RP log: Geddoe/Troy sparring

[i_am_a_pisces]

Geddoe stood leaning on the wall just beside the infirmary door, head bowed, arms folded, looking either deep in thought or paralyzed by emotion. With him, it was hard to tell, but the dark scowl was enough warning to keep most people away. He wasn't sure what his next move ought to be, so for now, he remained there, weighing all his options.

Dressed in loose, casual clothes in his customary shades of black and gray, Troy was making his was to the sparring ground when he spottedGeddoe leaning against the wall beside the infirmary, looking lost inside of himself. Pausing a polite distance away, he cleared his throat softly so as to not startle the other man. "Geddoe?"

Geddoe raised his head slowly, his one eye fixing the interloper with a grim look. "Yes?"

Troy tilted his head to one side, indicating the closed door beside Geddoe. "What's going on?"

The mercenary captain looked away again.  "Belcoot has been seriously injured in a fight with Luca Blight," he said bluntly in a low tone.

Troy shook his head slightly, "I am not familar with Belcoot, but I have not heard many good things about Blight. What was the cause of this fight?" He had to admit, his curiosity was piqued, so much noise in the past few days and he had not been able to find the true cause....and it seems that he had finally stumbled on someone who could give it.

Geddoe stared at the floor. He knew the cause. He knew Belcoot's reasons. He didn't feel any guilt himself, for he had warned the young swordsman, but he found himself very bothered by the outcome. "I believe it wasBelcoot's sense of honor that brought it about," he answered cryptically. Troy's presence made him push himself away from the wall if only to face him. "Belcoot is one of the swordsmen from Falena. A gentle man, not a hothead. This is his reward for standing up for his friends."

Troy frowned, shifting his weight to stand a bit straighter in response to Geddoe's movement, "Standing up for his friends? Which friends of his needed protection?"

For a moment Geddoe wondered if the young man had been holed up somewhere over the past couple of days. The chaos was hard to miss, though perhaps not everyone had heard the specifics. "Did you happen to catch the announcement Luca made a few days ago, about apprehending Roy for criminal behavior?"

"I had heard shouting, but I am not familiar with this Roy....and Luca was a castle guard the last time I knew, so I assumed that he was announcing something just more....exhuberantly....than normal. No one seems to be able to tell me the entire story."

Geddoe considered their location, the moment, and the possibility that he could use Troy's assistance in the plot he and Belcoot had begun to hatch. His arms fell to his sides as he stepped away from guarding the infirmary door. "I would be glad to, but not here. Somewhere else."

"I was on my way to practice some sword work....would you care to join me and speak there?" He lifted his sheathed blade slightly in illustration of his purpose.

The thought of exercising off his building rage was immensely appealing. Geddoe nodded once. "I would like that. My last sparring session was cut short."

Troy nodded as well, noticing that Geddoe was already armed, "Do you need anything first?"

"No. Let's go." Geddoe strode forward, meeting Troy and falling into step beside him. "Would you be opposed to fighting outside, in the snow?"

"Not at all...the more practice I can get in that environment, the better." He easily matched Geddoe's stride, "Rain, sleet, hot weather, tempestuous seas....and nothing is like snow."

"Very true." Geddoe pushed the doors of the manor open and led the way across the grounds, though Troy remained beside him with ease. "I didn't ask Juan what the conditions would be for the tournament, but I figure it's best to practice in the worst condition to be ready for anything."

"I heard briefly about some sort of competition...what does it entail?" As they walked, Troy watched the sky, looking for weather changes and anything untoward. Aside from a light snow, the weather appeared stable.

"Eight fighters are competing in elimination rounds, until only one is standing," Geddoe replied aloofly as they descended the stone steps that brought them to the open field near Juan's dojo. "Aside from no killing, I think everything is fair - and any weapon can face any other." He glanced aside at Troy. "I'm paired against a martial artist in the first round."

Troy gave Geddoe a quick look of mixed pity and slight amusement: an expression shared by many swordsmen over the years on encountering unarmed opponents in non-lethal combat. "When does the competition start?"

"I think, the end of this week." They had reached the sparring grounds, where Geddoe's own tracks from his recent bout with Georg were just beginning to disappear under the fresh snow. "But with Belcoot injured, I don't know how that's going to work. He was one of the combatants. And I'm very distracted."

Troy stepped out onto the grounds and surveyed the area, testing the footing and depth of snow, before drawing his blade and dropping his scabbard neatly to the side on the steps. "Distraction can be lethal."

"Yes, it can." Geddoe took a moment to close his eye and breathe a deep breath of the chill air before drawing his own sword from the scabbard on his belt. "I trust, however, that we won't be aiming for lethal here and now."

Troy dipped his head, 'Of course not." raising it again, he smiled slightly. "Why would I want to mortally wound the one person who seems to be the best informed in the castle?"

A slight smirk curved Geddoe's lips. "What can I say? It's part of my job to stay on top of things." He gave his sword a swing, listening to it whistle through the air, and then turned to face Troy in a bold stance, the blade lowered toward the ground. "Whenever you're ready."

