stopping himself before he revealed more than was appropriate. That she was not like other women who may have understood better what they were getting involved with.
Modyn crossed his arms."First of all, she agreed to it." Teldryn rolled his eyes, knowing how pushy the captain could be. Before he could retort Modyn continued, "And you are the only other who knows of her involvement and I have only told you because I know you can be trusted. There will be no writs against her." That fact did mollify him slightly but it would be a long time before he forgave his friend for putting Vanya's life in such danger.
"It was irresponsible." He strapped on his sword belt and made to leave.
"I won't apologize for doing my job."
"Imagine if it were Dreyla!" he said sharply as he turned back around, advancing a few steps. "Would you have sent her under the same circumstances?"
"Of course not. But Dreyla is to be my wife." Modyn approached him with a curious look. "What is Vanya to you?"
Teldryn blinked as he realized the implication he'd made and the corner of Modyn's mouth twitched.
"That's not the point," he muttered as he again turned to leave, hearing the smirk in Modyn's voice as he spoke to his back.
"And you had the nerve to call me mad."
He stalked from the barracks with a glower, ignoring the women who were milling around the edges of the training yard trying their best to look comely. Modyn's attitude was a reminder of why Teldryn had never joined the Redoran guard. The captain was an old friend but their paths had split long ago when Teldryn had decided he preferred to not be a cog within a construct that would use him up with no regard for anything but its own goals. It was one thing to choose that life, it was another to use unsuspecting civilians like they were tools.
As he neared the market he saw the ornate drapery of the khajiit caravan tent, remembering that he had planned to stop in on his way back. He was not in much of a mood for it anymore, but seeing as they did not stick around for long he decided he'd better take advantage of the moment. Perhaps they have some of that minty tobacco I got last time...
