Completed The Shield of Brock [Ryia]

[Rodistair]

Rodistair was panicking, he was being forced into something he didn’t know how to handle. All he could do well was fight, what was his patron thinking? It was like the man enjoyed putting his squire into awkward situations. He didn’t mind getting beat up, but instructions was completely new. ‘petch, petch, petch.’ Rodistair thought, there was no way to get out of what was coming next, it was like watching a blade hurled for your head with little time to dodge the blow that was sure to land.

“From watching the spar, I can tell that Ryia is still in her very first seasons with the shield.” Ser Iros started looking back to Sera Helana, “He can show her a foundation for very aggressive shield work- its far from perfect, and while it may have been a fluke, he did disarm Squire Ryia.”

Rodistair ignored what almost sounded like a compliment from Iros, mind was beginning to go numb from the impending doom that was only ticks away. “Shyke.” He cursed under his breath, like Dira the moment he feared was coming.

[Ryia Brock]

Ryia just stood there, waiting and watching. She found the younger squire to be rude, but for a small boy, she figured she shouldn't expect much. He did seem frustrated, perhaps the fight hadn't turned out very differently than he had hoped. Ryia hadn't expected anything on the other hand, she had been surprised by the sudden test to spar and did the best that she could.

While she stood there, she listened as her sister spoke with the big Akalak. The Knight wanted, for some reason, to have Rodistair teach her to use a shield. Helena listened, allowed the man to finish even as she fold her arms over her chest. "Am I to understand that you want your squire to teach Ryia to use a shield? Your squire? He did unarm my sister, and then she tackled him to the ground and laid him flat."

She paused, glancing at Ryia again and Rodistair as well. She wasn't proud of her sister's wild attack and knew then that they had more work to do. Ryia could see the disappointment in her eldest sister's eyes and it left a lump in her throat. The young Knight turned back to Iros and finished her thoughts. "I think it best that we leave the training to professionals, don't you agree?"

[Rodistair]

The banter between the two patrons was almost a relief to Rodistair, it was becoming more and more clear that he would not have to teach Ryia anything, or even need show her a pointer or two, and the squire was let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding. “Very well,” answered Ser Iros, “But I cannot permit my squire to quit the field while he can still hold a blade, and walk of his own will.” The patron nodded to his squire to continue the match.

Rodistair felt the fire reignite in his body, and the electricity caused his fingers to tingle as he dropped back into a proper stance, both feet pointed towards Ryia, his shield held parallel to hers, with his sword pulled back, his arm ready to release it with full force. He didn’t like the pause, and he didn’t like how patrons seemed to argue through their squires- all he cared about was continue this spar, nothing would make him happier.

His foe provided a small target, as she tucked herself behind the shield, but that was fine, it was like cracking a nut, all it required was the proper force, applied in the proper fashion. Rodistair surged forward, his shield held in front of him, striking Ryia’s shield flat on, he pushed forward, angling the right edge of the shield towards her core, trying to pin her left arm against her torso, Rodistair brought the sword to bear, thrusting it to the left, under Ryia’s right should, he angled the hilt up, towards her face.

[Ryia Brock]

Helena was very particular about who she allowed to train her sisters. She didn't want either of them picking up bad habits, especially from someone who hadn't proven themselves yet. Ryia was the most susceptible, and would likely soak up bad habits easier than Dimia, who had been a squire for a short time already. "Let them continue their spar. I'd be interested to see what your squire can do."

There was a lot of talk going on about how useless Ryia was with the shield, and that bothered her. Apparently Rodistair was very good with his, even though his sword work was lacking. She guessed it was good to know a shield well, and being able to unarm one's opponent would come in handy during a fight. Still it seemed odd that he only defended with little work towards advancing. Great, so they're going to stand there and belittle me while I'm standing right before them. This is going to take some getting used too.

Ryia moved back into place to continue the spar, at the moment she thought of her earlier teachings, what she had learned from her sister and the lesson from Druva. The young squire bent both knees, putting more of her weight on her left leg to hold her ground. Lifting her shield again, she held her sword at the ready in the other hand. When Rodistair struck, he met a stronger wall of shield, and Ryia's legs barely moved. She turned her hips, shoulder rolling back as she dodged his sword.

Instead of trying to over power his shield, Ryia rolled off, slipping closer to his arm without the shield. The teen squire lifted her sword, giving a fake half thrust before she angled her sword downward and dug her weapon in a low hook to try and sweep his leg.

[Rodistair]

‘smart’ thought Rodistair, as she rolled out of the shield and sword strikes. He had little time to readjust his stance as she stepped closer to his right arm. He was just going to have to improvise, and try to cover his exposed side before she could slip away again.

He wasn’t fooled by the half strike, but he didn’t have time to dodge the strike to his leg, he couldn’t let it sweep them however and he stepped into it, the blow was painful. He growled in pain, and he wavered in his stance as he tried to keep his balance. He pushed with his good leg, and wrapped his arm around Ryia’s sword arm, and applied pressure as he tried to tighten his grip around it.

