Redhawk
Always and never changing
A quick walk to the Salle and we were ready for my first lesson in hand to hand fighting. Little did we know, I would not be the only one learning something today.
Dante had me start by doing some stretching, and seemed surprised when Aunt Morgan joined us in this. He looked to John, who simply shrugged, knowing no more than we did of what was to come. After several long moments, Aunt suggested that rather than immediately start me, I might benefit from watching some different types of sword play with someone to point out what I was looking at, doubtful I had ever experienced that. She looked overly innocent as she spoke, but neither Dante nor John appeared to notice this.
John stood to join Dante, but Aunt waved him back. “I am sure that what the two of you can show us would be useful, but since Laurel is no where near either of your sizes, why not show her with someone closer to her own size?” Dante looked at Arun, who laughed, as she too was a good head taller than me. “Surely you do not mean for me to fight you, Lizbeth? I cannot bring myself to strike you!” Was Dante’s admission. I noticed that Sarah had a slight smile on her face as her partner, raised an eyebrow and asked in a haughty tone….”What makes you think you will land a strike? These leathers did not start out looking as they now do; and I would suggest that you don your own leathers, I do not give out love taps when working out with some one close to my measure!”
Dante turned to John for some sort of help, he was ten and two years of age, well grown and muscled, much taller than the elderly woman standing before him, and well used to using his strength on a regular basis. She might be quite hardy for her age, but he was in no hurry to cause her an injury.
“Why do you look to my nephew, boy, think you he can dissuade me from this venture? Go put on your leathers and get your sword; before you judge me a fool, indulge me a moment.” It appeared to all of us that Dante had little choice; he bowed slightly and ran to the small room where the gear was kept. Running back a few moments later leather pants on, and wood swords under his arm, his leather tunic in his hand. He started to set the wood and tunic down, but Aunt stopped him and asked that he get his steel. “Now I must protest!” He said, with some heat. “Wood is enough to tap with in this bout, do you not agree, Lizbeth?” She grinned, but not in a very nice way, responding. “You are welcome to use the blade of your choice, Sir, I am using my own sword.” She stepped to Sarah, who handed her a silk wrapped scabbard and drew from it a beautiful, old looking blade.
She looked at it fondly and then passed it to Dante to look at. His eyes opened very wide and he was clearly impressed with the craftsmanship, the balance which he tested after flashing Lizbeth a questioning look, and receiving her nod of approval. His smile was pure delight at the way the Aunt Lizbeth’s sword handled in his hands. “Tis a bit on the light side for me, but I can see that it would be like an extension of the arm for someone of your size and weight. It is a Master’s work I would judge.”
Aunt smiled, pleased that he was able to read the quality of her sword. “You would be correct in that judgment. It twas made for me, and as you might imagine from the look of it, it has been used. More successfully than not, as you see me standing here, more often used than I would wish had been needed. Now, will you please stop wasting time and go get your steel, consider for one moment that I may know what I am about here, and let us begin to show Laurel how someone closer to her size might attempt to successfully fight someone of your size?”
Dante bowed and raced back to the armory again. When he returned he had his blade, and asked John to please lace his tunic for him as he wiggled into it. John began lacing the back up tightly, it was made to allow a great deal of movement, but the thick leather provided some protection from glancing blows and if you were quick enough, might stop or hinder a direct stab long enough to evade such. Standing so John could tighten up the laces on the back, Dante bespoke in all haste “You knew nothing of this; that she evidently has fought at some point in time?”
“Nay, not a bit of it, not like this. I mean, I know she and Mother were reputed to fight about the house as youngsters, to the point that Grandfather finally had a Salle built at his City House, slightly smaller than the one they had in the country, because they spent a good part of the year in the Capital, but never did Mother say naught that Aunt Lizbeth fought as a woman!” Poor John had no more to offer and sounded as confounded as Dante felt.
“Where the duce could she have fought as a woman? Aside from our own people, who else allows women to fight?” Dante mental voice sounded more worried by the moment. I think I may be in for it, John, that sword has seen blood, it resonates with it, for all it is perfectly clean and well maintained. No doubt that’s why she had it wrapped in the silk, so that Sarah can stand to handle it. How old is Lizbeth?” Dante asked.
“I don’t know exactly, four and nine? She could be five and four or older, Mother has two older sisters and three younger ones, I don’t rightly know which one Lizbeth is, I never thought to ask! Her hair has always been snowy white, I just thought of her as old! Mother is fifty, or maybe five and one, not much help really is it? I’m sorry!”
Auntie had spend the moments speaking to Laurel, describing what she would be trying to do to compensate for the age and weight difference between her and Dante when Sarah spoke softly for her ears only….”You are not going to hurt him I know better than that, but don’t hurt his pride too much if you can help it, not before his wife, let her find him fallible in the more timely ways lovers do!” Lizbeth shrugged a moment and asked Sarah to check her ties for her. “Oh, you are such a romantic, this is training!” Sarah’s deft fingers tighten up the loose spot and retied the ends. “He is apt, young, male and stronger physically than you are, and I know you love a challenge, but you are romantic too, my love, and he is like a son to all of us, bare it in mind, Lizbeth….you can prove your point without shredding his confidence!”
Lizbeth turned to her love, she who was gentle and giving in spirit, who had been with her since they were but girls, a true friendship that had grown into a deeper love. “You have always been my strength in so many ways, and my conscience in many others. I would be a fool not to heed your wisdom now.” Sarah leaned in and wrapped her arms about her life bonded, leaning down the scant inches to kiss her gently.
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Well, even if it turns out to be a bore...at least you've helped me so much to be better aware of my worst writing pitfalls...you are very kind to help people this way! Thank you.