A Late Visit
Saunder closed with his armored opponent and swung his hammer. The other man avoided the swing with a single backstep and brought his great sword to bear down on Saunder with a strong diagonal cut. Saunder managed to block the attack with his shield but stumbled backward from the force of the hit.
The armored man stayed where he was while Saunder regained his balance. When he did, the paladin charged at his opponent, this time putting more power into his swing.
The armored man met Saunder with a high swing that collided with Saunder's hammer at the intersection of hammer head and shaft, then twisted his hilt to trap Ashideena within the great sword's cross guards. Saunder could do little but watch as his opponent forced the hammer to the ground, then freed his own weapon and brought its pummel to Saunder's face.
Saunder fell to the ground and blood colored his vision. The armored figure leaned forward and removed a gauntlet, then placed that hand on Saunder's bloodied forehead and murmured a prayer. The pain and throbbing in Saunder's head began to recede.
"I can see you have much to learn," said the armored man as he helped Saunder back onto his feet.
"Tell me Ajantis, do you think you could try and be a little less brutal during your training sessions?" Branwen asked sardonically as she leaned up against a tree not far away.
"He must be ready for the enemies he faces, and training in the field must be done quickly and not at all softly." Ajantis removed his helm and sat on the ground by the small campfire Imoen had started. The fire would certainly attract attention but that was a chance the entire party was willing to take, except for Kivan maybe. Ajantis patted his helm as he set it on the ground, "you should probably get one of these as well."
"That would obscure my vision," Saunder complained.
"It's your choice," said Ajantis, "but I would rather suffer visual impairment than the loss of my head. When you're in the thick of battle, you will want all of the protection you can afford."
Saunder nodded and sat by the campfire beside Imoen and across from the more experienced paladin.
"So what do you think I need to improve on?" asked Saunder.
"It's hard to know where to start," said Ajantis, "the most obvious problem with your style is your defense. Static blocks and parries do nothing but keep you opponent's weapon from killing you and can leave you at a disadvantage. But deflecting, rather than merely blocking, your opponent's attacks with your shield can leave them off balance and meeting your opponent's attacks with your own can accomplish the same end or even disarm your opponent. Good footwork can eliminate the need for you to do any parrying and a combination of aggressive footwork and well-timed attacks will keep you from needing to worry at all about defense with most lesser opponents."
"What do you mean by lesser opponents?" asked Imoen.
"Why, those not trained in the proper forms of their weapon of course. Many who wield the sword see it only as an implement for hacking and slicing when it can be used much more artfully. If you practice what I teach, you will have an edge on your opponents."
"Who was it that taught you?" asked Saunder, genuinely interested.
"As a son of the Waterdhavian noble family of Ilvastarr, I had the opportunity to learn under many warriors. With certainty though, I can say my two best teachers were Captain-at-Arms Myrmith Splendon and Lord Keldorn Firecam. You may not have heard of Lord Firecam. He is a paladin who commands great respect within the Order of the Most Radiant Heart and I served him as a squire for several years."
"I assume it's quite a long road to join the Order," said Saunder.
"The road must always long in deeds but need not be long in years as well," replied Ajantis. Saunder nodded. "Who knows, even you may get to join the Order if you can prove yourself."
"Someone is coming," said Kivan. The party turned to see the ranger emerge from the shadows, none of them had noticed his exit any more than they had his approach.
"How many?" asked Branwen, removing her hammer from where it was fastened onto her belt.
"Only two of them, a man and a woman," responded Kivan, "they appear competent with the arms they carry but do not seem to be of hostile intent."
"How are they armed?" asked Ajantis as he stood.
"The man had a long sword and shield and was armored in chain mail. The woman carried only a quarterstaff and was armored in studded leather."
"They were headed in this direction?" asked Saunder.
"They were, and quite purposefully. I think it likely they spotted the campfire from afar," Kivan directed his stare at Imoen for a few moments.
"All right, I get the idea. No more fires. I guess we'll all just freeze to death when we have to sleep outside during winter with no fire."
"The fire did us some good, Imoen," Saunder said, resting a hand on her shoulder, "but I think it might be prudent to forgo the fires until we've dealt with the bandits in this area."
"Thanks," said Imoen, and she smiled faintly.
"Might as well leave it going," said Saunder as Imoen made to snuff the fire out, "they already know we're here."
