Closed [Fighter's Pit]Understanding Your Craft (Hadyn)

[Orion Michaels]

57th of Spring, 514 AV
Antinous Training Grounds
13th Bell

It took a bit of convincing. Not just of Hadyn, but to himself. That was something he found himself doing a lot over the past several days. To pick up everything and leave was one thing. To depart after convincing someone else to start their life anew elsewhere was something far beyond that. Still, if he knew Hadyn at all after all this time, he had to recognize that the idea of him protecting her wouldn't sit well. She wasn't some prissy little thing looking for a big strong man to protect her.

Petch, before I joined the order, she probably could have kicked my ass.

The woman was a weaponsmith, and one who lived on her own. She had cared for herself. Guarded herself. Worried about herself. It was their similarities that drew them together and resulted in their son, Liam, being born. It was that fateful experience that forced both of them to look outward instead of inward.

A bit of trust and reliance on each other didn't suddenly mean she was going to open up to the idea of needing to be protected.

Orion had offered her an alternative, under the semi-guise of helping safeguard Liam during their journey and at their eventual destination. If she were going to accept the roles they would fill, then she needed to learn how to defend herself. A woman who had made so many weapons had never learned anything beyond "a little archery."

With Liam sent off with the caretaker who someone Orion had convinced to watch Emily again, she could be free to train without worry. He was only going to do a few bells at most. He couldn't stand to have Emily out of his site. The controller of the fighter's pit had turned him away before when he tried to bring Emily. Apparently a place with a bunch of live blade training wasn't somewhere for a child.

The ex-squire waited near the entrance to the training area, lamenting his lack of equipment. The worst part about leaving the knights was the fact that he'd been forced to turn in all the gear he'd borrowed from them. There went his bow, shield, and swords. He'd commissioned a broadsword from his friend Tourmal, but as the man had done many times in the past, he'd disappeared from the face of the planet.

At least the Fighter's Pit had some crappy blades for practicing.

"Maybe I should see if Hadyn has enough time to make me something in this madness." He'd have to spend some time in the coming days buying all the supplies for the trip as it were. So much to do, so little time.

Orion held two borrowed weapons, one in each of his hands. A long sword which he intended to use, and a short sword that he judged to be good for Hadyn's frame. While she could likely handle a more robust blade, he wasn't training her for war. It was self defense, at least until she took a liking to combat.

[Hadyn Skellig]

"I really don't want to do this," the weaponsmith grumbled to herself as she set the hammer back in its cradle.

"What's that?" Yorick glanced over his shoulder, catching only pieces of her mutterings.

"Nothing," she replied glumly. Pulling her cloak off the hook the brunette ignored the quizzical gaze of her companion, opting to take her time pulling fabric across her shoulders. Yorick stopped his work, turning to face her fully with an amused expression. Tying the leather at her collarbone Hadyn finally faced the redhead, whose grin was becoming exceptionally annoying.

"Don't see why I should have to scuttle 'round the Pit like a fledgling squire," she replied by way of explanation as she gathered her bag. "I can make a sword better than most of them can swing one. Isn't that enough?"

"Not hardly," the man replied with a smirk. "You'll be needin' to protect the good Orion Michaels while on the road, don'tcha think?" Hadyn's snort gave him cause to chuckle, reaching across the table to pick up a long bundled object. "Oy, slow down. Can't go without this."

"Petch," she mumbled, a thankful cant of her head given to Yorick as she received the swaddled object. Holding the object awkwardly under her arm the brunette adjusted her bag and made to leave, tossing the redhead a smirk as she spoke. "If I don't lose a hand in this I'll buy you a pint tonight."

"You've owed me one for a season," he answered with a wave as she disappeared into the narrow lane. Moving quickly down the corridor the woman made her way to Winthrop Alley, a somber expression on her pale face. Tucked somewhat carelessly beneath her arm the long bundle was in danger of hitting passerbys as she hurried through the castle. She knew she was late, having procrastinated up to the last tick. It wasn't that she disliked the idea of Orion teaching her. She just never handled a weapon with any real competency. And she was late to be starting.

But he made a valid point. She needed to be equipped to defend herself and the children if need be. And the thought of Orion being the sole protector did not, in fact, sit well with her. Despite enthusiastic attempts to convince him she was well adept at fisticuffs and smashing pottery over-head he'd managed to convince her to meet him at the Pit.

The Pit. Hadyn wasn't convinced of its intention. It wasn't so much the issue of violence. The means to violence was her profession. No. It was the principal of the Pit. Why have a place where citizens could spar and advance in weaponry if the Knights were the sole protectors of the city? It was as if they intended to make armed, competent criminals then punish them. Honestly, it made little difference to the weaponsmith because it meant more folks bought her products. But it seemed a conflict of interests.

There wasn't much traffic keeping her, moving swiftly through the milling citizens to reach the uncovered Winthrop Alley. Picking up a jog the brunette made quick time approaching the Pit. There he was. Two weapons in hand. Coming to a walk the weaponsmith hailed Orion with a nod, brow raised as she approached.

