Completed The Shield of Brock [Ryia]

[Rodistair]

Wimter 23, 513 AV

Ser Iros had called his squire to the training grounds earlier than usual, it seemed he had already planned the day’s training regimen, “Listen up, you doughboy, today I have a special training partner for you.” He paused, inspecting his young squire. “She is better than you in everyway, and in no way are you her equal. You will train with her. You will listen to her commands. The weapon masters will be watching, and I will not be far behind!” He was inches away, screaming into Rodistair face, shouting in his booming Akalak voice. The young squire nodded earnestly, the challenge issused forth by his patron piqued the boy’s interest. What ever his patron had in order for him was sure to e fun for the young squire, who enjoyed the fight, and the struggle- atleast for today.

As they traveled through the bustling training grounds, the chill air seemed to make the ringing sounds of training swords echo louder than in the fall, and summer. They walked for only a few ticks, before Iros had led him to his foe for the day. “Ryia Brock, I have someone I would like you to meet.” Iros called her with almost kindness, and respect in his voice.

Rodistair studied his soon to be foe. She was around the same age as he was, and about the same height as her. Something about her seemed scary, though, an unspoken power, hidden in her cool eyes, and long hair. The young squire saluted, bringing the wooden sword to his forehead, maybe this young girl would enjoy the fight as much as he did. He hoped to learn something, and teach her anything he could. Today, was going to be fun.

[Ryia Brock]

Helena accompanied her squires into the training grounds. Both Ryia and Dimia walked a few steps ahead of their elder sister and patron, all three dressed with their hair in pony tails at the back of their necks and clad in full plate armor. They all carried long swords at the hip and a shield on their arm. Ryia normally didn't carry a shield, but Helena thought it wise to teach her baby sister to use one along with her sword. Training to be a mage didn't require her to use a shield, but Helena wanted her to learn to use it none the less.

The three entered the area and Helena directed them to Ser Iros, who was standing with one of his squires. The man was an intimidatingly large Akalak, and he didn't look to be in a good mood. That was another thing that was odd about the day. Helena had, for some reason, paired Ryia off to spar with another squire. It seemed odd, so far she had only trained with her sisters, and her father before that. This would be the first time that she trained with a squire outside the family which only made it more nerve wrecking.

" It's time we took you out of your comfort zone Ryia." Helena said as she looked to her sister. "This is why I have found you another to spar with. Someone closer to your age."

Ryia started to ask a question, but changed her mind quickly. She was being tested and the squire knew that she needed to prove that she had gotten better and stronger in confidence. She nodded, and took a few steps towards the Knight. "Well met, Ser Iros." she said in Tukant. The moment the words left her mouth she wished she hadn't said it. She would hope he would see it as a show of respect rather than butt kissing, but one could never tell with Akalak.

Turning her attention to the squire, she nodded again as she re gripped the shield in her hand. Ryia wasn't use to holding one, and the teenager already felt off balance just by holding it. "Good day to you...?" she paused since no one had given the squire's name.

[Rodistair]

Rodistair could almost feel his patron’s eyes boring into the back of his head, “Pardon my young squire, he sometimes forgets his manners.” The Akalak gently prodded his squire’s head, not hard enough to hurt, but enough to get the boy’s attention. “its almost like someone forgot to teach him any”

Rodistair grinned, sometimes he enjoyed making his patron frustrated, he was probably going to have to do many many pushups later today. “worth it’ thought the squire as he lowered his heavy wooden sword. “ I am Rodistair Mooring.” He nodded in greeting, he wasn’t the most vocal young boy, and he did lack many of the social skills that other had. Training with an Akalak obsessed with perfection took a lot of time.

“It is a nice day to spar, no?” he called, trying to contain the excitement in his voice. He wasn’t sure how well he was succeeding. Slowly, a driving itch crawled up the back of his leg, a surge of energy began to distract the boy, He shook his leg, trying to accommodate the gnawing intensity that began to climb up his back.