Saunder walked to the path by which Kivan and Ajantis were standing. Imoen hesitantly snatched up her bow and followed.
"They are close now," said Kivan, "you should be able to hear them in a few moments." The ranger drew an arrow from his quiver and fitted it onto his longbow's nock. Ajantis put on his helm before drawing his great sword from its baldric. Branwen shifted uneasily as she waited.
Then the pair they had been waiting for came into sight.
"Halt, and state your intentions!" shouted Ajantis.
The man stopped immediately, but the woman kept on walking at a pace even more determined than before and the man jogged forward to keep up.
"D-do you think it w-wise to, err, to anger these people?" asked the man.
"I am not trying to anger them," the woman curtly said, "I only wish a better look at those I am speaking with."
As the two drew closer the firelight revealed them to both be half-elven. The firelight also revealed that the woman commanded an imperious scowl, which she now directed on the party arrayed before her, especially Kivan and his ready bow.
The woman turned to face Kivan, "I can assure you that is not necessary. I am looking for a young man named Saunder, the hero of Naskel as they call him. If any of you know where he is I would be most appreciative."
"You need look no farther," said Saunder as he stepped forward, "I am the one you seek. Now you have me at a disadvantage. Would you tell me who you are?"
Relief lit up the woman's face for a moment, "Yes, of course. I am Jaheira and this is my husband Khalid."
"I recognize your names," said Saunder, "but I do not believe I have ever met you."
"W-we were– uh–friends of your foster-father, he, he may have spoken of us," said the man Khalid.
"Yes," Saunder nodded, "now I remember, he told me to seek you out at the Friendly Arm Inn."
"He told you? Then why did you not come?" asked Jaheira, her stare accusing, "we waited there for nearly a week before deciding we would have to find you."
"This sounds like it is going to be a lengthy discussion," said Branwen as she secured her hammer on its belt notch, "and I see little reason for it to be had standing up."
"Aye, she's right," said Jaheira, "would you care to let us share your fire?"
"Make yourselves at home," said Saunder as he stepped aside to allow the two to pass.
Jaheira was the first to move to the fire and sit down, Khalid following shortly behind. Saunder moved to the side of the fire opposite the two newcomers.
"Now that you've found me," Saunder began, "what is it you want?"
"G-Gorion was a friend to. . . to both of us and requested that we teach and err–watch over you should anything happen to him," Khalid stammered out.
"I can see that you've found your own teachers though," said Jaheira as she looked at Saunder's companions, stopping when she looked at the dour-faced ranger, "and are not quite so helpless as Gorion expected you would be."
"Not so much as I was at any rate," said Saunder, "my lack of experience was why I chose not to go to the Friendly Arm Inn. Gorion and I were ambushed as we left Candlekeep. Whoever killed Gorion knew that we would travel on that road so it seemed just as likely they would know to find me at the Friendly Arm. I would have been easy prey for any bounty hunters waiting for me."
Jaheira remembered a number of unsavory but well-armed characters who had stood near the gates of the Friendly Arm Inn. They were probably the bounty hunters of whom Saunder spoke, and they certainly would have been in a good position to strike him down before Khalid or I would even have known something was amiss. A terrible mistake on my part and not one that will happen again.
"We would still like to offer our assistance if you would have it," said Jaheira. Khalid nodded.
"I do appreciate the offer," said Saunder, "but I have need to travel quietly and I believe I have enough companions now. Perhaps we will meet again."
"Perhaps," said Jaheira, not bothering to hide her disappointment, "I wish you success on your road."
"Thank you, both of you," said Saunder, "would you like to share our camp for the night? The hour is late for travel."
"No, that will not be necessary. I wish you luck on your road, Saunder," said Jaheira as she and Khalid stood and made way.
"You, you're just going to leave him?" asked Khalid in an exasperated voice, once he and Jaheira were out of earshot.
"He seems to have done well so far," Jaheira replied with a dismissive tone, "and he does not appear inclined toward having any more companions. I can see no reason to stand in his way."
Khalid stepped in front of Jaheira to block her way, "You know what he is! Do you really think he c-can be left alone?"
"And what do you think we can do about it." Those words stopped Khalid when he was about to speak again. "Self-discovery is best left to the self. We can do nothing but get in the way."
"Then what will we do?"
"We will do as harpers do," said Jaheira, "we will watch from afar and help as we can."
Khalid nodded and said no more as he followed Jaheira.