Flashback [Training] Here Comes the Cavalry

[Elias Caldera]

7th Day of Summer, 507 AV

With Caiden finally arriving and the arena all set up for him to practice his maneuvers, Elias could at last get on with his training. He’d warmed up himself and the horse over the past bell, and now it was time to really work on being able to move a mount in a more tactical manner. Simple straight lines or slow turns in place simply couldn’t be counted on in a combat environment. Movement was key in battle, whether it was your own feet or those of a mount.

“Alright, kid. I want you to ride as hard as you can to the other side. Come to a full stop, turn back the other way and weave through those barrels.” Caiden motioned towards the various obstacles as he spoke, making sure that Elias knew exactly what his task was. “After that I want you to race to that first pole, turn around the far side of it, and then head towards the others. You will jump those and then race to that flag to finish. Get it? Got it. Good.”

Elias rolled his eyes and tossed a sideways grin at his uncle before turning the creature to face down the arena. "But of course, Master Caiden. Such a simple task will be mere child’s play for one such as I." Elias gave the reins a squeeze while doing the same with his legs and set the horse off into a slow trot. It was somewhat relieving to be able to just take it easy on this first go. Last time Caiden had set him at an obstacle course he’d ended up on his ass looking up at a rather smug beast. He was in no mood to recreate that scene.

Caiden watched his student and blood relation at work, arms folded across his chest like he usually did when he was scrutinizing something intensely. Elias was certainly coming along, they both had to recognize that, but he still had work to do yet. Agility on horseback was an important ability to develop. He’d be spending a lot of time in the saddle, more than he would enjoy. As they reached the first barrel, Elias raised the left rein slightly, adding a stronger touch to the same side with his left leg to get the horse going around the wooden container. Once clear of it he switched to the opposite set up, squeezing the right rein gently while applying additional force to the horse’s side to move it around the first obstacle.

Once clear of the first barrel he worked at getting in a rhythm to move around the remaining four. It wasn’t exactly a simple task for the initiate, but it wasn’t particularly taxing, either. Squeeze on the left, shift to the right, squeeze on the right. Repeat until you cleared the obstacles. He shifted his hips about on the saddle as he rounded each of the containers. It was an unnatural feeling; despite the fact that Elias never felt at peace on the back of a horse, it still felt awkward to have to move the way that was required. Caiden had seemed to be able to move around on his mount with such grace and ease, which was surprising and worrying considering the Rum Hound’s size. Why then did that finesse continue to elude the much smaller Elias’s grasp then?

[Elias Caldera]

Date

Though it hadn’t been expressly declared as much, it was still their test run, so Elias felt no particular rush to force his mount to the pole. He and the horse were hardly what one could call friends, but at least it didn't try and injure him when he approached it. The prospect had gone through many horses in his quest to find one he could at least somewhat get along with. He'd failed many times, but he’d always returned to Bessy in the end. You’d think by now the animal could at least give the boy a break.

Elias sat back in the saddle and applied pressure with his thighs. His mount picked up a canter and made its way towards the far pole, hoofed feet kicking up clouds of dust behind him as it quickly made way towards their goal. The petitioner thought this training somewhat silly; he was no expert on combat, that much was made abundantly clear the first day of training, but it didn't seem as though these movement were terribly practical for the battlefield. Still, he was the petitioner here, so there was nothing to be gained by arguing with the veteran warrior watching him like a hawk from the sidelines.

Powerful muscles twitched in the horse's legs, pushing it forward towards the pole. Elias shifted about unsteadily in the saddle, his feet pressed too tightly against the stirrups. A quick turn around the pole was what he needed to do, but doing so without taking the wooden object out or injuring the horse, or more importantly himself, seemed like it would be difficult even at this reduced speed.

Elias squeezed the reins slightly, slowing his mount by doing so and applied pressure to right side of the horse, reducing it down to a near walk, and then in the end to a complete stop. Managing as much brought a sigh of relief from the Caldera’s lips. Instead of getting frustrated or trying to fight the horse as he’d done in the past, Elias instead just started Bessy moving again. There was nothing to be gained by swearing at the beast, because it was either going to listen to him or it wouldn’t. There was nothing he could do about it besides try and make it go. He settled himself square in the saddle once more and squeezed the reins, getting old war mare into action once again. He immediately applied pressure to his right side and pulled on the right rein, curving the beast around the pole as he did so.

