"It's a really nice morning," Vanya said as she lifted a water bucket in each hand, feeling quite proud of the strength she was gaining. The air was clearer, the wind carrying the ash further to the east.

Niyya lifted one bucket with both hands with a huff. "Lucky you have off and get to enjoy it."

Just as the pair approached the Netch, the door opened and Teldryn strode out with his full armor on. He held the door for them as he greeted, "Ladies."

As Niyya walked through the door Vanya followed, squinting her eyes at his helmet as she passed. "If you were a real gentleman you'd offer to carry these for us."

She could hear the smile in his reply, "You look like you have it well in hand." He let the door shut and she turned toward the stairway with a grin.

"You should go watch him. Have you seen him spar?" Niyya asked as they went down the steps.

Vanya shook her head.

"Me and Glover go sometimes."

"Is it really such a show?"

"Oh yes, one of the finest captains of the Redoran guard and the sellsword who traveled with the Dragonborn? You could hardly find a better match for an arena."

She'd never really considered them that way. Even Roggir, who people spoke of as if he were a god, was just someone she knew. One of the first good people she had met.

After she finished helping bring the water in, Vanya sat on her bed thinking over what she was going to do with her morning. She had been planning on going out to the beach and leafing through an alchemy book she'd borrowed from Milore but now she wondered if perhaps she should go watch Teldryn spar. Going to watch a fight was not something she had really thought about. It was just practice. Wouldn't that be boring?

After mulling it over she decided she would go. Why not?

Suddenly she felt a little nervous. She opened the drawer to her nightstand, pushing aside her discarded dagger as she rummaged for her mirror. She held it up checking to make sure her hair was not too wild while her subconscious mind scolded her for the way she was teetering on the edge of the line she knew she should not cross. She didn't mean to, she didn't want to give him the wrong impression. She lifted her chin in defiance at her reflection. There's nothing harmful about wanting to look presentable. She replaced her mirror and pulled out the soft, dark blue shawl that she'd gotten from the khajiit caravan- just in case the wind decided to change direction- and headed out toward the training yard.


It was not as crowded as she expected, although there was a good number of people for so early in the morning. She could hear the sounds of swords clashing as she approached the railing and a few off duty guards shifted to make room when they noticed her.

It took a few seconds for her eyes to catch up with the two figures dancing around the training yard. They were so fast! Ducking, slashing, spinning; her eyes were round as she tried to keep up with their movements. Her heart fluttered when she realized they were using real swords. They could really get hurt!

She gasped when, with a wrench of his sword, Teldryn managed to disarm Modyn then began pressing him with strikes that the captain deflected with his bracers. When Teldryn made a jab for the midsection, Modyn pinned the sword to his side grasping Teldryn's forearm. He barely had time to raise his free hand to catch Teldryn's incoming dagger- when had he drawn that?- before redirecting the momentum of the swing and with a cry of exertion, pushed Teldryn so that he stumbled. Teldryn did not go all the way down, catching himself on his knees and one hand, losing grip on his dagger. Before he could twist back up with his sword Modyn leaped on him bringing him down onto his chest with a grunt, and with a knee dug into his back and the captain's dagger pointed at his neck he let his sword clatter to the ground. Vanya loosened her white-knuckled grip on the fence railing. Modyn let Teldryn up, clapping him on the back and he responded with a good-natured shove to the shoulder. She couldn't hear what they were saying but they nearly looked like brothers as they obviously joked with one another.

"They're two and two," said the guard to her right, his eyes shining with enthusiasm. "Winner is best of five."

"I have my money on the captain," said the guard to her left.

The one on her right scoffed, "I hope you're ready to pay up."

Just then, she noticed Dreyla leaning on the railing of another part of the fence, around the corner. She left the guards to their betting and made her way to her friend. Dreyla noticed her approach and waved her over, grabbing her arm and pulling her close. "Isn't he great?" she gushed, looking at Modyn with a sigh.

Vanya gave a wan smile. "Yeah that was...really something."

"Oh, but Teldryn is very good, too," Dreyla assured. "But Modyn is stronger and more experienced." She was leaning on the railing again with a rather desirous look on her face. Vanya shook her head in amusement. The dunmer added, "Modyn is sixty years his senior, did you know that?"

Vanya raised her eyebrows in surprise. "I did not know that." She had thought they were closer in age, though she supposed sixty years was not so far apart when one could live for hundreds.

"They are about to start again," Dreyla said eagerly.

Vanya leaned against the railing and watched as the two men squared off and took up their fighting stances. Teldryn performed a flashy twirl of his sword and she heard the sounds of giggling nearby. She looked up at the stairs behind her and saw some women sitting on them, whispering to each other as they looked at the men. She barely had time to register her resentment when the clashing of swords caused her to whip her head back around. She was drawn in once again at their fluid and savage movements, though as the battle wore on she couldn't help but noticed the squeaks and coos of the other women. It was darkening her mood.

What are you so mad about? He's free to pursue anyone he likes.

Was that really true? She thought about the rumors about her and Teldryn that she had certainly done nothing to dispel. If he knew about it he had not mentioned anything. She didn't want to make him look like a scoundrel if he wanted to get to know other women and they were under the impression he was already involved with her. She felt a little bad for using him and her stomach churned as she realized she would have to clear it up before it got messy.

The train of thought dropped from her mind when the two men's swords locked, Modyn bearing down his sword with both hands on Teldryn. She could hear Teldryn groan, his feet sliding back under the relentless pressure. In one quick movement, Teldryn threw his sword to one side letting it go as he dove the other way, rolling away from Modyn's wicked back-swing. He gained his feet with his dagger drawn and parried a slash before bringing up his free hand that emitted a blue light. The light spread out like an umbrella to form a sort of shield that he used to blocked Modyn's sword. Again and again, Teldryn deflected hits as he danced around the yard and Vanya noticed he was inching closer to his discarded sword. With a mighty cry, Modyn shattered the blue shield and Teldryn dove again, this time regaining his sword as he rolled to his feet.

