milliways_bar | Out by the lake: Elaine's sword lesson

Elaine isn't fooled, and nothing can really get her down. "Lessons, silly." She laughs. "Oh, I'm so glad to be back."

*Alanna grins, motioning for Elaine to start stretching as well.*

And I am doubly thrilled to see you again. George might wander out at some point. He's an expert with knives, so I thought he might be able to show you a thing or two as well.

And exit the Valkyrie from the bar. Svava spots Elaine and Alanna, and heads over with a wave. "I'm not late, am I?"

"Good even, Svava!" Elaine says. She's really looking forward to her lesson tonight, and she stretches carefully.

"Throwing knives sounds interesting...and good for a surprise if someone doesn't know you can do it."

Not at all, Svava. We aren't operating on a strict schedule. I'm glad you're here. *Alanna looks at the valkyrie for a moment. Eyes steady, she smiles.* I'm eager to watch you spar with each other. I can pay closer attention to form that way.

*Alanna swings her arms at her side.* Svava, you want to use your own blade, correct? I have extra practice swords just in case. I was just explaining to Elaine that George might join us. He's a knife expert.

"If there's a practice blade like my own, I'll use that." A nod, unbuckling her sword belt. "Though as long as your blades are just normal, you can use those with out worry."

A bit of a wry smile. "I frightened Meg with that, a while ago."

Svava's short sword/long knife is a seax blade- two feet long, with handle. The usual uses for those were work, plain and simple- it was just made big enough to use as a weapon when needed. It could be compared to a machete from other regions/times- definitely a hacking sort of tool.

"If you would like me to use a practice blade as well, I can, Alanna. I'd rather use my own, though."

Elaine's blade is heavy and just the way she likes it, and now she's very used to working with it.

*Alanna looks back and forth between them before reaching a decision.*

Svava, I want you to train with your own weapon for as long as possible. That is the blade you will need to be comfortable with. I suggest you use it for all drills and light sparring, but once we really start getting underway, I'll need you to use a practice blade. Or... *She pauses.* One of my swords.

*Nodding, she unsheathes the fairy sword and swings it beside her. A sense of urgency overtakes her, and she drops back into a guard stance.*

I think tonight we will focus on attacking. But first, we warm up. Elaine? The Crescent Moon Drill? Svava, stop me if you have questions. *A look of total concentration on her face, Alanna begins the initial movements of the drill.*

Svava nods at Alanna, pulling out the blade before setting the belt and scabbard on the ground away from the practice area. "The weapon I'll aways be using... so yes. I know it best."

Biting her lip, she watches the other two women, their foot work and motions.

Most of any 'training' she's had has been the School of Hard Knocks, and bar brawling- then a stint of war and battles when she was on Arithon's world. Anything formal, like drills and sparring? erk... no.

A bit of a nod to Alanna, and she watches the other two. Biting her lip, getting a faint idea. She watches their feet first- it could be like dancing, right? And starts copying that, getting it down before she starts on the motions with the weapon.

Elaine's face becomes quite serious, and she begins the movements of the drill, saying the moves in her mind as she does them. She has a wonderful quality of concentration.

While in the back of her mind she knows there are people watching, they are firmly in the back of her mind.

Her stance has become almost second nature, and she only needs a few corrections that she instigates herself.

*Alanna's eyes gleam as she moves through the positions and motions that she's practiced since childhood. Her muscles remember the moves and flow from one to the other automatically, leaving Alanna free to watch the other two women. Elaine arcs her blade up and around and Alanna nods with approval. She shifts her eyes to Svava and feels a momentary sadness.

Alanna really hopes she can make a difference for her friend.

Bringing her sword around in a side strike, Alanna grins. If her invisible opponent is Hannibal Lecter, no one else is the wiser for it. She shifts her body to the right and ends the drill, sword held in a two handed guard stance.*

Well done, both of you. Elaine, you've improved greatly. Svava, you are having the same trouble Elaine did initially. Keep your elbows up, and your wrists firm. But otherwise? I'm quite impressed. You are graceful, and pick up the foot work easily. Any questions before we start sparring?

"The foot work's easy... If you figure it for dancing." A bit of a wry smile and shrug. "Um, I don't think any questions, no."

She knows what she's practicing for. And this also brings up memories of "that moment where-" from when she was fighting on Arithon's world. But Svava gamely keeps continuing through this.

"Elbows up, wrists firm." Quietly repeating Alanna's advice to herself.

Elaine beams under Alanna's praise but doesn't let it go to her head. She's going to be sparring and she needs her concentration to do this right.

Exactly, Svava. It's the only dance I'm any good at. *Grinning, Alanna moves toward Elaine.* Right. Elaine and I have done a great deal of defense work, but as I said, I want to focus on attacking today. However, the quick basics... *She lifts her sword and motions for Elaine to do the same.*

Deflecting blows is not as instinctual as one might suppose. A great deal of the time, your mind tells you to jump back, when in reality it is easier to step into the blow in order to cut off some of the power. Block with the center of your sword, and push back at the blow. Fight the reverberations.

*At this point, she waves Faith and Meg over. Without a word, she whirls and launches an attack on Elaine, ready to pull back if the other woman doesn't automatically defend.*

But she does, though she's a little startled. She repeats Alanna's words silently in her head as she blocks and pushes back.

It's jarring on the arms, and she'll be sore tomorrow, but the adrenaline is already pumping.

Faith approaches, sword in hand, and watches for a moment...then turns and does the same thing to Svava, without any warning.

"Look o-- behind you!" And the sound of gunshots and magic-

Seax blade up quick- it may not be a 'proper' sword, but Svava can still block- turn- and deflect- moving to bring the weapon back for a swipe and slash-

And Faith jumps over Svava's sword - actually, jumps over Svava, twisting mid-air and landing neatly on her feet with the sword swinging for the Valkyrie again.

A spin around, barely getting the blade up to deflect Faith's sword up and away. She almost brings her left hand up to draw a battle rune, on instinct- then frowns at herself, pulling back.

Faith arches an eyebrow at her. "What's with the hand gestures?" she asks cheerfully, while swinging again.

"It would have been a spell." Svava mutters, through clenched teeth-

Then a spin and block.

"However it would not be good for sparring."

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