“Are you ready?” he asked, his voiced lined with eagerness, and a little impatience. His patron’s words interested the him, and he wanted to begin as soon as he could. He rotated his shoulders, trying to keep the rush from spreading down his hands. It was almost unbearable, but it also felt strangely delightful to him, like the buildup of a storm.

[Ryia Brock]

Ryia stared at the large Akalak, then back to his squire again. Iros had made a joke, but she wasn't sure if she was supposed to laugh at it. Laughing might make her appear childish or even disrespectful. Dimia stood behind them and off to the side, the squire had her own thoughts about the boy's manners, but said nothing as it wasn't her place.

"Get a move on ladies." Helena called out, looking to get the spar going sooner instead of night fall. Ryia nodded and turned her body slightly where her shield faced outward towards Rodistair. She truly felt unbalanced with the extra weight of the shield and it took her a moment to get herself together. The teenager gripped her shield tightly and spread her legs to create a better overall balance and form.

Ryia took a small breath, her feet slowly sliding across the ground as she moved closer to him. Shifting her arm, the shield slowing her motion, the squire rolled her full shoulder away as she brought her sword across into a slash at Rodistair. She returned to her previous stance, bringing her shield up to block if she needed too, then rolling her shoulder out again as she took a stab at him this time.

[Rodistair]

As Ryia charged the young boy, the arcing energy broke, like a storm letting loose, or waves crashing into the bay of Syliras. The squire could barely contain his excitement as she rushed towards him. He felt like he lit up, as she entered close range, but for all his excitement, and giddiness, he noticed her stance. It seemed… unbalanced, more like she was putting her shield up because that’s all she knew how to do with it. He didn’t have much time to ponder this, as she slashed at him, with force coming in from the shoulder.

Rodistair stepped forward as she struck. Her power and skill was equal, or even better than his, he could see. But something was holding her back, the young squire couldn’t place a finger on what it was as he brought his shield up, blocking Ryia at the forearm. Their shields met briefly with a dull thud, before Rodistair retreated to dodge her thrust. They were barely out of sword range now, but as the eagerness built up again Rodistair couldn’t wait for her to attack again.

He moved swiftly, bringing up his shield, with the leading edge offset from his body at a 60 degree angle, he jabbed the shield at her right arm, in an attempt to get under her arm, he kept his charge going, hoping to knock her off balance, leaving his sword held back, waiting for the right time to strike.

[Ryia Brock]

The armor was heavy, and with the addition of the shield everything felt heavier. She was off balanced, though with the heavy plated boots, her feet were weighted down. All together it caused her movements to be slowed, and the mental stigma from it all made her doubt her strength and skill. Ryia flinched as their shields clashed, taking a step back and regripping both the shield and the long sword.

Dimia and Helena both watched closely from where they stood, but with very different thoughts traveling through their minds. Dimia watched and she saw the progression in her little sister's attacks. She remembered when Ryia hesitated to strike, and that she never defended either. But that was in the past and now her sister had gotten much better, possibly even better than she was.

Helena saw something very different, Ryia lacked confidence and that what was holding her back. It probably had something to do with the fact that no one else believed she could do it, but if she wanted to convince them, she had to prove it to herself first.

The second shield attack came harder and forced her arm back against her body roughly, and she stumbled back a two steps. "Focus Ryia, remember your training." Helena called out from behind her. Her Patron, and eldest sister was right in fact, Ryia had been trained to handle a sword enough to hold her own at this point. She had also received a private lesson from a Knight on using the shield. The teenager strengthen her will and focused her mind on the fight.

The other squire had nailed her with a strong shield attack but then he stopped and waited. He was playing the defense and waiting on her to come after him. She moved closer slowly, waiting to see if he would move or react. Back in range, Ryia turned her arm outward and struck at him, an almost hacking like swing towards his unarmed side. If he tried to attack, she would lift her leg and slam her boot into his shin, while bringing her shield arm around to smack him with it.

