Disclaimer: I don't own...as usual...
Muse responsible: Krathnae
This is several days later...Kamaria is settling in nicely, for the most part.
------------------------------------------
Kamaria sighed, extremely bored with equitation. :Why won't they let us do an obstacle course yet?: she asked Sitara plaintively.
Sitara moved from a walk to a trot, at which Kamaria began posting. :Be patient...today they're going to teach us how to do the parade-walk, then as a reward, you can start the easy obstacle courses.:
Kamaria drummed her fingers unobtrusively on the saddle-pommel. Edim was not at equitation, instead at Healers to have his broken arm examined, but her other two year-mates so far, Tara, a 17-year old and Jakob, another 15- year old, both looked as bored as she did. :Remind me...why are we doing this? I know how to ride!:
:Well, I need to get used to having you on my back. And the pavane starts...now.: At an invisible cue from the Equitation-master's Companion, Sitara moved into a peculiar walk, picking up each foot high and arching her neck. Kamaria listened to the instructions shouted by the Equitation- master, and followed, shifting her body with the rhythm of Sitara.
Suddenly, all the Companions headed out of the ring, still at this pace. Kamaria frowned in confusion, exchanging looks with Tara.
And then they came to the obstacle courses. Lining up at one of the easier ones, the Equitation master waved Jakob forward imperiously.
Jakob was a natural rider, seeming to move as one with his Companion. They moved forward at a lope, weaving around the various barrels, posts, and even sheds.
Jakob came back into view at the other end of the course from where Kamaria sat, and the Equitation master waved him into a gallop.
[At last, we do something interesting!] Kamaria thought.
:Shield, dear,: said Sitara gently.
Kamaria flushed and checked her shields, which still tended to come down if she didn't rebuild them or keep them there.
A half-candlemark later, Kamaria was headed to Weapons. "I hope I don't get as many bruises today," she said to Sitara, who walked beside her.
:Don't worry so much...after this, it's your lunch.:
"And yours is?..." Kamaria said, tilting her head at her Companion.
:Now,: said Sitara cheerfully as Kamaria reached the salle, dropping her head to graze.
Kamaria headed into the salle and found the weapons she was working with-a slender pot-metal sword and a stave.
Pairing off with Jakob today, the year-mates began warming up, practicing stave fighting.
The Weaponsmaster, nicknamed Rhi for a reason Kamaria hadn't figured out, was watching a Healer-trainee and a Blue sparring with staves as well, nodding vaguely at Jakob as he signaled him.
Kamaria may have been gifted with a longsword, but the stave was...different, to say the least. Jakob, apparently used to long hours of stick-fighting with his younger brother, as he had said, was fairly good with a stave-at least compared to Kamaria.
At last, Rhi called a halt to the warm-up and yelled for them to form lines.
Kamaria found herself paired with a Blue, this time, one of the ones training to become an Artificer-a good enough sort.
"On my left is even, on my right is odd! Same as yesterday!" called the Weaponsmaster, "Even, seven-four-two! Odd, block as best you can!"
Kamaria, an "odd," blocked the pattern as the Blue's stick clashed with hers.
"Odd, nine-three-eight!"
Kamaria took the attack this time, driving her stick low and to the left, then feinting right and attempting to clash in the center.
The speed gradually increased, and the sticks clashing together took on a certain rhythm.
"All right, switch to swords!" called Rhi at last.
Kamaria picked up the slender practice blade and stood ready. This was different than other weapons, the sword-she felt perfectly balanced, ready to flow in any direction...
Which she suddenly did as Weaponsmaster nodded to a Bardic-Trainee, one of the "hack-and-bashers," as they were referred to.
Kamaria didn't miss a beat on this unexpected attack, slipping to the right and letting the Bard's momentum send him almost crashing into a bench.
He reversed and struck at her-Kamaria parried it and stepped backwards.
This particular Trainee was one of the more advanced in this Weapons class, for all that he was a hack-and-basher. Kamaria feinted left, but he caught it and struck her a sound blow on her side.
Kamaria doubled over, gasping-that had hit in the same spot as yesterday- but kept her blade up and managed to hit the Bard on the shin.
Straightening, the two circled each other. The world narrowed to the other Trainee, Time measured only in their movements.
