Practice Grounds
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You find yourself on a pretty, grassy lawn that runs along the north side of Cair Paravel’s main tower. Most of it has been trampled quite a bit by feet and hooves of various sizes, as it’s been used as a training field for Cair Paravel’s resident knights. There are a number of flagstone paths, though, that run around the perimeter toward some outbuildings. There is a stable to the north, a wide, stocky watchtower to the northeast, and to the distant east at the end of the peninsula, the naval pier is being constructed. You can see the ocean beyond, stretching out in its twinkly blueness toward the horizon. There isn’t much of a beach that you can detect from here, though.
A door in the north tower leads back into the castle.
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Mateo is taking the opportunity of some quiet time to do a bit of sword drill, he uses a wooden training sword and occasionally strikes at a dummy that’s been set up.
Deonyc is doing his usual stretches before he goes into actual training and has various practice weapons set up, once he is done he does some stance drills with a partner
Mateo happens to catch sight of Deonyc and pauses, waiting for a break in Deonyc’s training before calling out, “Hello there”
A son of adam with a stern face enters the practice field. He stops short when he sees Deonyc, turning to look around.
Deonyc nods when he notices mateo, “Hello you!”
Mateo says, “Good weather for it” he gestures around the practice field.
Deonyc nods, “Though I don’t limit my training to the weather.”
You say, “I didn’t expect you did”
A son of adam with a stern face approaches the two men, giving Deonyc a rather pointed look.
Mateo, noting the new arrival, gives him a nod in greeting, “Good day”
Deonyc looks mateo up and down sizing him up, “You do sparring much?” when haft aproaches he greets, “Good day haft, Lady Avery is having tea with Duke Oren, she relieved in favor of a castle guard, considered it safe and all.”
You ask, “Can’t exactly train well if you don’t, you know?”
Deonyc smiles and nods, “True indeed.”
A son of adam with a stern face chews his lip. “With the duke?”
Deonyc nods, “Talking about life and all, and dresses.”
You say, “It is only natural that his Grace and her Ladyship should meet and exchange pleasantries.”
A son of adam with a stern face frowns slightly, taking in the unknown man. “And you are…?”
You ask, “Mateo, companion-at-arms to his Grace. Yourself?”
A son of adam with a stern face says, “Haft, guard of Anvard.”
You say, “A pleasure to meet you then, Haft”
Haft says, “Same.” He glances away, as if trying to decide whether it’s worse to leave Avery in the care of a /Narnian/ guard or to offend Mateo and thereby the duke.”
Deonyc glances between the two, and finaly looking to haft, “Are you going to join or just watch?”
Haft looks back. “I’ll watch,” he says curtly.
Deonyc takes his sword from his scabbard and moves roughly three paces away taking up a normal guard sword raised before him.
Mateo seems to realise the question had been a challenge and raises his own training sword in a defensive stance.
Deonyc takes a quick step forward and tries to send a low cut straight to mateo’s waist.
The spar goes on for some time until…
Mateo makes a strike towards Deonyc.
Deonyc goes to a knee and knocks his hand on the ground signaling that he cedes, he parries the incoming blow though.
Haft watches the match assessingly.
Mateo lowers the sword and holds out a hand to Deonyc, “Good match!”
Deonyc smiles and props himself up, and takes the hand, “Indeed, I think I want a rematch someday though, that opening could have been better.”
Mateo chuckles, “One day, sure”
Deonyc looks to haft, “Well how was it?”
Mateo wipes some sweat from his brow and takes a half step back, also looking towards Haft with some curiosity.
Haft says, “It was a good match. For him.”
Deonyc nods, “That is true.”
Mateo says modestly, “Ah, Deonyc didn’t do too badly!”
Deonyc shrugs
Haft says, “Ah, but any match Archenland must cede is bad.”
Deonyc says, “Better now than under true combat but…””
Haft shoots him a look.
Mateo looks between the two with raised eyebrows of mild surprise, “You cannot think it would come to that can you…?”
Haft rolls his eyes. “Deonyc has the gift of exaggeration.”
Deonyc shakes his head, “No I meant better that to lose a practice fight than a real match.” he nods to haft, “Lady Avery and hid Grace the Duke were having tea, I don’t intend to change that.”
