#odyssey

"SO much better than Patrice."

chime! A muted agreement from inside a pocket.

"We can rest easy, Citrine approves."

"Still, she might want to have a big tall strong friend with a simplier name one day , to help her on the playground"

"We don't have to spell it in gaelic...."

An assurance "its a beautiful name, not trying to diss it.' A smile at the child "A beautfiul name for a lovely young lady who if she is anything like her other family members will be as smart as a whip"

Art chuckles. “Not bad at all. Maybe you should be the Namer, Thistle.”

"I can see that.. some fledge gets Namer Thistle going 'your use name is Lysandra Belldera, but your true name is..." SHe mimes a low whisper "Idjitana"

"Fuuurk no, I don't want that kind of responsibility."

"I wouldn't either"

Art looks thoughtful. “Niamh seems to handle it with grace and aplomb.”

“Even if she is only around Frankie's age.”

"Well yeah, Niamh is clearly cooler than us."

a smile

“Maybe she and Frankie can become friends. Did you see him splashing in the water?”

"maybe" A nod "Frankie's a loving child." A look at him and Thistle "So, until the time for the saining, you guys got plans?"

“Worrying?” Art says, with a grin. “Or staying busy and distracted.”

"Come on, Art" She says "Let's get some sticks or practice weapons and get you some training."

His eyes widen. “What did I did wrong? You're going to punish me!”

"Arthur," She says gently "You have been amazing. Brilliant, cunning and alert. I'm a bit in awe, but no I'm not punishing you. It's a way to pass the time AND, if it turns out you're of a warrior house, you might want a bit more practice even if you stand out as more of a thinker than a battle beast. "

He chuckles and relents . “Let's go. I'd like to learn more about the weapons culture of the Caribbean.”

"Hey that's a good idea. We should respect their culture, and that's one way to do it. "

It turns out that it draws much from traditional African weapons, many of which doubled as tools. Short throwing spears used to check the give of soil for planting as well as well as hunting. Machetes called ‘bills’ or long folding ‘ratchet’ knives that cut through foliage as well as enemies. Slings and bolas that once would have hunted wild birds or pigs or goats, now mostly for fun, tradition, or the occasional chimerical pest or invasive hog. Fishing spears, of course.

A few of the guardian Selkie have adopted pirate-esque habits and have cutlasses!

Gwen of course, takes to spears very well, they're more varied a weapon than most know, some are actually quite short, and then there are long spears, but she's happy to train with them all. She looks at Art, "Get a feel for each, see what feels good in your hand. Melee please. You've used a staff, I want to see what else feels good to you"

He had been looking at the slings and bolas, but obligingly tries some others. The machete has an unfamiliar heft to it.

"How we do the melee first, and the slings and bolas second. " She assures him it will not be denied, if something else truly feels better to him, then she doesn't want him to feel cheated

He sets down the wide bladed knife and looks through the weapons locker that Aoife gladly opened for them. Toward the back, he pulls out a light, slim blade.

"Lighter blades often rely more on speed and accuracy than strength, and no less deadly for it" Gwen says. She wants to pass on some of what the thanes taught HER. She remembers Dancia and Linnae's teaching her, and realizes now in someways, it was a gift, not just practical. Knowledge shared can be for self glorification, but more often, it is a sharing, a hand to help raise someone to another level if it interests them so they need you less, not more

It looks like a cutlass, or a variation thereof. Light and quick, and a short blade- well suited to someone smaller of stature like Art.

Though, in sizing him up for practice, Gwen may notice that he has put on not only some height, but he has filled out a bit too over the last year. Still slender, but no longer scrawny. He’s picked up a healthy tan over the last week as well. It suits him.

"Athur, I do believe you're getting a bit broader in the shoulders" A nod off approval "That's a slashing weapon, unlike an epee, so don't try for the thrust unless a slash won't have speed or room." She suggests "No fighting in line here, we'll be doing 'in the round' as they say. Give a few swings in the air and get a feel for the weight of it and it's natural resistance"

“An Epee, that's a rapier, is it not? I didn't see any of those here.”

He swings the sword experimentally.

"A true weapon lorist could give you the differences , terms and history for each weapon, but for our purposes, that's fine." She watches him swing

/roll 4

He has some natural dexterity and seems to have a feel for the weapon, native or perhaps remembered.

"Interesting" She says, "And really nice for a start. Remember, a lot of power comes from your core not just arm strength, but for such a weapon, sometimes weak but still cutting strikes of speed are better than a slow albeit deeper gouge. A true dancer with light weapons can bleed someone down bit by bit and strike three times while a brute only hits once. Of course, I speak in generalities"

He seems to lean towards light, flicking motions, and sharp jabs, not big broad ‘Conan’ swings.

And she works with that. Even encourages that.

He seems to lean towards a fencing type style! At least, as far as she can tell.

"See how natural relying on footwork for you defense feels"

He does listen as well, stopping and correcting his feet.

"Some block, some dodge, only a fool ignores both, but it's good to find your stronger style'

One solid hit from Danica or Linnea- or herself for that matter, would flatten him.

But he might just dodge or slip out of the way, if lucky!

She raises her practice weapon, and if need be padded it. And motions him to try his work against her. Armored and rocky skinned any hit he strikes won't likely damage her.

“Are you sure?” He asks, even after padding the tip of his borrowed sword.

"We have healers nearby. They may think us foolish but I'm sure" A nod

He gives a tentative swing towards Gladiola, well telegraphed.