"It makes you a useful man to know, surely." Troy stepped forward, easily falling into his stance, sword held in front of him and slightly to the side. "Ready."

Having never seen the young captain fight, or even heard rumor of him, Geddoe studied his stance for a long, silent moment before acting, stepping in slowly and making one testing swing left-to-right, shoulder height. He wanted to take a few moments to get to know Troy's style and skill before pulling out his real moves, or even speaking again, his face a calm mask of keen study.

Troy calmly stepped back, making no move to parry, and waited, getting the idea that the other man was gauging him.....while, of course, automatically doing the same thing. Stepping slightly to the side, Troy swung upward, an easy swing.

Geddoe blocked without effort and gave the opposing blade a shove back, testing Troy's arm strength. What he felt through his sword interested him, and he decided to try a little harder, lunging forward with a wide slash downward.

Troy easily took the shove, absorbing the hit and letting the blade slide down and safely off to the side. The second slash surprised him, but his reflexes were able to handle it with relative ease, twisting his sword to deflect the blade away and stepping simultaneously to the side, letting the movement carry him and his sword in for another attack, his own blade rising in an arc toGeddoe's side.

Geddoe clasped both hands on the handle of his sword and braced to block the strike directly, absorbing the hit through his arms and allowing momentum to push him back a couple of steps so they weren't so close together. "Not bad," he complimented. "Looks like I won't have to hold back with you."

"Please don't, I haven't had a chance to fight someone capable in....quite a while. It would be a welcome change to really stretch my legs, so to speak." Troy couldn't help but smile, just a little, and nod in silent acknowledgment ofGeddoe's skills.

Shifting his grip back to one hand as he favored, Geddoe tapped his foot into the snow to give his boot some traction before lunging in hard and fast, making another quick sideways slash, this time toward Troy's middle, or his hand, whichever got in the way first.

Troy hopped back, sword swinging down in a quick outward slash to deflect the blade, the tip barely missing his stomach, before he parried with a quick thrust back, using their close proximity to his advantage.

Geddoe dodged to his right, swinging his sword up to deflect the thrust outward and leave Troy wide open. He lowered his shoulder and barreled straight into the other man, pushing them both backwards on the snow until he could get his footing and stand back at guard, waiting to see whether Troy would go down.

With a quick twist of his back foot, Troy shifted his weight on the slushy surface and turned his slide into a lunge in a matter of seconds, pushing off with a downward swing aimed atGeddoe's side.

Geddoe twisted to block, feeling his boot slip in the disturbed snow he'd created by his previous move. Though it shouldn't have, the force of their connection drove him to one knee, where he held off Troy's sword for a few moments until he could push back and stumble to his feet. He was more than impressed by the young man's recovery, but right now, all he could do was pant, his breath steaming in the cold, snowy air.

Troy backed off, letting his momentum carry himself back a few feet from Geddoe and allow him to catch his breath. He paused, allowing himself a moment to appreciate Geddoe's abilities, not many men could keep up with him, let alone hold off a strike while on their knees, and let him make the next move.

Geddoe shook the falling snow out of his dark hair and blinked it off his eyelashes. If it continued, it might make the grip of his sword slippery, but he couldn't let himself be distracted by the thought. Everything else he was worried about, angry about, had fallen away now that he could abandon himself to the simple joy of battling a worthy opponent. He decided to try one of his favorite feints, dashing in low with his blade twisted so that the play of light and shadow would obscure its true path until the last second.

Troy had spent a life fighting on choppy waters, dealing with glares and shines from multiple surfaces, and he still did not seeGeddoe's sword until it was almost too late to parry. Instead of a smooth jump back, he stumbled, able to get his blade to crash hard into the side ofGeddoe's, turning into it and twisting around so that he ended up shoulder to shoulder with Geddoe , his blade trapping the other man's momentarily before he shoved, hard, with his shoulder, hoping to get the mercenary off balance long enough to free his own blade.

There was a brief slip before Geddoe's boots crunched into the frozen snow beneath the fresh layer and held, so he could brace himself against Troy and shove back, their swords and now bodies tangled. Both had their teeth gritted with the force of resisting, neither one wanting to be knocked off balance first.Geddoe had the disadvantage, trying to pull his sword upward against the one coming down, but he held off until disengaging was the only option. With a leap back and a turn of his torso, he was free, stepping back to guard his retreat.

Troy slid back, immediately turning and coming again with an upwards slash, trying to get under Geddoe's guard and surprise him while they were both tired.

The strike met Geddoe's guard, though he struggled to keep it from knocking his sword from his hand. He dug his heels into the snow and held it off, panting hard, meeting Troy's determined stare across their crossed blades. "Nice try," he murmured. "But I don't yield so easily."

"Good," He grunted, throwing off Geddoe's guard and stepping back, letting Geddoe have the next move, "It wouldn't be a challenge if you did."

Geddoe wasted no time in attacking, coming in fast with his blade high, held in both hands so he could strike any number of ways. Instinct told him to thrust in, almost toward Troy's neck.