The two men circled, Modyn stalking like a predator and Teldryn low and wary. The atmosphere was tense and Dreyla clutched Vanya's arm. As the battle resumed the tension only heightened, Modyn's aggressive strength against Teldryn's deft movements. Vanya grasped Dreyla's hand on her arm as Modyn knocked Teldryn's sword arm wide in a way that left him open for a vicious backhand to the face. As he recovered, Modyn spun with a finishing move that might have taken off Teldryn's head only he leaned backward under the swing while at the same time bringing his blade up to the captain's now unguarded neck. They froze. Vanya let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding and both she and Dreyla relaxed their grip on each other.

Modyn lowered his still outstretched sword arm and Teldryn tilted his head, then turned his sword and whacked the captain's helmet with the flat of his blade. Modyn responded in kind, the flat of his own blade connecting with Teldryn's shoulder as he tried to twist away and Vanya could hear them both laughing.

Vanya leaned on the railing with a huff, looking at Dreyla who was laughing as well. "I don't know if I can take this."

"Why? It's all in good fun."

"It really looks like they could hurt each other. Don't you worry?"

"Not really, you saw the way Teldryn stopped his blade. They aren't just swinging wildly. It's what they do."

Vanya looked back at the two men who were talking with each other rather animatedly, probably going over details of their battle.

"They look to be finished," Dreyla said. "I'm going to go talk to Modyn. You want to come with?"

"No, you go ahead."

Dreyla headed off in the direction of the gate further down the fence and Vanya watched her as she trotted out to Modyn. He pulled off his helmet and leaned down as she lifted herself to her toes for a quick kiss. They were so sweet. Her eyes slid to Teldryn and even with his helmet still on she could tell he was looking right at her. She smiled at him and hoped her cheeks were not reddening too much as he started walking her way.


He had not even known she was watching. It had been a hard-won match so it pleased him greatly that she had seen it. She was leaning on the fence as he approached and he pulled off his helmet, knowing that if he didn't she would demand it first thing. He smiled and leaned on the railing with one arm, facing her.

"What do you think?" he asked with an easy confidence that masked the fact that he truly wanted to know.

"You guys are really good. It was kind of scary," she said as she wrung her fingers together. "So fast. I'm exhausted from just watching."

"Scary," he scoffed. "You should come watch more often. You would do well to get used to it."

"I know," she drawled before perking up. "Hey, what was that blue shield thing? That was really cool."

The ward? That's not a frost spell, it's..." he stopped when she started laughing.

"I don't mean cool as in actually cold, um...I mean it's impressive."

Ah, more Earthling speak. He grinned. "I see, well it's a fairly basic spell. It is just as you said, a shield." He channeled his ward to show her and her eyes widened as the shimmering blue light spread out.

She straightened up and put her hand out. "Can I touch it?"

"Yes," he replied, watching the glow that reflected in her eyes.

She reached over the fence and put her hand against the ward, pushing lightly. "Whoa, that's insane."

Suddenly, he got an idea. He dropped the ward and she pulled her hand back. "Come," he said, motioning her to join him in the training yard.

"Oh." She looked uncertainly toward the gate.

"No, just come over the fence. It's not that high."

"Okay, okay," she said hastily as she started to climb over. He held her arm as she hopped down, letting go once she gained her footing.

"This way." He started across the yard toward the weapon stand.

"What are we doing?" she asked as she caught up with him.

"I'm going to give you a waster so you can hit my ward."

"A waster?"

"Wooden sword."

"What? Teldryn, no." she said, though she still kept up.

"It will be good for you."

"You mean it will be amusing for you."

"Why not both?" He looked at her with a smirk and she rolled her eyes.

When they reached the weapon stand, he tossed his helmet to the side and looked over the wasters for the lightest one. "Here, take this." He held it out to her and she stood there with her hands on her hips and a willful expression.

"I'm not here for your entertainment."

He could not help his smile. "You can hit me as hard as you want, come on. I think you'll like it."

At that, she reached out her hand and grasped the sword, though still hesitant.

"Alright." He charged up his ward and it spread out between them. "Strike."

She shook her head before hefting the sword up with both hands, despite it being a one-handed weapon, and swung it in a wide arc that hit far weaker than it looked like it would. The only good thing was the way she grimaced at the effort. He dropped the ward and she stepped back with an uneasy look.

"Your form is terrible," he said as he took off his gauntlets and tossed them next to his helmet. This definitely needed to be rectified.

She scoffed, "Well no shit, Teldryn. This is the first time I've ever done this."

He ignored her and reached for her dominant hand and started to position her fingers around the hilt. "First off, this is a one-handed sword."

"It's too heavy."

"You will need to get stronger, then." When he was satisfied with the grip he stepped back. "Don't hold your wrist too rigidly. You don't want to break it." He stepped forward again and turned her shoulders. "This foot forward, spread your feet a little. Relax your knees. That's good." He stepped back once more. "Alright, do it again," he channeled the ward in his hand. "This time when you strike use your body and not just your arm." The ward once again spread out between them.

She took a breath and pursed her lips, muttering, "Okay, mister bossy-pants." Then with another endearing grimace, she slashed against the ward. It was still weak, definitely sloppy, but a step in the right direction. He dropped the ward with a grin.

"Better."

"Yeah?" She looked up at him hopefully.

"Yeah," he repeated. "Now, let's try a backswing. Did you notice how your momentum was thrown forward after your cross?"

"I guess so."

"Ready yourself once more, I'll show you what to do."