Meeting at dusk (Aleath & Ishamael)

[Aleath]

Aleath smiled at Ishamael when she observed his reaction about her age. He looked really surprised, but that was normal reaction she always got from others. After she said the thing about them making a good couple, she wondered if she hasn't gone too far. They only just met after all. But there was something about him, that made her feel safe with him. She quickly looked at him. He seemed to be surprised by what she had said, but he quickly recovered and she breathed a sigh of relief when he smiled at her. So he wasn't offended. Good. She listened to his talk about himself. So Drykas, she thought. That's why he had a horse with him. And he was only a year older then her. She initialy thought that he was a normal human, but it was the same with her. She, too, didn't look much different from normal humans. Then she looked at the tattoos. "Hm, I would like a tattoo too someday. Just a small one." Then they finally arrived near the lake. She grinned when he appeared pleased and maybe a little bit impressed by her choice of place for a camp. "Yes, it's perfect." Aleath watched siletly as Ishamael started to prepare everything and then he asked her to cook something. He seemed to be used to camping in nature, because he did all the things automatically. "Of course I will eat with you." she replied to his question and smiled. She was about to go to prepare the meat, when he uttered something about eating human flesh and leftover quadricep. Not realizing, that it was a joke, Aleath's eyes widened in shock and she gasped, horrified. "H-human flesh...? You...eh...you eat human flesh?" she stammered staring at him, not knowing if she should run away or what else to do.

[Ishamael]

Ishamael watched Aleath darkly as she began to react to what he said. She truly was surprised and seemed on the edge of running. Her feet were dancing indeed. He had to do something, a decision, continue the joke or put an end to it. Under normal circumstances he would have pushed his luck, but Ishamael had not intended to frighten her so he quickly came to the conclusion to end his charade.

Laughing loudly at Aleath's face was easy enough, and a rich throaty sound came from deep in his throat as he made soothing gestures and walked towards her. Come come fair lady, I was only having a laugh, of course I am no cannibal, all I have is dried stock for travel, you have nothing to fear. I feel my joke may have been too much too soon, a bad habit of sorts. Ishamael gave his winningest grin as he said it easing Aleath back towards the fire.

You just take care of dinner and I will put up the tent, then we can talk some more. Still smiling with hidden laughter Ishamael set about pitching his tent, the motions automatic and fluid. As he worked he began to smell dinner being prepared and his stomach rumbled loudly, he had not eaten since midday.

finishing his work he strolled back to the fire and laid down to lounge beside it. Is dinner ready, I could sure use someone else's cooking other than my own. Ishamael smiled sweetly at Aleath as he spoke.

[Aleath]

Aleath nearly started to back off, when Ishamael mentioned the human flesh and even Shade jumped to his feet, standing on front of Aleath, observing them both, unsure what to do. Then, when Ishamael started to laugh, Aleath looked at him, puzzled. At his explanation, she folded her arms and pretended to pout for a while, but his laugh was simply contagious and she started to laugh too. "You are such a joker, aren't you." She shook her head at him, chuckling. "And I thought that I was the master prankster." The man was unbelievable! "You scared me half to death." She smacked him on his arm lightly. She then nodded and smiled gently when he asked her to prepare dinner. "Yes, I'll make something." She went to the fire he made earlier, took out her eating knife, cut the meat in smaller pieces and she set it in the pot and she also added some of the vegetables and roots that Ishamael had wih him. Then, as she waited for the food to cook, she started thinking. 'Oh, just you wait, my dear friend. This means revenge.' She smiled mischievously, but she soon sobered up, because her stomach grumbled. 'Well, it'll have to wait.' she thought and went back to observe the food in the pot. When the food was ready, she handed one piece to Ishamael and she took one herself. 'Hm, not bad.Could be better, but for now it's enough.' she thought critically when she took a bite. Of course she was not a master in cooking, but she at least knew how to roast a meat. "So what do you think? Is the meat fine?" she asked Ishamael and then she continued. "I thought, maybe if you don't have anything to do tomorrow, we could go somewhere together. Or we could do something. It's up to you." she smiled at him shyly. Deciding for others made her feel uncomfortable, so she rather let others do it.

[Ishamael]

Ishamael laughed at Aleath's appreant poutiness, his deep throaty laugh ringing across the lake. Her, prank ME! tough chance Ishamael thought as he unbirdled and rubbed down Hopper from the long ride, and put his feed bag on as well. His job done he returned to the fire lounged lazily and gladly accepted the plate of food Aleath gave him. He ate quietly and quickly, for she had done a fine job of roasting the rabbit and on the vegetables as well.

