He inhaled deeply, as much to give himself a momentary break as to calm the Void before it shattered. Slowly, he reformed the grip on the wooden sword. Even if it was practicing, it was time to finish one fight at least.
Adept Bartola looked on with more patience than usual, probably because Master Armelle was keeping such a close eye on today's spars. His stance was already done before the Student picked up his lathe sword.
"Ready when you are, Aruon. Don't get comfortable standing, though." Bartola grinned. The man had made a few victories lately, and it was going to his head. Or perhaps it was just a Warder Student's way of being friendly. Either way, their waiting game had to end.
The Student positioned himself into the Third Stance to balance himself, while Bartola readied for an attack in the First. This was almost like acting out a Sworddance at this point with their habits being so obvious.
With a quick glance to make sure the center of the Yard was clear, Master Armelle folded his arms and gave one last check over the two Students. "Last match set for Adept Bartola and Adept Aruon. Swords ready on my count, usual rules apply."
As Armelle raised his arm to begin his count, something caught the Student's eye by the main door. A strong voice yelled out, "One."
Behind Armelle, the Student could see Sargon casually walking over, nodding to students that took notice. He stood at the outer edge of the small group of onlookers, both students and Gaidin.
"Two." Armelle's voice rang out. With Sargon there, the Student had to actually pay attention. He returned his gaze back to his opponent, making sure to maintain his stance correctly.
His pride wouldn't let him do any of his forms incorrectly when Sargon was watching. In front of anyone else maybe, but not this man. He was vaguely aware of the pair of Accepteds and the Aes Sedai they were following as they stopped to watch the students.
The Yard seemed so small now as he focused, his emotions all being sent to the Void. Before they did, though, a small part of him wanted to laugh. Unfortunately for Bartola, there would be no games this match.
"Begin." Armelle yelled, before a mindful watch started on the two men in the center.
Bartola made the first move, quickly striking his foot towards him to begin Ribbon in the Air. It was countered just as quickly when the Student ducked the swing and moved into a reverse gripped swing with The River Undercuts the Bank.
That was countered by Bartola's short, blade circling motion from The Grapevine Twines in an attempt to disarm, but was easily countered by a Grapevine of the Student's own. The two men backed off slightly as they moved back into a stance.
Bartola took the Second Stance to guard himself better, while the Student moved into the First Stance and followed through with a long vertical strike downwards with Leopard in the Tree. As it connected, Armelle tapped his left foot three times. 3 - 0.
As everyone watched, Bartola moved to the defensive stance. while the Student took up a balanced one. From that he quickly moved into a sideways step and took short thrusts with The Creeper Embraces the Oak. His form connected on Bartola's chest. Another three foot taps showed that Armelle had seen it. 6 - 0.
Bartola took the offensive stance and quickly transitioned into The Swallow Takes Flight, moving his sword in one swing that was dodged. The swing back connected. Behind them, Armelle called out, " 6 to 3."
The two men circled each other for a few steps, then the Student began the form stance for The Swallow Takes Flight, but it was a fake and his blade connected with Bartola's side. It was only worth one point, but it was still a hit.
"7 to 3"
That simple attack prompted the two to begin a series of swings and dodges to hit the other, but it was more a waiting game for who would make the next real strike.
Bartola sent his right foot towards his stomach, but as his attack missed it left him open to a wide swing that caught him in the back.
"8 to 3."
The new standoff ended as the Student sent a thrust to pass Bartola's defenses, but it backfired as it was blocked by a quick parry by Bartola, who then used his shoulder to push him into a stumble towards the ground as he moved into a vertical swing of his own to hit with Leopard in the Tree. It landed before the Student could stop himself from falling.
"8 to 6."
As the Student recovered, he moved back into a balanced stance as Bartola did the same. Except after that last attack, his opponent's movements seemed less rigid. The warm up was over.
Both men lunged at eachother, dodging swings and the occasional attempt at a stumbling kick or hard push. A few more spectators had gathered, mostly students that had finished their physical training for the day.
Another strong swing of Leopard in the Tree hit Bartola, but the follow up swing was dodged and left him open to a smaller hit on his right shoulder. The Student turned quickly to block another swing and made a strong swing that was parried. He kept up the assault and moved into small swings downward with Ribbon in the Air. Once. Twice. And again parried before his elbow left Bartola open to the final hit.
"14 to 7."
Before Armelle could even finish his score count, the two had gone back into a flurry of parries and light movements. As their practice swords collided, Bartola kicked the Student's stomach to leave him open as he crouched and swing upwards in a reverse grip into Low Wind Rising.
The Student barely regained his balance to avoid a follow up attack aimed as his chest. Both men took their defensive stances as they caught their breath.
"14 to 10."
Bartola charged at his left side, swinging wildly from Lion on the Hill to try and break through defenses. He barely dodged the attack, before moving into the attack stance and following it up with a quick step in with his right foot and swinging his sword at shoulder height to connect with The Rose Unfolds. From this, he moved seamlessly into a swing from left to right, then back again to finish using The Swallow Takes Flight.
