#rivervale_lodge

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Adam shows up the next day, EARLY.

Brekke is finishing her coffee. She nods with approval at his timing, but does not speak. Instead, she leads him to the training ring and picks up a sword.

He has his practice rapier, and may have done some warm ups already.

He waits for instruction.

Wordlessly, she stands beside him and reviews the eight-count of pattern from the last training.

A deep breath, and he dedicates himself to picking up the pattern, doing the drill.

She only goes through it once before turning to face him, and beginning the pattern of thrust/parry/thrust/etc.

She starts at a slow speed, but not as slow as the slowest from yesterday.

He works hard. He's been thinking about this, clearly, and he is as ready as he can be.

And he reaches, just a bit; anticipating, reacting, blocking, trying an attack......

She sees this, and blocks easily, but maintains the pattern and increases the pace.

He does his best to keep up!

Clack-tap-clack-tap....like a metronome...but then she increases the speed again. "Remember to breathe," she coaches, not missing a beat.

He'd neglected that, and sucks in a breath, then out, and tries to remember to keep doing that while focused on his sword work.

He colors slightly.

She doesn't seem surprised. It's a common issue. Click-clack-click-clack-Thap! He missed a block and she tagged him in the shoulder, though not too hard.

His blush rises, but he focuses and goes back en guard.

She steps back, then nods. "Take a drink." The jug and cups are there by the ringside.

He's ready to charge in... the realizes she's called a break and stops. He gets some water, drinks thirstily.

She also takes a cup and drinks. "Try to focus on exhaling with each strike. The inhales will take care of themselves. But do not hold your breath."

He nods. "My bad." A pause. "I know better."

"Knowing and doing are different. You will improve."

"Again." She steps back out into the ring.

Adam gets back in there, and to his credit? He is not afraid of hard work and sweat to improve.

She runs him through that drill again, ending at a good speed. A pause, more water. Then a new pattern, going through four different parry/strike combinations and turns. It's more like a martial arts kata, and Adam can see that some of these moves would be necessary only if fighting more than one person, as in a battle.

Adam seems focused on learning the drills, changing them up if need be, but learning them.

Slow, learning the pattern, then slight increase in speed....

Then a pause and a break for water.

Adam almost revs up for those increases.... and powers down in frustration as required.

This break is silent, and brief. When she steps back into the ring, Brekke turns to him. "Attack. I will leave you openings. When you see them, strike me."

A hesitation.

"You..... I don't..... "

"Question?"

He squares up, focusing. "No ma'am."

And salutes.

She returns the salute, and waits, blade ready.

He has not been taught to do this, although Olgar mentioned it. He tries, advancing with the point and then pulling it back. He is aware he should not leave his blade extended; he pulls it back, but misses some opportunities and that frustrates him.

Poke, poke, poke.....

She parries most of his strikes, but now and then makes and opening for him to actually touch her with the blade...if he commits to the strike.

He is careful at first; looking for the trick? He does give it a shot, dashing in and out quickly.

She makes no comment, but takes the hit, nods, and resets.

It may feel like not much of a victory.

She didn't have to let him hit her. She could have blocked that so easily.

There's a moment where it might seem he's disappointed at that reaction. But. He resets as well.

He wants a -real- victory.

She waits for him to attack.

A veteran like Brekke can see it; he's overthinking. He attacks, charging forward and not without skill but....

Parry-parry-parry-and there's the opening....

He takes it!

And manages a tippy cut, but nothing that would do more than leave a bit of a scratch.