Elias’s free hand gave the horse a gentle pat on the side of its neck as he straightened it out and looked down the way to the horizontal poles. He was supposed to make the horse jump those… somehow. It was going to be quite the task.

[Elias Caldera]

Elias gave the horse a quick, sharp kick to its side, leaning forward in the saddle to get the beast in motion. It was rather nerve-wracking, staring at the obstacles closing in on him, that as. The petitioner hadn't done very much jumping as of yet, but Caiden was comfortable with him doing it -in a controlled environment, while he stood a fair distance away- where he could keep an eye on him. The ravokian wasn't sure if he would take him out into the wild to really practice riding anytime soon, but for now this would have to do. If he couldn’t learn to be one with them within the confines of the walls, he’d not stand a chance without her outside in the dangers of the world.

Elias shifted uncomfortably in the saddle as he bounced along, feet ridged and forced into the stirrups. Each step was torment, and it would only get worse as they moved quicker and quicker with more abrupt cuts. That was all part of the game.

As the horse neared the pole, the Ebonstryfe initiate eyes widened and he felt his throat dry out in an instant. He didn’t want break his neck falling over a stupid obstacle, and he knew that hesitation could be deadly not just on the battlefield, but in this very moment as well. There was nothing to be gained by worrying about it save for a broken neck, so onward the petitioner pressed, desperately hoping such a sentiment wouldn’t be the last thing he ever thought about.

The not so faithful steed took to the air just before the pole, sending its heavy mass into the sky and over the impediment. Elias mouthed various obscenities as they made their way up and then down, his entire body jolting as they impacted the ground. The petitioner immediately felt himself off center in the saddle as his horizon quickly shifted sideways.

“Petch!”

Elias’s feet slid from the stirrups as his rear slipped from the saddle, sending the petitioner tumbling unto the side of the horse, but he refused to let go. The creature went off a few more steps on its own way before coming to a stop, bucking and craning its neck towards the man as he yanked on both reigns and saddle pommel in a daring attempt to stay on board. Elias groaned and leapt off as Bessy finally slowed down, wrapping his arms around his body as he did so. How many times was he going to have to suffer through any more of these close encounters before his heart just finally up and quit on him? He had nearly hit the dirt again, and this time it would have been bad.

“You alive?” Caiden’s voice cried out, the sound of his pounding footsteps growing louder as he approached his shaken up nephew. The concern was ripe and genuine on his face. “The saddle isn’t just a suggestion you know. You need to stay in it.”

“Yet again your wisdom displays itself, Uncle Caide.” he replied through gritted teeth, annoyed to say the least. “Whatever would I do without you’re sagely advice to guide me in these trying petching times?”

“Don’t be a smart ass, boy. You're not at all as good at it as you like to think.” Caiden growled, noticing that his kin was indeed going to be fine. Elias was just feisty when his pride was wounded, but a baby when he was actually injured. If he had been hurt, half the lakeshore would have known about it by the sound of his girlish weeping. “Get up and try it again. And at least try to fall with a little grace next time. It’s getting embarrassing just being near you at this point.”

[Elias Caldera]

Elias dusted himself off and rubbed his aching hands as he grumbled something incoherent under his breath. He had managed to avoid smashing into the ground, but the awkward save had left his hands and arms sore. It was a rather humbling experience. Days of trying to learn how to ride and he was still having problems staying in the seat. It was extremely frustrating for the ambitious young soldier, and part of him wondered if this was going to be the biggest obstruction to his advancement when the day finally came for the crucible. Over and over he continued fail at reaching the next level and truly understanding just how to ride.

Lessons and suggestions alone weren’t getting the job done. So instead, Caiden was drilling it into him by having him try again and again. Elias was very hands on in many things, so he figured horseback riding would be no different.

“Anything broken?”

“My will to live.”

“I’ll buy you a new one later. Now mount up.”

Elias grumbled and stalked over to the horse, stopping for a moment just short of mounting it. “Bessy, you cruel, four legged bitch, I’m really tired of falling off your blasted back. I belong in that saddle, understand? Unless you wanna end up in someone’s broth tonight, I suggest you get your shyke together, young lady!” The horse snorted and flicked its tail about, clearly annoyed by Elias’s tone. It didn’t matter what the horse thought anymore, it only mattered what Elias decided it was allowed to think.

