Percival pushed the doors of the manor open and stepped out into the morning light, intent on going down to the stables to start his routine. Despite the new second sun, Midnight's feeding and grooming would not wait, and now that they were both well-rested, Percival could resume normal matters of care. He came out wondering if enough ice would melt to permit a trail ride...and then he noticed the man standing in the courtyard, in his path.
So, he's out of the infirmary. Percival had only just returned after his retreat, so he hadn't caught up on what else besides the rune-sun had changed while he was gone. He kept his tone light as he stepped down the stairs. "I'm not sure what you want to accomplish by challenging the dawn," he said wryly, "but I wish you the best of luck."
Seed was startled out of his reverie by an unfamiliar voice and he turned to the side, his sword leaving the sun behind to point towards the person who had jarred him out of his thoughts of home.
He frowned at the sight of Percival.
"Oh, it's you", his voice sounded weary, and perhaps a little aggravated, but it wasn't clear if his annoyance was directed at Percival himself for what he did at the infirmary, or at being taken so completely off guard, "I told you I wouldn't touch your precious Luca Blight, there's no need to check up on me. I value my word and won't go against it."
Percival did not flinch at the sword, stepping casually to the side as if to simply walk around Seed. "I'm not checking up on you," he assured blandly. "This is a chance meeting, nothing more. I'm on my way to the stables to look after my horse.
"For what it's worth," he continued after barely a pause for breath, "I'm no fan of Luca Blight. He kidnapped the castle lord and left him to die, and attempted to take over the castle. A team of brave swordsmen of which I was in no shape to join beat him to within an inch of his life. So, yes, while I know little of the conflict in your part of the world in ages past, I do know what he's capable of."
Seed laughed, a mirthless laugh, as he lowers his sword: "That was merely recreational for him. Had you found your castle lord gutted and beheaded, maybe a few women and children too, then you would have known what Luca Blight is capable of."
"And yet, we followed him for a long time, I followed him", Seed frowned as he started thinking of times past, and of that fateful decision, late at night in Culgan's tent, to turn against their Prince for the good of Highland. Alas, it had been too late to win the war, but it had saved countless innocent lives. What was that thing that Culgan had told him? "All it takes for evil to win, is that good men do nothing. Remember that."
Seed snapped back to his starting position with an added flourish and a smile on his face -he obviously wasn't taking this sparring very seriously- before pressing forward with a flurry of quick downward strokes.
"You know what I hate about fencing?" Seed asked suddenly, thinking of throwing his opponent off-guard with a little light conversation.
Zukunft flashed back and forth, parrying each stroke in rapid sequence, although Percival had to concentrate hard to make sure none of them slipped past his guard. "No," he breathed in response, gliding sideways to get a better angle from which to defend, "what do you hate about fencing?"
As Percival prepared to defend, Seed moved in, the edge of his sword grinding against the other knight's, steel against steel, in an admittably sloppy attempt at a corps à corps. He dug his heels in, in case his opponent tried to push back and grinned at him from the other side of their crossed swords.
Percival held his ground, though he began to smirk at Seed's brash attitude. "Oh? I could take off your feet, then you wouldn't have to worry." His tone was light and kidding, though.
He gauged the strength of their standoff before stepping back, twirling his sword in circles to gradually disengage Seed's blade and give himself an opening to stab inward, though without the deadly force behind it. If Seed couldn't block him, he would pull the strike and only rip his clothing.
The tip of Seed's blade jabbed into the flank of Percival's gambeson as he swung, too far overreached to block. At least the padded leather didn't pierce too deeply, but the thrust behind it threw Percival off-balance even as he flinched. He let out a startled gasp, either from his failure or Seed's quick move.
Like a predator catching his prey offguard and moving in for the kill, Seed closed the space between him and Percival, and attempted to strike him again with the flat of his blade...
"Ah!" The second hit got inside his guard and whacked Percival in the chest, knocking him backwards onto the ground. As soon as he hit, he let go of Zukunft and held up both hands. "Yield!" he decided clearly. It was getting too heated, too close. The cut to his leather armor was a warning shot that maybe it was time to back off himself.
Seed, looking incredibly pleased with himself, slid his sword back into its scabbard before moving closer to Percival and extending a hand, the heavy brown rawhide making up the palm of his gauntlet exposed.
Comments 62
So, he's out of the infirmary. Percival had only just returned after his retreat, so he hadn't caught up on what else besides the rune-sun had changed while he was gone. He kept his tone light as he stepped down the stairs. "I'm not sure what you want to accomplish by challenging the dawn," he said wryly, "but I wish you the best of luck."
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He frowned at the sight of Percival.
"Oh, it's you", his voice sounded weary, and perhaps a little aggravated, but it wasn't clear if his annoyance was directed at Percival himself for what he did at the infirmary, or at being taken so completely off guard, "I told you I wouldn't touch your precious Luca Blight, there's no need to check up on me. I value my word and won't go against it."
Reply
"For what it's worth," he continued after barely a pause for breath, "I'm no fan of Luca Blight. He kidnapped the castle lord and left him to die, and attempted to take over the castle. A team of brave swordsmen of which I was in no shape to join beat him to within an inch of his life. So, yes, while I know little of the conflict in your part of the world in ages past, I do know what he's capable of."
Reply
"And yet, we followed him for a long time, I followed him", Seed frowned as he started thinking of times past, and of that fateful decision, late at night in Culgan's tent, to turn against their Prince for the good of Highland. Alas, it had been too late to win the war, but it had saved countless innocent lives. What was that thing that Culgan had told him? "All it takes for evil to win, is that good men do nothing. Remember that."
Reply
"You know what I hate about fencing?" Seed asked suddenly, thinking of throwing his opponent off-guard with a little light conversation.
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"The footwork."
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He gauged the strength of their standoff before stepping back, twirling his sword in circles to gradually disengage Seed's blade and give himself an opening to stab inward, though without the deadly force behind it. If Seed couldn't block him, he would pull the strike and only rip his clothing.
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"I shouldn't keep you from your horse."
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