[Rodistair]

With flames in his eyes, the younger squire watched his sparring partner, his shield push had forced her back, making her have to re- enter sword range. This was his favorite part of the dance that was sword fighting, the step into range was most exciting as the two parties entered an agreement based upon skill and tenacity. He tried to judge where her next strike would land, but he wasn’t the best at reading people before they launched their attack.

It wasn’t long before her attack came, rolling off her shoulder with considerable power towards his left arm. He stepped into it, raising the shield to block her sword arm at the wrist. As he tried to bring his sword to bear against Ryia, he dropped to one knee as her kick connected. He did his best to keep his shield up, but completely lost any sort of power from his sword strike.

OOCIf you decide that you’re able to hit past my shield on this one, go ahead. I hate getting kicked in the shin and that would knock Rodi off balance.

[Ryia Brock]

Rodistair's shield connected with her arm hard, her wrist twisted and she lost control of her sword which fell just over his shoulder. Luckily her strike to his knee had stunned him and saved her from being attacked while unarmed. Thinking quickly to move before he realized he had the upper hand.

Ryia tighten her grip on her shield and shoved it hard against him, then burrowed forward with her full weight trying to knock him down. The young squired pushed herself off and over him, rolling clumsy as she reclaimed her sword. It was an unorthodox move to say the least, but she just need to get her weapon back.

Dimia winced as she looked on, her little sister was a rough one, no grace at all. Helena shook her head, not much at the tackle, but because Ryia allowed herself to be disarmed so easily. The teenager covered herself with her shield as she tried to stand again and waited for him with her sword at the ready

[Rodistair]

Rodistair tumbled to the ground with Ryia, as he cursed himself for being so open to her kick. He tried to concentrate on resuming the fight, but her shield knocked him almost dumb. He struggled to push her back, but her momentum carried her over Rodistair, and he could do nothing to stop her as she reclaimed her sword, and tumbled away. They stood at almost the same moment, ready for the fight to continue, and just as Rodistair was ready to charge, his Patron stepped in.

“I think I’ve seen enough.” Ser Iros called, loudly, “Squire Shortcake, you need to train harder, I am not impressed with your progress.” He looked disappointedly at his squire. “I’ll begin a new training regimen for you at once.” Rodistair heart sank, he had felt like he had preformed well, but his patron could always make him feel like a helioc. “Sera Helena, I believe this is Squire Ryia’s first day training with a shield properly, no?” He looked over at the young girl with a little admiration. “She did very well, and though my squire is a venhrehk, he has a special attitude with the shield that I believe that Ryia can benefit from.”

Rodistair stood at the ready, though in a slightly more relaxed pose as he believed the fight was over, but little did he know that his day was just getting started, and his next challenge would be the hardest of the day… talking.

[Ryia Brock]

Ryia's heart was pumping harder now, the adrenaline roaring through her small frame after the successful tackle had the girl ready for more. She watched his eyes, his feet, and his arms. She couldn't anticipate his attack, but she could try to counter it the moment that he moved. The young squire recalled what the Knight Druva had taught her, and the teenager changed her stance to one of defense, making her form as small as possible behind her shield.

But the second round wasn't to come. Ser Iros called an end to it, and although there was no real winner, he tore into his squire as if he had lost. Ryia looked across the way where Dimia should with a soft smile and nodded her head in approval. Helena didn't smile or nod, and instead she stepped forward, reprising that intimidating walk once again. "Yes, Ryia has much to learn, and I aim to teach her to make her shield as much a part of her as her blade."

Helena looked to her sister then, and it appeared as if she almost smiled a bit. Ryia would take it for what she could, and see it as a good thing along with the praise of the Akalak Knight. "You are too kind Ser Iros. Squire Mooring, thank you for sparing." Helena looked at both squires again as she thought over what Iros was offering. "Maybe, what did you have in mind?"