Yes, yes the food is quite good, much better than my own I must say. I feat that my own cooking is just passible enough to keep oneself alive He chuckled again at himself as he finished his plate. Setting it aside he intently listened to Aleath ask him some questions.

Well i must keep moving, and Im sure some sightseeing is fine, if you would want to join me? Ishamael looked at her raising his eyebrows as if it were no consequence to him what she chose, but he was enjoying himself for a change he had to admit.

Raising suddenly from the fire Ishamael ventured into his tent then returned swiftly with his sovnya. The polearm had a single edged blade on the end, eerily remeinscent of a sword. Setting it down beside him he looked at Aleath who was watching him silently. If I may ask Aleath, how do you protect yourself, I see no weapon on you? Do you have magic or some other skill? If you do not I would be glad to teach you some basic defense. The quarterstaff is not so terribly different from the sonvya, if not as deadly, but I could give you some basics to defend yourself. Ishamael looked over at the woman cooly now, she needed to know how to help herself, or at least someone to watch over her for the time being.

[Aleath]

So the food wasn't a total disaster and Aleath was glad. She was also happy to hear that he wanted to travel with her for a while. She really started to like him. It was a nice change to meet somebody nice. Aleath ate her meat and then she stretched on the ground, resting. Then Ishamael stood and went to his tent. Aleath briefly wondered if he went to sleep, but soon he returned and in his hand was something that looked vaguely like a sword. She sat up and looked at it curiously. At Ishamael's question she shrugged. "Yes I sure could use some training. I have a weapon with me, but it's only a half spear. This looks more effective." She stood up. Her voice was suddenly excited. "So, let's get to it." She grinned and waited for Ishamael's instructions.

[Ishamael]

Ishamael stood stretching his back as he picked up the sovnya. Looking Aleath over and how she held her short spear, he assumed he needed to start at the basics. Smiling he wiped some of the dirt off of his clothes, and with eyes twinkling began to instruct Aleath on the spear.

Well first off the pointy sharp end goes into the enemy instead of yourself. Laughing slightly he continued on. Now to begin simply you need to know is to keep your hands away from the blade. Keep one hand towards the base of the haft, and the other about halfway up the haft, like this Ishamael grasped his sovnya in the way he showed Aleath Now once you've done that you should try to place your feet like so Ishamael took an aggresive stance one hand in front of the other, his legs slightly bent and on the balls of his feet.


You see how it is? Next make a simple thrust like this. Pushing the blade forward slowly in order for Aleath to see he made a simple forward thrust, pushing forward with his legs, then putting his arms into it showing her how to get the maximum length. Do you see? try it and Ill see how you do Still smiling Ishamael stood up and leaned on his sovnya.

[Aleath]

Aleath patiently listened what Ishamel told her. She blushed a little, when he told her that she was holding the spear incorrectly, and quickly corrected her mistake. Oh, no. Now he was probably thinking she had never held a weapon in her life. She had, of course, but she never had a chance really use it in combat. Only for hunting. She shook her head and forced herself to concentrate. She placed her hands on the haft like he showed her. Her right hand higher than the other. Then she placed her right foot in front of the other and bend her knees slightly. She felt a little foolish and embarrased to be standing like this in front of him, but she hoped he wouldn't think her stupid. Everyone has to start somewhere after all. But he was still smilling kindly and patiently explained everything. She caught herself as her concentration slipped when she should be concentrating a different task and she caught the handle of the spear more tightly. Next she extended her arms holding the spear slowly like he showed her. It was actually quite difficult to hold the stance and moving both of her arms with the spear at the same time. She looked him. "Is it right like this?" She repeated the movement several times. After a while her hands started to hurt and she released the handle, shook her hands a little, but determinedly took hold of it again. She hadn't a lot of strenght in her arms, but she was small and agile. She again placed her feet and hands like he showed her before, this time her movements were more certain. She jabbed the spear forward strongly, narrowly missing Ishamael's left arm as he was standing in front of her. Aleath dropped the weapon in shock. "Oh, sorry, sorry. I'm really clumsy." Then she realized she had dropped her spear and bent down and picked it up again. "This is harder than I expected. So what move will be next?" she smiled at him and looked at him expectantly. She looked eager for more.

