Sparring
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: Paula, Eimi
Date Posted: 4th September 2008
Characters: Erassa, Corowal, Zandan, Corofel, Corolia, Ofewal
Description: Erassa and the children watch Corowal exercise.
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 11, day 24 of Turn 4
"Come on, Erassa, you have to see this, dad's sparring with uncle Zandan," Corofel said. The children were practically pulling the fostermother with them. They headed for the practice ground at the guard barracks.
"It's great fun to watch," Ofewal agreed.
Erassa shoved down her absolute loathing at the idea of watching the Lord Holder try to pretend he was more of a man than he actually was. His son didn't know what an odious bastard his father was, and she would never tell him. He would probably discover it on his own soon enough. Or would that sweet boy grow up to be a man just like him? That thought sent a chill down her spine as they approached the grounds.
Group of guards ringed the training ground, watching the two men. Both had bared their upper bodies and were covered thin film of sweat. At first glance they looked an uneven pair. One was very big: huge, muscular brute with long arms. The other one was much more smaller and slimmer even if he too looked athletic. The big one had a sword and a shield, while Corowal had actually two blades: sword and a dagger. "That's uncle Zandan. He's the captain of the guard," Corofel told Erassa and pointed the big man.
The men circled each other, then moved closer. Steel clanged against the steel, then they separated again. It came soon apparent that they weren't that unevenly matched after all. Zandan had the size and the strength, but Corowal had the speed and agility. His blades moved with blinding speed that the big man was hard pressed to parry.
Despite herself, Erassa found herself drawn into the battle, though she wasn't so sure if it wasn't just in the hope that Corowal would get a good thrashing. However, that seemed highly unlikely considering the skill he was displaying. She had to grudgingly admit to herself that he had a fantastic physic. And he probably knew it too.
It looked like Corowal was tripping and Zandan move forward with predatory eagerness. But Corowal had only been faking, he suddenly dropped to the ground, his legs shooting out and hooking behind the big man's ankles. He pulled and Zandan lost his balance, falling to his back. Corowal was back on his feet in a one agile movement. The big man swore and Ofewal covered his little sisters ears.
"Do they often do this?" Erassa whispered to the young boy.
"Yes, at least once in a sevenday," Ofewal replied.
Well, that certainly explained the physic. But where the Lord Holder got the energy to wrestle the captain of the guard and be such an odious bastard in between times was beyond her. "Does your father ever lose?" That would be a day Erassa would be truly pleased to watch.
"Sometimes," Ofewal replied with a shrug.
**So the Lord Holder is fallible,** Erassa thought rather uncharitably. It was hard for her to think well of a man who delighted in parading his conquests in front of her. It wouldn't have been so bad if she had entered into the arrangement with full knowledge of what he really was. But he had seemed such a good man - a loving family man, a caring man, a gentleman... Until he surprised her with a lovely meal on a rooftop and expected payment for his services.
Last updated on the September 6th 2008