[Ryia Brock]

Ryia went full on the attack and pushing the younger squire into a defense only. A fight couldn't be won on defense alone, and if he wouldn't strike back, she would end the spar for them both. Helena watched closely, noticing the flaws in her little sister's attack and seeing the progress that she had made also. Later, when they trained again she could bring up those flaws and help her to correct them, but for now she only watched.

Rodistair was going down, he managed to block and side step her attack, but he was pushed off balanced. Ryia was caught then, his arm locking with her sword arm. It was impossible to swing now, and with their closeness, she couldn't kick him again either. The only think she could think to do was use her shield. The steel plate that was now resting against her upper arm and shoulder.

She tried a last time to free her arm, and when she couldn't, Ryia turned her left hip out along with her shoulder and drove it back into him hard. If he still held on she would do it again, only this time hard enough to send them both onto the ground again.

[Rodistair]

With her sword arm secure, Rodistair could use her for balance, and even control the fight a little more. Even as she tried to force him off, each strike with her hip sent her full weight into the younger squire. Rodistair had only one hope of winning. Holding on to her arm, he dropped down with all his weight tugging onto her, pulling Ryia to the ground with him in a tangled mess. He struggled to bring his leg around over her head, loosing his shield and sword in the pile.

He wrapped his second arm around Ryia’s sword arm, doing everything he could to keep her pinned, and from letting her sword arm swing free. He pushed it back, against the joint, as he adjusted his body to better keep her from getting up.

[Ryia Brock]

"humph!"

Ryia hit the ground with a thud, armor plates crashed into armor plates, and limbs tangled with limbs. Rodistair was without a doubt the most undisciplined and unorthodox fighter that she had ever met. He tossed away his weapon, his shield, and all in some attempt to pin her on the ground. The young squire whimpered softly and ducked her head in when he tried to slip his leg across. Ryia struggled to free herself, pushing against his body with her boots to get free. "What mischief is this? Let me go."

Her sword was gone for the second time, but she still had the use of her shield and that arm. Ryia shifted her body to place her above his legs to keep him from pinning her and lifted her shield to strike against him. From the angle she couldn't tell what she was hitting, but at the moment the teenager was starting to panic and wanted him to let her go.

[Rodistair]

Even with her sword gone, Ryia was a foe to be reckoned with. He was able to get leverage for a bit, but he couldn’t pin the older squire down. She was struggling much to hard for Rodistair to secure an arm bar, not that he exactly knew how to put one on. He thought deeply, he couldn’t ever remember learning how to do it, but it was worth trying, but he was interrupted as her shield struck the boy’s chest.

He lost his breath for a moment, and was slightly dazed. He tightened the grip on her arm, but he stopped trying to pin her arm behind her back. He had lost the initiative, but he wouldn’t let her go without, not while there was still a chance for him to win.

[Ryia Brock]

Boys were naturally stronger than girls were, unless the girl had strength training, or was otherwise heavier in the body to have the extra strength in her. Ryia wasn't this type, and when it came to the physical attacks the girl was still very weak. It was embarrassing being dragged onto the ground and held there. Ryia was an aspiring mage knight, not a wrestler and this ground play wasn't lady like in the least.

The squire's frustration grew as well as her panic which was manifested in the form of res. The silvery gas was expelled from her palm as she laid on the ground struggling to pull herself free. This wasn't a calm concentration of magic, but an anger that fueled her res. It wasn't a lot of res created, but just enough to fit the size of a miza. Ryia formed the res into a dagger like point and lit the outer layer with fire.

She didn't want to hurt him, but she wanted him to let her go. The flaming shard leveled out between them, positioned closer towards their heads. She wasn't trying to attack but she wanted to make sure that he saw the fire shard first. Once it was in position she ignited the inner layer and struck the ground between them with it. It would take only a tick and the tiny shard would hit the ground and leave a black mark where it exploded.

Ryia quickly wigged her hips and rolled her shoulders back to finally put away from the boy. The squire pushed herself back further and stood up. Helena hadn't noticed the reicmany being used, but she could see the flushed cheeks of her little sister and she knew the squire was frustrated. "I think that's enough for one day." The Knight spoke aloud and waved her sister to collect her sword and shield. "This was interesting Ser Iros, I don't think I've ever seen a squire abandon their weapons for an attempt at a wrestling match. That was surely new."

Dimia smiled but the squire didn't make a comment and instead she moved to Ryia's side and hugged her sister's shoulder. "Not bad, you almost looked like a squire." she teased. Ryia frowned, but turned her head to look at the other Knight and his squire a last time. "Thank you for the time and for the opportunity to spar." With that, she turned and started off with Dimia. Helena nodded to both the Knight and squire before she too turned away to leave. "We should do this again sometime Ser Iros. But for now I need to get my girls on patrol.