Mateo scratches the back of his neck, “Well that at least is true”
Haft says, “Never been much of one for tea. Not enough flavor.”
Deonyc says, “Cider is better that is true”
You say, “Mead for me, if I had to pick.”
Haft says, “Well, at least it tastes like something. Tea is just hot water that got muddied up.”
Deonyc says, “One can’t go drinking warm cider or whine while on watch though.”
Mateo nods, “That’s why I drink coffee, it has flavour and keeps you awake”
Haft says, “Perhaps you should go see if Lady Avery needs anything.”
Deonyc glances between the two, and nods to haft, “I was thinking of going running, but you are right Lady Avery has priority.”
A vein pulses in Haft’s temple.
Mateo watches the two in silence, especially with Haft’s current expression.
Deonyc nods to the two and heads off.
Mateo waves Deonyc goodbye.
Haft looks after him, then addresses Mateo. “That was some good work.”
Mateo gives Haft a little half grin, “Thank you”
Haft asks, “How’d you learn?”
You say, “His Grace taught me for the most part when I started working for him.”
Haft looks confused. “Didn’t you say you were his companion-at-arms?”
Mateo nods, “I did say that, this was of course when I was younger. I’ve been with him for quite some time”
Haft says, “That’s something different. Usually a noble hires his protector based on existing skill.”
You say, “Oh, no, I wasn’t always his Companion-at-arms, that came later. ”
Mateo is talking to Haft at the edge of the field, he has that slightly disheveled look of one who’s just had a good work out, a wooden practice sword at his side.
Haft, for his part, looks completely unruffled.
Lanisen makes his way through the grounds, aiming for the tower where they have been staying.
Mateo catches sight of Lanisen and gives him a wave, “Hello Lanisen”
Haft turns and nods in greeting.
Lanisen pauses and ducks his head to return the greeting. He hesitates, then shifts his course to approach them.
You ask, “How’s it going?”
Lanisen glances briefly at Haft before he answers Mateo, “Well enough, thanks.” He squints at the other man’s ruffled state and asks, “You?”
Mateo says, “Oh not too bad” He notes Lanisen’s squint and elaborates, “Just had a friendly little spar with the other guardsman, all in good sport of course”
Lanisen says, “Oh! Sure, of course.”
You ask, “What brings you along this way?”
Lanisen shakes his head. “Nothin’, just wantin’ somethin’ from my pack.”
Mateo nods, “That’s fair enough”
Lanisen asks, glancing between them again, “You plannin’ another spar?”
Mateo chuckles, “Oh, not today I don’t think”
Lanisen lifts his shoulders. “I never know.”
You say, “Of course. Haft here was just watching though, I don’t think he has any intention to.”
Haft says, “No, I think not.”
Lanisen grins, glancing back at Haft. “Well,” he says. “I didn’t mean to interrupt.”
You say, “You’re not interrupting, we were just talking”
Lanisen says, “Oh, er– all right.”
Mateo nods and gives him a reassuring sort of smile.
Haft leans back against a post, just listening, eyes straying to various Creatures practicing their skills.
Lanisen asks, “What were you, what were you talking about?”
You say, “The spar, and where I learned to fight”
Lanisen asks, “Oh?”
You say, “I was just saying his Grace taught me proper swordplay.”
Lanisen asks, “Swordplay and chess, huh?”
Mateo grins a little, “I owe a lot to his Grace”
Lanisen asks, “How’d you meet?”
You say, “He helped me out when I was younger”
Lanisen asks, “Yeah?”
Mateo nods, “Yep”
Lanisen pauses, and then nods. “We all need a little help sometimes,” he agrees.
Mateo’s expression doesn’t change from his affable smile, but there’s something in his tone that suggests gratitude at the topic being dropped, “That’s right”
Haft’s expression is unreadable.
Lanisen glances at Haft and rubs his elbow.
Mateo rubs the back of his neck awkwardly.
You say, “I should probably be cleaning myself up and checking to see if his Grace needs anything from me, was nice talking to you both.”
Lanisen says, “Yeah, of course. See you around, I suppose.”
Mateo gives him another one of his smiles, trying to lighten the mood, “Should think so, we’re both in the same castle”
Haft says, “See you then.”
Mateo gives them both a wave and a last farewell and heads off.
Mateo 