Something happened, then. Kamaria's breathing evened, and her state of mind lifted oddly, as it had never done before-pleasant, but strange.
To the Bardic-Trainee, Maverick, it seemed as if the Heraldic Trainee became a fighting-demon. She moved blindingly quickly now, her blade never stopping, and he was forced back, step by step.
Kamaria was blissfully unaware of anything but the other Trainee-time seemed to have slowed. Her body moved as if through syrup, but there was surprise in the other Trainee's eyes.
Until, at least, another blade snaked in and flipped her practice-sword out of her hand.
Momentarily disoriented, Kamaria looked in confusion at Rhi, her blade at his feet. There was sound, now, and her body was back to normal.
"I said, that's enough! Didn't you hear?" said the Weaponsmaster, scowling.
"No..." said Kamaria in confusion.
"Well, you'd best learn to listen, then, or you'll never see the enemy behind you," said Rhi, handing her blade back and turning to Tara and Jakob. "Tara, go practice your footing-you're not stepping right on the lunge!"
Kamaria looked at Maverick. He looked at her, as confused as she was.
[What the hell-]
------------------------------------------
No clue what that was about! Actually, I do know, I'm just not telling! You have to guess!
Cat McDougall: No need to send the kids! Here's more! And pie!
Depressed Disposable Teen: Thank you! Oh, and did you realize your initials spell DDT?
Darkfyre: Well, Misty never specified HOW they differed, so they're the same thing...and Shavri in LHM said, "Healers see that way too." So I'm assuming that they're the same. No, I didn't get the list, and Krathnae, where are the simulacrums?
Krathnae: *looks up from scribbling* *waves talon at bundles in the corner, oddly gryphon-shaped* The worrrd to activate them is "rrrotissssserrrie chicken." Don't even ask.
Fireblade: ...ok then...
Cookxenya: Thank you! Krathnae would thank you, but he's working!
Kierseth: Thank you. It is Birds of a Feather. It is funny.
Rat Mouse: Here is more!
BrokenSkye: Have pie.
Well, that's all for this time! I will write more when I get reviews! Meanwhile, I will go work on other stories to GET more reviews!
~Fireblade K'Chona
Muse responsible: Krathnae
This is several days later...Kamaria is settling in nicely, for the most part.
------------------------------------------
Kamaria sighed, extremely bored with equitation. :Why won't they let us do an obstacle course yet?: she asked Sitara plaintively.
Sitara moved from a walk to a trot, at which Kamaria began posting. :Be patient...today they're going to teach us how to do the parade-walk, then as a reward, you can start the easy obstacle courses.:
Kamaria drummed her fingers unobtrusively on the saddle-pommel. Edim was not at equitation, instead at Healers to have his broken arm examined, but her other two year-mates so far, Tara, a 17-year old and Jakob, another 15- year old, both looked as bored as she did. :Remind me...why are we doing this? I know how to ride!:
:Well, I need to get used to having you on my back. And the pavane starts...now.: At an invisible cue from the Equitation-master's Companion, Sitara moved into a peculiar walk, picking up each foot high and arching her neck. Kamaria listened to the instructions shouted by the Equitation- master, and followed, shifting her body with the rhythm of Sitara.
Suddenly, all the Companions headed out of the ring, still at this pace. Kamaria frowned in confusion, exchanging looks with Tara.
And then they came to the obstacle courses. Lining up at one of the easier ones, the Equitation master waved Jakob forward imperiously.
Jakob was a natural rider, seeming to move as one with his Companion. They moved forward at a lope, weaving around the various barrels, posts, and even sheds.
Jakob came back into view at the other end of the course from where Kamaria sat, and the Equitation master waved him into a gallop.
[At last, we do something interesting!] Kamaria thought.
:Shield, dear,: said Sitara gently.
Kamaria flushed and checked her shields, which still tended to come down if she didn't rebuild them or keep them there.
A half-candlemark later, Kamaria was headed to Weapons. "I hope I don't get as many bruises today," she said to Sitara, who walked beside her.
:Don't worry so much...after this, it's your lunch.:
"And yours is?..." Kamaria said, tilting her head at her Companion.
:Now,: said Sitara cheerfully as Kamaria reached the salle, dropping her head to graze.
