The Youngest Mentor [Ronan]

[Sama'el Sunsinger]

"And you've," he admitted carefully, "shown me skill... greater than my own." When they locked blades, it seemed that Sama'el's agility amounted for less, but when Ronan paused, staring expectantly at him, the young Watchman could only react. His free hand gripping Ronan's wrist, his Fire guttering out as his focus shifted, Sama'el spun into Ronan's arm as if they were dancing, or were lovers. But he tucked his hip just so against Ronan's, bent his legs and heaved, pulling too on the wrist that held his wicked dagger. If he managed to flip and throw Ronan, he would disarm him and hold his knife poised for a deathstrike, but it would never land. If he failed, well, they would have a messy grapple with two naked blades that could get more dangerous than a spar necessarily should.

[Ronan]

It all happened so quickly, the deadlock changed from neutrality to disadvantage for Ronan. His wrist was being held firmly, and Sama'el had him in such a way that he was ready to throw him to the ground. This man was agile. And it seemed agility and quick thinking could overcome raw strength. The situation grew tense, and the sweat only continued to pour from Ronan's forehead. His breath came out shakily, and he felt more than a little fear in the moment. Thank the God's this wasn't real... his throat would surely be slit by now. It made him feel fragile, and acutely aware of how far he had to go to each the lofty heights of a watchman. His heart sank. Checkmate. "I surrender," he said quietly, waiting for Sama'el's reaction.

[Sama'el Sunsinger]

Successful at last, Sama'el blinked down at Ronan. He had the bigger man pinned, his knife held at the ready. It surprised him when all of his training paid off even though that is what it was supposed to do. He just wasn't used to a world where promises were kept. Ronan wasn't a mountain of a man like Erzotol, but he was stronger than whipcord Sama'el. He grinned and grabbed Ronan's dagger out of the grass to hand him the hilt before he got up off of him, sliding his hunting knife into its sheath before offering him a hand up. "You're going to have to teach me that trick where you reversed your blade at the last minute. I was going to block it, but then I had to pull back. Nearly had me there. I think you could join the Watch by Spring if you train hard until then. There's the blades, the riding, and all... "I'll help. If you like." It would make Sama'el happy to help his friend develop himself from hunter to his brother on the Watch, and if they were successful, he would feel like perhaps he could lead a pavilion successfully.

[Ronan]

Ronan grinned, accepting his dagger back. His chest heaved, his whole body aching with the effort. Then he comically fell down onto the grass, lying back with his hands beneath his head to watch the sky. "I'd like that more than anything else," he replied quickly. This Watcher had done so much for him... never had another Drykas shown Ronan so much patience and compassion. Things in his life had changed for the better. "I owe you a great debt friend," Ronan added, "you've already done so much for me." The Spring! I can join the Watch by the Spring! He cut his excited trail of thought short. That was relying on intense training, on mastery of those skills the Watch prized. But he could get there. He was sure of it. "One day, perhaps, I'll save your life Sama'el. And then the debt might begin to be repaid."

[Sama'el Sunsinger]

Sama'el flopped down on the grass beside Ronan as well, pillowing his head on his hands and staring up into the sky. Having lost his family, Sama'el was always trying to find his soul-kin, the ones who could feel as close as a brother or a sister. There was a void within that needed filling with care and loving kindness, and he knew no better way to foster that than to help Ronan achieve his dream. "You owe me nothing, friend Ronan. I've sworn an oath to protect Endrykas and our people. I know of no better way than to help you protect yourself, and if you do become my brother of the Watch, then we'll be doubly sworn to save each other's lives. Hopefully we will lose count."

[Ronan]

Ronan smiled. He didn't smile very often, yet it felt good. "Hopefully," he said softly, watching a small cloud brush through that beautiful cobalt sky. Mizahar was a wonderful world to live in - in the past, he had just chosen not to see that. "Sama'el," he broached slowly, "have I ever asked you of your Pavilion? You feel like a good friend to me, yet I know so little." Then he swallowed and closed his eyes. "If you don't want to say, please don't. I know what a burden the past can be..." So he opened his eyes again, and continued to watch the clouds, waiting for his friend's response. If Sama'el could open up to him... perhaps he could open up too. He longed for someone to talk to, someone to share with. The Watch would allow him to fight, and to protect. But by the same token, it would give him a family of brothers, friends and colleagues to share and smile with. He wanted that more than anything.

[Sama'el Sunsinger]

There was a slight dimming to his generally sunniness, but after a moment, Sama'el told the story for not the first time. It wasn't so difficult after so many reiterations. Everyone wanted to know about the past while Sama'el tried to live in the present and look to the future. "My pavilion traveled away from Endrykas a lot," he said quietly, not naming the dead pavilion for fear of cursing it. He would speak it again when he had raised a new pavilion and filled it with people who would bear its name. "To Riverfall, Kenash, and Claridon when it wasn't Endrykas' season to be close. To Ahnatep, to Syliras. I became a man at seven when Hasieran chose me. He was... the most magnificent stallion I've ever seen." Some of that might have been the golden glow of hindsight, but no stallion would ever compare to tall Hasieran who had chosen a boy of no particular excellence. "I was still seven when we were returning from a trading trip to Syliras and bandits attacked our camp in the night. Hasieran fought them off while I looked for a weapon. I was the only one to survive and I was sold a few times in a few places. I ended up in Sunberth. Eight years later I escaped with Horse. Syna sent an ancestor to help me, one of her fallen... He goes by a different name now, but parts of him are still Drykas. I wandered for two years before coming back. I was so ashamed... but I thought I might work hard and make up for all that." Addenda : In case you want to read his background in more detail: Monsters Horse Thieves Galloping Manic Ancestry of the Sun ...but no pressure.

[Ronan]

Ronan listened, a pain throbbing in his heart, before rolling onto his side to watch Sama'el. "That is... that is a burden, my friend." There was a great release in hearing such a similar pain from another, so much so that tears welled up in his eyes. He never let them fall. "My own story is not so different... my brother was killed while out hunting, and then a couple of years later my parents died. The whole Windsong pavilion collapsed... I was helpless to the ruin around me." He swallowed, breathing heavily as he recounted his story. "That's why I want to join the Watch Sama'el... to have a family again." Ronan flicked his dagger from his pouch, rolling it about in his hand. "That's what I want more than anything in the world..."

[Sama'el Sunsinger]

Sama'el turned his head to look at Ronan, his own eyes dry, but a small, grateful smile blooming when he saw unshed tears in his friend's eyes. Pity, he had no use for. Compassion was welcome. Empathy was to be treasured. Had it been Denen, who was tender as a girl, he might have reached out to brush at the moisture collecting in the corner of Ronan's eyes, but a man of the Watch had to be strong, even when giving water for the dead. "The world is dangerous," he agreed. "The Sea of Grass and beyond. If you become my brother in the Watch, then we will be responsible for preventing as much death as possible for our people. It is, I think, a good way to give honor to those who are gone ahead of us." He wondered, not for the first time, whether either of them would live long enough to start their pavilions again, or whether Ronan, like Denen, would choose to throw in his lot with Sama'el. It was not unheard of to adopt an orphan into a pavilion, and not everyone had the drive to be an Ankal the way Sama'el did. "We will make it happen, friend Ronan. The Watch will be yours."

[Lariat]

Sama'el

Experience:

Dagger: 3 xp
Tactics: 3 xp
Reimancy: 2 xp
Acrobatics: 2 xp

Lores:

Dagger tactic for surprise: Reversing your blade mid strike


Ronan

Experience:

Dagger: 3 xp
Tactics: 2 xp

Lores:

Tactic: Feinting with your dagger

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