The few that had caught what had happened seemed to clap a bit and tell the few men around them. Armelle called out, "20 to 10, with victory to Aruon."
As the next two were paired up, Armelle clapped the Student on the back and took the swords from the two. Bartola shrugged and wandered off without another word.
It was surprising when Armelle came back to talk before the next match, but even more surprising when Sargon came with him. A terrible feeling welled in his stomach as they approached. Somehow, he didn't think this would be a friendly congratulations.
A Student's Training
Moderator: Builders
Re: A Student's Training
Arleve tried to school her features to calmness as she left Cadsuane's apartments.
She stood well above nearly every Aes Sedai in the Tower when it came to day to day things. Her strength, her age and her work guaranteed that but the Greens were another matter. Standing in the Tower meant little when it came to interaction with other Green Sisters. The Battle Ajah had the trappings of a military organization in some ways and as a Lieutenant, the entry rank among the Greens, she did not issue many orders.
Still, her strength carried some weight but when it came to someone like Cadsuane who had worn the Green Shawl since she wore swaddling clothes, she was little more than a servant.
Arleve had concentrated on work for the Tower in general for decades and when she had time, worked to restore her Ancestral Kanoran House. She knew though that it was time to turn her focus exclusively to the Greens. Apart from the frustration she felt when dealing with other older Sisters of her Ajah, the work now was more important than ever. Darkfriends had begun to find one another, openly challenging those of the Light and the Tower. Raids on Caemlyn, channelers pledging themselves to the Shadow...
She paused at the sound of muted applause coming from the large window the Greens often used to watch the warder students practicing below. She was surprised to see more than just the usual training exercises under way. A duel between Aruon and Bartola was under way, with a small crowd gathered around the clearing to watch the skilled swordsmen. She knew Bartola well but rarely saw him in the field. Aruon was an interesting young man. She had spent seen him in battle several times. He was bright, strong and quite skilled. But he was also very ambitious which could be good or bad. It made her a bit wary.
The battle went on for only a few moments, over quicker than she would have thought. Like a dance of two master performers, they circled and met but before long, Aruon proved the victor. With a last glance, she moved on down the hall, lost in thought. As she approached her own quarters she began to take notice of some of the paintings that hung. She had seen all before and most were of battles, but one in particular caught her eye. It was a depiction of a dark tunnel, with swarms of trollocs and Dragkhar.
She stopped to study it recognizing where it was. Those tunnels still stood as a boil of evil, lanced over and over again but never completely drained. She frowned darkly at the grisly scene at first. But slowly, a small smile crept across her face. With a glance back towards the window overlooking the yard, she nodded to herself and continued on towards her apartments, her step invigorated with purpose.
She stood well above nearly every Aes Sedai in the Tower when it came to day to day things. Her strength, her age and her work guaranteed that but the Greens were another matter. Standing in the Tower meant little when it came to interaction with other Green Sisters. The Battle Ajah had the trappings of a military organization in some ways and as a Lieutenant, the entry rank among the Greens, she did not issue many orders.
Still, her strength carried some weight but when it came to someone like Cadsuane who had worn the Green Shawl since she wore swaddling clothes, she was little more than a servant.
Arleve had concentrated on work for the Tower in general for decades and when she had time, worked to restore her Ancestral Kanoran House. She knew though that it was time to turn her focus exclusively to the Greens. Apart from the frustration she felt when dealing with other older Sisters of her Ajah, the work now was more important than ever. Darkfriends had begun to find one another, openly challenging those of the Light and the Tower. Raids on Caemlyn, channelers pledging themselves to the Shadow...
She paused at the sound of muted applause coming from the large window the Greens often used to watch the warder students practicing below. She was surprised to see more than just the usual training exercises under way. A duel between Aruon and Bartola was under way, with a small crowd gathered around the clearing to watch the skilled swordsmen. She knew Bartola well but rarely saw him in the field. Aruon was an interesting young man. She had spent seen him in battle several times. He was bright, strong and quite skilled. But he was also very ambitious which could be good or bad. It made her a bit wary.
The battle went on for only a few moments, over quicker than she would have thought. Like a dance of two master performers, they circled and met but before long, Aruon proved the victor. With a last glance, she moved on down the hall, lost in thought. As she approached her own quarters she began to take notice of some of the paintings that hung. She had seen all before and most were of battles, but one in particular caught her eye. It was a depiction of a dark tunnel, with swarms of trollocs and Dragkhar.
She stopped to study it recognizing where it was. Those tunnels still stood as a boil of evil, lanced over and over again but never completely drained. She frowned darkly at the grisly scene at first. But slowly, a small smile crept across her face. With a glance back towards the window overlooking the yard, she nodded to herself and continued on towards her apartments, her step invigorated with purpose.