[Ishamael]

Ishamael smiled kindly as he watched Aleath practice the spear. She was moving a little clumsily but she was trying to get the hang of it. He was lounging lazily on his sonvya watching her. He let his thoughts drift a little to other matters of no importance. He was only half seeing Aleath as she almost stabbed him. He moved to the side quickly and she nearly skewered his arm. He shook himself, a little staring in disbelief at Aleath as she dropped her spear. Wiping imaginary dust from himself, and shivering slightly, he picked up his smile again, and began to instruct again.

No no the fault is mine, I should have moved move often. But, I think you have that one down, i mean you literally almost skewered me. Smiling again briefly, Ishamael turned his focus back to the instruction. Now that you can do a simple thrust lets work on moving so that an enemy doesn't have to come straight at you for you to fight. Ishamael winced internally at his words, they were harsh, but it was how he was taught, and the only way he knew how to teach, yet he continued, Aleath seemed to need some toughening up.

Now take your stance again, thrust fast like this Ishamael did the practice thrust quickly, then began to move Now quickly glide forward do not let your left foot come infront of the other, rather bring your left toes to your right heel then smoothly bring your right foot forward again. It will help you keep your center of balance so you will not be thrown off so much by an enemy attack.

Ishamael did the move again, and again, making sure that Aleath could see it. He turned again watching himself to make sure he was not attacked again. He watched her as he began the exercise. Shortly after, he moved beside her and did the moves in unison with her giving her a visual support to her efforts. Very good Aleath, keep this up and you might have it right in a year. Ishamael laughed continuing the movements fluidly.

He quickly fell into the old routine, step thrust, shuffle, thrust, shuffle. The movements became a dance of sorts for him, he moved to more forms lost in his mind. Boar charges forward became a quck triple thrust which turned into Top turn where he spun 45 degrees and then entered Parting the Silk where he thrust the blade up then brought it downward towards the ground. The moves were smooth seemlessly melding together into a single continous motion. He repeated the steps several times, until he came to a stop, his breathing slightly labored and beads of sweat forming on his head, he came to a halt, turning to look at Aleath and realized what he'd done.

Know you've done it, she's going to think your trying to show her up But despite himself he smiled trying to disarm Aleath from what she'd just seen. Well, we will get to that later he breathed out with a strained laugh.

[Aleath]

Aleath looked a bit apologetically at Ishamael when he commented about skewering him, but he seemed to be pleased at her progress. She always learned quickly when somebody actually showed her how to do it. She was almost unaware of his tone. He was speaking a little bit harshly, but It was not important to her. This was training, not fun and she took it seriously. He seemed to be skilled in fighting, so she listened to him attentively. She watched as he started to explain a new move. It seemed so difficult, so complex move. It seemed impossible to do all the things together at the same time. Yet, he seemed to be doing it with not much effort. Aleath then started to copy his moves. After she had nearly pierced his arm earlier, she moved a little aside. She didn’t want another accident like this again. Her movements were really uncertain and she glanced at Ishamael to see if she is doing it right and her jaw dropped at what she saw. She stopped in her movements with her hand holding the spear in the air and simply stared. He was doing some incredibly difficult move. But again he was moving so lightly, like it was nothing for him. Well, he was breathing a little quickly than normal and he there was sweat on his forehead. She remembered that she was staring at him, when he spoke. “Yes, I hope you will teach me this move someday. Where did you learn this?” she asked motioning to him, looking amazed.

[Ishamael]

Catching his breath as he continued to look at her, he smiled, she is very sweet if a bit nieve he thought, but he stood straight flexing his hands and proceeded to tell her in a more formal tone exactly what she wanted to know.


It is actually a series of moves, not a single move, but indivdual pieces put together almost like a puzzle. Except that a puzzle is battle and each move is needed differently depending on your opponent. You see some people attack high, some low, thers quick, and some in groups. There are many forms each designed to help combat different enemy styles and tactics. I know this because it is part of my training among my pavilion, my family is a part of the Diamond clan and we are meant to protect the grassland above all others, and battle is a part of that.

Ishamael spoke distantly, almost a little cold. It was not his intent, and he shook himself, bringing the open inviting smile to his face he checked Aleath again, shaking his head a little ruefully. He looked at Aleath again and shook his finger.

What about you, you are not working the way I said, lets see if you can do a simple form of moving while you strike. come on show me what you"ve got. Ishamael Smiled again taking his spear up beside her once again showing the motion again, and imploring her to advance like he was.