Kamaria headed into the salle and found the weapons she was working with-a slender pot-metal sword and a stave.
Pairing off with Jakob today, the year-mates began warming up, practicing stave fighting.
The Weaponsmaster, nicknamed Rhi for a reason Kamaria hadn't figured out, was watching a Healer-trainee and a Blue sparring with staves as well, nodding vaguely at Jakob as he signaled him.
Kamaria may have been gifted with a longsword, but the stave was...different, to say the least. Jakob, apparently used to long hours of stick-fighting with his younger brother, as he had said, was fairly good with a stave-at least compared to Kamaria.
At last, Rhi called a halt to the warm-up and yelled for them to form lines.
Kamaria found herself paired with a Blue, this time, one of the ones training to become an Artificer-a good enough sort.
"On my left is even, on my right is odd! Same as yesterday!" called the Weaponsmaster, "Even, seven-four-two! Odd, block as best you can!"
Kamaria, an "odd," blocked the pattern as the Blue's stick clashed with hers.
"Odd, nine-three-eight!"
Kamaria took the attack this time, driving her stick low and to the left, then feinting right and attempting to clash in the center.
The speed gradually increased, and the sticks clashing together took on a certain rhythm.
"All right, switch to swords!" called Rhi at last.
Kamaria picked up the slender practice blade and stood ready. This was different than other weapons, the sword-she felt perfectly balanced, ready to flow in any direction...
Which she suddenly did as Weaponsmaster nodded to a Bardic-Trainee, one of the "hack-and-bashers," as they were referred to.
Kamaria didn't miss a beat on this unexpected attack, slipping to the right and letting the Bard's momentum send him almost crashing into a bench.
He reversed and struck at her-Kamaria parried it and stepped backwards.
This particular Trainee was one of the more advanced in this Weapons class, for all that he was a hack-and-basher. Kamaria feinted left, but he caught it and struck her a sound blow on her side.
Kamaria doubled over, gasping-that had hit in the same spot as yesterday- but kept her blade up and managed to hit the Bard on the shin.
Straightening, the two circled each other. The world narrowed to the other Trainee, Time measured only in their movements.
Something happened, then. Kamaria's breathing evened, and her state of mind lifted oddly, as it had never done before-pleasant, but strange.
To the Bardic-Trainee, Maverick, it seemed as if the Heraldic Trainee became a fighting-demon. She moved blindingly quickly now, her blade never stopping, and he was forced back, step by step.
Kamaria was blissfully unaware of anything but the other Trainee-time seemed to have slowed. Her body moved as if through syrup, but there was surprise in the other Trainee's eyes.
Until, at least, another blade snaked in and flipped her practice-sword out of her hand.
Momentarily disoriented, Kamaria looked in confusion at Rhi, her blade at his feet. There was sound, now, and her body was back to normal.
"I said, that's enough! Didn't you hear?" said the Weaponsmaster, scowling.
"No..." said Kamaria in confusion.
"Well, you'd best learn to listen, then, or you'll never see the enemy behind you," said Rhi, handing her blade back and turning to Tara and Jakob. "Tara, go practice your footing-you're not stepping right on the lunge!"
Kamaria looked at Maverick. He looked at her, as confused as she was.
[What the hell-]
------------------------------------------
No clue what that was about! Actually, I do know, I'm just not telling! You have to guess!
Cat McDougall: No need to send the kids! Here's more! And pie!
Depressed Disposable Teen: Thank you! Oh, and did you realize your initials spell DDT?
Darkfyre: Well, Misty never specified HOW they differed, so they're the same thing...and Shavri in LHM said, "Healers see that way too." So I'm assuming that they're the same. No, I didn't get the list, and Krathnae, where are the simulacrums?
Krathnae: *looks up from scribbling* *waves talon at bundles in the corner, oddly gryphon-shaped* The worrrd to activate them is "rrrotissssserrrie chicken." Don't even ask.
Fireblade: ...ok then...
Cookxenya: Thank you! Krathnae would thank you, but he's working!
Kierseth: Thank you. It is Birds of a Feather. It is funny.
Rat Mouse: Here is more!
BrokenSkye: Have pie.
Well, that's all for this time! I will write more when I get reviews! Meanwhile, I will go work on other stories to GET more reviews!
~Fireblade K'Chona