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.
Percival took the offered hand and got to his feet, brushing himself off and finally checking his side for damage. His gambeson had a neat slice in it, but his flesh underneath was fine. "Oh, the lazy boy can sleep in a few extra minutes," he sighed. "He will pout at me until Kathy comes by with a treat anyway."
He retrieved Zukunft and slid it home, straightening up proudly even though he was still panting. "That was a strenuous workout. Not what I expected upon waking up, but..." He nodded. "You're very good with the sword, Sir Seed."
"Just Seed", the Highland general felt compelled to repeat, like a mantra, for this 'sir Seed' seemed to him another person entirely. "And you're not half-bad yourself."
At first, he pondered leaving it at that. He really wasn't interested in the people of this castle and this world, but Percival had mentioned a horse, and if there was something Seed loved more than his sword, it was horses.
"Naturally," Percival replied, calming down some now that he wasn't exerting himself. He stretched his shoulder, though, making sure it still worked right. "I am with the Six Mighty Knights of Zexen, making me a cavalry captain. My daily routine includes looking after Midnight myself, and when the weather permits I will likely ride patrols on the outer road."
He smiled a bit. "Are you much of a rider yourself? I admit to my lack of knowledge about Highland's military component."
"I'm a cavalry general", Seed answered, unable to hide his pride at that accomplishment, for it was no small feat for the son of a farmer from a modest border town, "I've been riding horses since before my feet could fit in the stirrups. I miss my Bataille, he was a fantastic horse."
"Ahh, so we have even more in common, then," Percival remarked, resting his arm on the hilt of his sword. "Farmboys who grew up to be cavalrymen and serve their homelands. If you add anything like, say, an appreciation for fine wines, and we might have to become friends of a sort." He chuckled, though, not wanting to come across too strongly. He hadn't forgotten any of Seed's irritation nor his attempt to do in Luca Blight. There was more to this man than he knew, obviously.
Percival tossed his head in the general direction of the stables beyond the courtyard. "We'll have to swap war stories and perhaps go riding, at least," he suggested. "When I'm not feeling so bruised and battered."
"Life in this castle has made you soft, Captain", Seed answered, giving Percival a rather enthusiastic thump on the back, "I'm sure you've ridden into battle bloodied and battered and barely sitting straight in your saddle, we all have!"
"As for wine", a hand on his waist, Seed suddenly frowned, the expression on his face more akin to that of a young boy having just bitten into a lemon than one of Highland's greatest soldiers, "I'll pass if you don't mind. I know enough about it to get by in polite society, and I can even discuss years and grape varieties if I have to, but I'd rather drink a refreshing tankard of ale."
Percival took it with another chuckle, trying not to wince. There was probably a bruise under that spot. "Oh, I have, more than once. There have been some rough battles in the border skirmishes, and then some. But, that title belongs solely to the Knight Captain, Lady Chris. I don't mind dropping formalities if you do."
He shrugged, then. "Either way. Anyone who can appreciate a good drink on top of everything else fits the bill." He arched an eyebrow in a smirk. "I've even gotten my hands on some very finely aged rum from the Island Nations."
"Spiced rum?" Seed perked up visibly when he heard mention of one of the few types of alcohol he enjoyed apart from ale, "I haven't had spiced rum from the Islands in a long time... most trade routes were closed during the war. Culgan held on to his last bottle for a long time, he had said we'd drink it on the day of Highland's great victory..."
Seed's voices trailed off, and it was obvious that he wasn't thinking about rum anymore.
Some part of Percival understood that look, having been there a time or two before in his own past. He spoke with less teasing, but still lightly, not wanting to indulge dark thoughts. "Yes. A friend of mine, a sea captain named Troy, gave it to me for Yule. I haven't tasted it yet, I thought it deserved a fitting time to be broken out and enjoyed." He chanced a gentle smile. "Perhaps that time is not now. But maybe someday, hopefully soon. I would like to pass it among those who would appreciate it."
"If you wait for a fitting time, you may never enjoy it", answered Seed, a little darkly, "I assume the Dunan soldiers who ransacked Culgan's mansion must have appreciated it, though... we should have opened it earlier, drinking it to friendship and life. Some things you have to enjoy while they last."
Percival breathed a soft sigh. "Yes, I would have to agree with that. Sometime soon, then. My comrade Borus and I will probably put the gift to good use...you are welcome to join us."
He set a hand on Seed's shoulder as he began to pass, heading for the steps down to the further yard. "It has been an enlightning morning, Seed. Thank you for showing me that I need to work on my skills a little more and patrol a little less."
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"I shouldn't keep you from your horse."
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He retrieved Zukunft and slid it home, straightening up proudly even though he was still panting. "That was a strenuous workout. Not what I expected upon waking up, but..." He nodded. "You're very good with the sword, Sir Seed."
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At first, he pondered leaving it at that. He really wasn't interested in the people of this castle and this world, but Percival had mentioned a horse, and if there was something Seed loved more than his sword, it was horses.
"You have a horse, here? At the stables?"
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He smiled a bit. "Are you much of a rider yourself? I admit to my lack of knowledge about Highland's military component."
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Percival tossed his head in the general direction of the stables beyond the courtyard. "We'll have to swap war stories and perhaps go riding, at least," he suggested. "When I'm not feeling so bruised and battered."
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"As for wine", a hand on his waist, Seed suddenly frowned, the expression on his face more akin to that of a young boy having just bitten into a lemon than one of Highland's greatest soldiers, "I'll pass if you don't mind. I know enough about it to get by in polite society, and I can even discuss years and grape varieties if I have to, but I'd rather drink a refreshing tankard of ale."
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He shrugged, then. "Either way. Anyone who can appreciate a good drink on top of everything else fits the bill." He arched an eyebrow in a smirk. "I've even gotten my hands on some very finely aged rum from the Island Nations."
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Seed's voices trailed off, and it was obvious that he wasn't thinking about rum anymore.
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He set a hand on Seed's shoulder as he began to pass, heading for the steps down to the further yard. "It has been an enlightning morning, Seed. Thank you for showing me that I need to work on my skills a little more and patrol a little less."
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