"What - no bulky armor?" flashing him a smile she pulled the swathed object from its secure location between her ribcage and arm, offering it to him. Tied in three places with twine the object was hefty in hand, its canvas covering doing little to hide its identity. She'd made him a sword.

Ties and canvas removed Orion had himself a longsword. It was in the style familiar to him, practically a replica of the one loaned to him from the Knights. Double bladed and weighted to be held with two hands the blade was forged from cold iron. The tip was more suitable for piercing armor though she'd left the ability for him to use it to cut intact along the length of the blade. Not unlike the sword of his former patron this blade possessed the trappings of a high level Knight; fullers, an acute point, a diamond shape on cross-section. It was balanced and weighted for him, comfortable in one hand or both.

The hilt of his sword remained largely unembellished, though on inspection the detailing was intricate. The pommel was rounded, fitting neatly beneath a hand enclosed around the hilt to use as a weapon in its own respect. Fitting neatly into a circular divot in the center of the pommel was a smoothed sphere of obsidian. The grip, at first glance, was nothing more than a simple creation for function. Covering the cold steel base Hadyn employed shark shagreen. Over the hide was a thin helix of wire like thread wrapping around the entirety of the grip like a textile. Though uniform there was a slight change in width to accommodate a one and two handed grip. The cross guard was easily the simplest part of the sword, its iron terminals ending in rounded knobs, each bearing small obsidian spheres to mirror the pommel.

All in all it wasn't a particularly flashy sword. Hadyn couldn't even count it among her most impressive creations. But it was certainly one of the most important ones she'd ever made. Waiting for him to react she dropped her satchel to the side and removed her cloak, britches and a vest over a brown tunic her attire for training. Unbraiding her hair the woman nodded to the sword before quickly sweeping the dark tresses up into a loose bun at the nape of her neck.

"Scabbard's still at the smithy," she mentioned offhandedly.

[Orion Michaels]

"I know all the women of Syliras think I'm rich enough to afford such things," he said, turning to greet Hadyn with a smile. "but it's all a lie. We both know I'm all show." She'd actually arrived, which was a bit of a surprise. He wasn't going to make her brilliant at combat in a short lesson or two, but it was better than nothing. Looking like you know how to use a weapon was almost as effective as actually knowing what you're doing when it came to Sunberth.

She'd brought something with her, but before he could ask what it was, it was presented to him. After setting the other two blades at his feet, the ex-squire regarded Hadyn with a curious look, but set about removing the twine anyways.

A long sword.

Blue eyes drifted from the blade to the smith and back and forth a few times, unsure of how to react. A gift? How..unusual. Things have really changed that much, haven't they? Memories of an early encounter stirred as he examined the weapon now in his possession. I hope you're not the gift giving type, Michaels, or something along those lines. An agreement to keep it simple. To keep it physical. To not cross the line in the sand. They'd made a right mess of that contract.

He'd needed to get himself a new weapon, so this saved him the time, and it was a well balanced blade indeed. "Thank you," he said somewhat meekly, letting the wrapping and twine fall to the ground. Grasping the hilt with one hand the ex-squire took a few steps back from the smith to give him ample room to test it out. The hilt was comfortable to grasp in one hand, but was not so short that it would be unwieldy should he decide to grasp it with two.

Orion gave the weapon a few easy swings, letting it slice through the air with ease. It felt different than what he'd been borrowing from the knights, but he couldn't quite place what was changed. The weight and balance were nice. He'd have to test out the edge and point at another time, however. They weren't here for his practice. "What's it made from?" he inquired, wrapping a second hand around the hilt.

"Got a long sword and a short sword on the ground there. I figure the short sword is more appropriate for your build and size, but you can give them both a try and see what works." He motioned down to the two weapons, offering her a half smile. "I don't know much about the latter, other than which end to stick people with, but at least we can make you look convincing."

The former physician released one hand from his sword and let it fall to his side while resting the flat of the blade against his shoulder with the other. Truth be told, he'd felt somewhat naked without a weapon of his own. The dagger he kept strapped as his side just didn't do it for him. "If you don't hate me too much after our fun here, I'll go by and get it before I pick up Emily."

[Hadyn Skellig]

"Cold iron," she replied mildly, her gaze on the weapons at his feet. "The Knights won't use anythin' but. Figured you ought to have that caliber, especially considerin' how poorly this lesson may go."

Reaching down she selected the shortsword on his suggestion. The blade was warped from seasons of hacking wooden targets and being tossed into a pile of iron. But it wasn't in the worst shape. Gripping it along the hilt she hefted it between two hands, offering Orion a grin.

"Y'know, I've been weightin' and testing weapons for most my adult life. Form and function I know well. Using it, on the other hand..." she grinned sheepishly with a shrug. Certainly she looked the part of an experienced swordswoman, holding it and moving the blade through the air but in truth she saw only the quality of the blade (or lack thereof). Applying it in combat was another story entirely. Dropping the sword hand to her side she regarded him with only the faintest traces of amusement.

"Alright, Michaels. Better start your teachin' now before I lose a finger."