15th of Summer, 516 AV
One of the many things she liked about the Pit was that it wasn't inside the castle. People trained out in the open under blue skies, with the wind on their skin and sun burning their cheeks. Though today the skies were gray as far as the eye could see and a light drizzle fell lazily from the clouds, several groups of men and a few women trained with a mixture of the worn weapons provided and their own.
Morrigan dropped down into the damp dirt of the Pit from the crumbling walls, bow in hand and arrows rattling against her back. A few familiar faces waved at her in passing or shouted friendly jeers, and she gestured rudely to the latter, earning a few barks of laughter. No one else seemed interested in the row of targets set against stone though, so she found herself off in her own corner, the sound of striking metal ringing behind her.
The slow, small drops of rain felt nice on her skin. It was surprisingly humid so early in the summer, and the bit of wet offered some cool relief. She hadn't decided how long she would be here today. If the weather went south soon, they all might have to call it an early day; otherwise she'd be at it until her arms burned.
Morrigan reached back for an arrow, fingers brushing feather when suddenly something slammed into her back, knocking her hard to the ground. Her bow slid across the dirt and arrows scattered around her. There was the sound of shocked laughter and shuffling feet as she struggled to right herself.
"What the petch?" she growled into the dirt, shifting to her knees.
Two young men, one covered in dirt like herself and already back on his feet, both them smiling as if they were sharing a joke. Each had a blade in hand, clearly training and getting too rowdy. She just happened to be in the way.
"You idiots need to use your eyes!" Her words were like venom, and the smiles slowly slipped from their faces.
"Don't get your skirts in a wad. We were just having some fun," one of them retorted. Her expression darkened instantly, and she climbed to her feet.
"Fun, you say? With live steel, and other people about? You think anyone else think's it's fun playing around with weapons?" A few people had stopped to watch the confrontation now. The sound of ringing blades was much less so, and the two young men glanced around uncomfortably.
Feeling more than a little vengeful, Morrigan took their moment of hesitation to lunge at the one who knocked his partner into her. She shoved him hard in the chest, hitting him with all of her weight and sending him to the ground. A smattering of laughter rose around them and finally she smiled, just a little too sweetly for it to be honest.
"Watch your step around here."
They didn't stay much longer. The last she saw of them, they were putting their swords away with tails between their legs, ears red and heads down, trying not to look anyone in the eye. She was still smiling as she picked up her arrows.
One of the many things she liked about the Pit was that it wasn't inside the castle. People trained out in the open under blue skies, with the wind on their skin and sun burning their cheeks. Though today the skies were gray as far as the eye could see and a light drizzle fell lazily from the clouds, several groups of men and a few women trained with a mixture of the worn weapons provided and their own.
Morrigan dropped down into the damp dirt of the Pit from the crumbling walls, bow in hand and arrows rattling against her back. A few familiar faces waved at her in passing or shouted friendly jeers, and she gestured rudely to the latter, earning a few barks of laughter. No one else seemed interested in the row of targets set against stone though, so she found herself off in her own corner, the sound of striking metal ringing behind her.
The slow, small drops of rain felt nice on her skin. It was surprisingly humid so early in the summer, and the bit of wet offered some cool relief. She hadn't decided how long she would be here today. If the weather went south soon, they all might have to call it an early day; otherwise she'd be at it until her arms burned.
Morrigan reached back for an arrow, fingers brushing feather when suddenly something slammed into her back, knocking her hard to the ground. Her bow slid across the dirt and arrows scattered around her. There was the sound of shocked laughter and shuffling feet as she struggled to right herself.
"What the petch?" she growled into the dirt, shifting to her knees.
Two young men, one covered in dirt like herself and already back on his feet, both them smiling as if they were sharing a joke. Each had a blade in hand, clearly training and getting too rowdy. She just happened to be in the way.
"You idiots need to use your eyes!" Her words were like venom, and the smiles slowly slipped from their faces.
"Don't get your skirts in a wad. We were just having some fun," one of them retorted. Her expression darkened instantly, and she climbed to her feet.
"Fun, you say? With live steel, and other people about? You think anyone else think's it's fun playing around with weapons?" A few people had stopped to watch the confrontation now. The sound of ringing blades was much less so, and the two young men glanced around uncomfortably.
Feeling more than a little vengeful, Morrigan took their moment of hesitation to lunge at the one who knocked his partner into her. She shoved him hard in the chest, hitting him with all of her weight and sending him to the ground. A smattering of laughter rose around them and finally she smiled, just a little too sweetly for it to be honest.
"Watch your step around here."
They didn't stay much longer. The last she saw of them, they were putting their swords away with tails between their legs, ears red and heads down, trying not to look anyone in the eye. She was still smiling as she picked up her arrows.