Carefully the petitioner placed his foot in the stirrup and pulled himself up and onto the horse, settling himself down in the saddle once again. His side was sore, and would likely be so for a few bells afterwards. Nothing a little trip to the healing hands wouldn’t fix right up, though. Maybe this was finally his opportunity to visit that massage place he had been hearing so much from the other recruits however. They all whispered of the gentle and oiled beauties that were hidden away inside. Perhaps a little visit to soothe his aches was indeed in order. “Alright Bessy. Let’s try this again.” With a quick rub to his hip and a nudge to the horse’s side, they were off again.

“Quicker this time, boy, and try not to tense up so much on your jump. You’re getting too worked up and throwing off your own balance. Get your head outa your ass, you can do this!”

Elias bounced in his seat as the horse galloped towards the first set of obstacles. He wished he could say he had a cool resolve, that he felt good about his ability to complete the course, but instead all he could think of was that jump at the end. It was sure to be his downfall.

He pulled back slightly on the reins and leaned back, slowing the horse slightly as the barrels came into focus. He alternated applying pressure to the left and right side of the creature, helping it to make the slight shifts to change direction and clear each barrel without much room to spare. He felt the brush of wooden container against his big toe, and a moment later it came crashing to the ground behind them. Elias gritted his teeth tightly and rode on, upset that he’d messed up on the last barrel.

Instead of slowing however, Elias urged the horse on quicker, pushing it into a gallop again and racing towards the pole at the far end of the arena. He bounced wildly in the saddle, trying as desperately as he could to maintain control of both the horse and his seat, but it was a rather taxing thing to do as once could imagine

It didn’t matter. He had had to finish this.

Somehow.

[Elias Caldera]

It was time to slow down so he could make the turn. Elias pulled back on the reins and leaned backwards in the saddle once more, reducing speed until he could take the bend as quick as he was capable. That, of course, wasn’t terribly quick. He went from a full gallop to just barely more than a walk. His mount stomped its feet, eyes wide and nostril flaring as it made the rotation. Stomping its hooves, the horse was ready to continue on the last leg of their little adventure with a sudden burst of enthusiasm that startled its rider. His biggest failure was before him, and his nerves were growing more and more frayed by the moment.

Thundering hooves pounded against the ground once Elias got the beast in motion. He sat forward in the saddle, squeezing his thighs against the Bessy’s side, urging it on. Elias’s feet pressed down into the stirrups once more and his vision bobbed up and down as he nearly flew from his saddle with every long stride of his mount, though he did what he could to focus on the task in front of him. That wasn’t much, of course. Memories of that recent disaster were singed into his mind. Visions of looking up at the sky and meeting the dirt were fresh in his thoughts before they even happened.

Caiden could see it in her petitioner’s body language. He wasn’t sitting right in the saddle, and he could see his eyes darting back and forth from where he stood. It wasn’t going to end well.

Elias started to panic.

The time to jump was rapidly approaching, and he felt completely out of control. His knuckles were white from how tightly he gripped the reins, and he felt like he was going to throw up, which meant directly into his own face given the speed he was going. He only had a few ticks left to make sure he was ready to go, and for his own sake, he had to get it right. The poles approached like a speeding arrow and Elias cried out, his legs smacking into Bessy’s side for her to go even faster yet. The horse had already acknowledged the need for more speed, or perhaps simply agreed to adhere to his demands, either way, the two of them hurtled towards the target, Bessy’s hooves leaving the earth for a split second as the beautiful creature cleared the obstacle with ease. She had even been so courteous to bring Elias along with her this time.

The two of swiveled hard to right, their momentum hardly diminished as they raced around the track in one, well deserved lap of victory. Elias’s hooting and hollering could be heard all over the lakeshore encampments as he loudly celebrated his accomplishment.

“Did you petching see that!”

“Aye, that I did.” Caiden murmured, smiling knowingly as he gave his favorite nephew a symbolic thumbs up. The boy was riding so fast he doubted he could have heard the words, but the way he was brimming with such excitement and passion at the moment, Caiden decided it was simply better to let him tucker himself out before he went on to explain all twenty or so mistakes the little fool had made during the entire trial.

Considering how much it had taken to reach this point, Elias had probably earned a chime or two to enjoy himself while he still had the chance.

[Dove Brown]

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Name: Elias Caldera
XP Award:

• Rhetoric 2
• Riding (horse) 5
• Logic 1
• Intimidate 1

Lore:

• Riding: weaving around obstacles
• The frustrations of a horse that won't listen
• Signalling a horse to change gait
• Event: getting a jump right - eventually

Notes: Nice little thread. Enjoy your grades