#rivervale_lodge

Adam gets a text: Come to RV lodge please. Sparring area

And as soon as he can, he does.

Olgar greets him, "You still looking for teaching, right?" A nod "With weapons?"

"Uh..... yeah. I mean, Chietain has been working with me, early on weekends. "

"Right, Vali tells me you're not crazy about him, so I should offer to help.. Frankly I don't think you're my fan either, but what the hell." A nod "So, what kind of gear are you wanting to learn how to use?"

"Swords." Instantly.

"One handed, two handed?" He asks

And he moves to the collection

"Well. One?" He looks excited, a spark in his eyes.

"RIght... let's sort through.... Cutlass," He says "Rapier, Sabre," SHowing more than six blades, "Gladius, broadsword, Spadroon, viking style.."

"Try each one, give it a swing or thrust, tell me what 'feels' good in your hand."

"Ooo...." despite his teen-cool.... He almost croons. "Ok." He tries them.

Some are really too large for him, or at least his level of skull.... some don't take advantage of his build, too small.... but one.....

He takes up the rapier again. "What about this one?"

"Rapier, primarily a thrusting weapon, rely more on accuracy and speed than strength. You may find it less useful against heavily armored opponents, but a true master has a knack for finding the weak points in armor.. joint guards and the like. They may look like prancy fops, but one of the times I came close to dying was against a sidhe who used a rapier. You'lll have to remember how to block with it.. at the hilt with heavier weapons if you must at all. Try to block a battle axe with that blade, and that blade may break... now deflecting.. works better. "

"I want this one." He breathes.

"WHat, because one of them almost killed me? That was in the hands of a master I got to tell you" A nod "But yeah, I think you'll focus. dont' think arm strenght won't matter at all. If nothing else, isometrics... arms get tired carrying weight.. and he who wobbles in the arm first, often kisses the dirt first"

"Rapier might be good for you. Now, Siv is better with these things, but I know the basics." He grabs one more troll sized, "LEt me demonstrate... " And he turns to a target , "You see this pose? The spacing on my feet?"

Adam copies it. "Yes."

"Good, this is the correct pose.. until things force it not be the correct pose. There's a type of fencing, called 'in the line' it's Olympic style back and forth, to and fro.... when used in real battles in fae country, the term is 'dead man', you will be learning to fight 'in the round'" He adds "In the round will let you live"

Adam nods, and Olgar might see a bit of the focus that put him on varisty.

"Okay, now, this is a thrust" He demonstrates on the target, "This, is a lunge" and again, a demonstration "See the difference? The lunge might have more oomph but it also extends and leaves you open"

Adam copies him precisely.

"Yeah. You gotta get your arm back in, not leave it out there where they can steal the ball."

"Whatever anology works for you, sure. " He says

"now, let's talk about you wrist.. the holding"

"What's wrong with it?" He peers.

WHap!

OUCH

"That" He says after a quick rap

The rapier now on the ground

"Ow!! What?!?!"

"That happens when you hold things wrong." He explains "It falls from your grip easier. It makes it easyer for your foe to move your guard... and if you don't have control over your hands, you don't have control of your rapier. Trust me, Siv had to get her knuckles busted a few times to learn that lesson too. And she thought the same nasty things about me that you likely are"

"Now, about that grip" He shows him hwo to do it right again "This way"

A stubborn jut of his jaw, and he corrects his grip.

"Good, now," he says with a nod, "Another thing you'll find is the right grip helps transmit your strength properly."

" you said this sword didn't rely on strength."

"The killing point means the power goes through a limited area, much like a really sharp bullet with astick attached." he says "But strength is still a factor at times. Just agility and finese count for more. Precision. But trust me, your arms will be tired after this"

Adam nods and tries a lunge again.

"Better! " He nods "And you also see why speed plays such a part. The Quicker you can get it done without losing force or focus, the less chance for a reposte... and reposts are things will will cover another day"

"Yeah, I get it. If they can't see your moves they can't play defense."

"Exactly. You're gonna love feints... it's pretty much a fake out, but with swords"

"Sweet! Show me."

"First get the basics, the fundamentals, then we work up okay?"

A resigned nod. "Ok."

Dagmar is tromping towards the hold, horses to tend...

And she might hear practice in the sparring yard

She diverts to check it out

Adam seems hard at work, training.... With a sword.... & olgar...?

She bites on her lip, guilt surging.