Instead of parrying or moving out of the way, Troy simply dropped down, ducking underneath the high thrust and moving up and underGeddoe's outstretched arm, coming in on the exposed side as Geddoe turned.

Such a strike could be deadly in a real fight, especially on his blind side like that. Cursing his mistake, Geddoe reacted by throwing himself backward, nearly losing his sword and his footing in the snow.  He hopped back on one foot, his sword held out to one side as if to invite another attack.

Troy paused, still in a ready stance, and debated his next move. Geddoe was good, really good, and he hadn't had such an opponent in a long while. It was...refreshing.

The mercenary captain came to a stop and stood in a rather open stance, facing Troy directly, sword down - but he didn't say stop, and only stared him down with his head lowered and his good eye gleaming eagerly. He wanted to see if the younger man had any more surprises left in him, or if they were going to battle each other to a draw.

Troy stood relaxed, facing Geddoe, and took a deep breath in, letting it steam out into the cool air, surrounding his head like a lonely halo. Before it had a chance to dissipate, Troy was moving again, but instead of going for a frontal attack, he feinted, trying to get under Geddoe's guard and moving towards the other man's left, twirling around in an almost graceful move, his shoulder once more coming in for a quick shove while his sword continued up and down in an arc, swinging down towards the back of Geddoe's calf. It was a complicated move, and one that Troy had not used in many years, but he had a feeling that Geddoe was waiting for something more from him, something surprising, and he was curious to see if he could pull it off....and if Geddoe could handle it.

Geddoe staggered from the shoulder-hit, his sword in the wrong hand to deflect the blade heading for his leg. His only option was to throw his gloved hand out, slapping Troy's wrist just enough to spare his flesh, though the tip of the sword caught his pants leg.Geddoe reacted quickly, grabbing Troy's arm and pushing him away, bringing his own sword around for a headstrike.

The ice and snow were the only thing that saved Troy from a headache and several stitches, a fortunate stumbling allowing him to bring his arm up to balance, and get underGeddoe's strike, knocking it off slightly and absorbing most of the blow in an arm-numbing way. Sliding back he shook his arm to try to get the feeling back, never taking his eyes off ofGeddoe, and getting his feet under him again.

The cold air seared Geddoe's lungs as he panted for breath, filling him with new life. He was tiring, but he didn't want to show it. If this was the kind of fight he could expect from a swordsman from down south, there was reason again to look forward to the tournament. He stepped in for a few short, fast, swings, expecting them all to be blocked, but hoping to gain himself an opening in due time.

Troy met Geddoe's expectations, blocking and peppering Geddoe with his own return swings, his breath coming in short, hard gasps as they danced, looking for his own openings. So far, the mercenary was playing tightly, but Troy forced him to cover all spots, pressuring him for a way in....as his opponent was doing in turn to him.

The rapid succession of swings and strikes had the two swords ringing loud in the cold air, the only sound in the empty field aside from their grunts and gasps for breath. Seeing that he wasn't going to get purchase the old-fashioned way,Geddoe fell to a true mercenary tactic. With his sword in his right hand, his left was free to come up out of nowhere and punch Troy in the side, not to do damage, just to take the wind out of him. "I'm sorry,"Geddoe said as he leaned into the blow, "but I think we've had enough." His leg came up around Troy's, seeking to trip him and knock him on his back.

Troy's eyes widened in surprise, his legs suddenly not where he had expected them to be, and by the time Geddoe's words registered in his head he was already falling. A life time of fighting and trick tactics made his next move only a flash of inspiration, so as he fell, he was intending to not fall alone, his free hand moving out to grabGeddoe's offending fist, using the momentum of the other man's punch to try to take him down as well.

Much as he would have liked to blame the terrain, it really was just dumb luck and a brilliant move that sent Geddoe tumbling into the snow, barely missing Troy as they both went down hard. The impact jarred his sword from his hand, though it didn't slide far. In the moment of silence that followed,Geddoe began to laugh. "Damn," he muttered, and then trailed off into another chuckle.

Troy saw the evasion Geddoe pulled, and was thankful....he honestly hadn't thought that the other man might land ON him when he had yanked him down, something that might have been a particularly painful mistake. "Indeed." He felt his face split into a grin, the first open expression that had graced his features in many days. It felt good. "Damn...indeed." Maybe it was the falling snow, cold on his face, or the low chuckle of his companion, but Troy couldn't help but joinGeddoe in laughing over the giddy feeling of a duel well done.

"What do you say?" Geddoe said when he caught his breath. "Should we call it a draw?" He pushed himself up to a seat, hardly feeling the cold through his leathers, and reached out a hand to help Troy up after him.

Troy nodded, accepting the hand, and pulling himself to his feet, dusting off the snow stuck to his backside. "A draw sounds good," He sighed, the deep sigh of someone who is thoroughly enjoying themselves, "But I request a rematch."

Geddoe chuckled gruffly again. "All right. Sometime after the tournament. But...thank you." He huffed a short sigh. "I've been needing a workout like that more than you know."

Troy held up his blade, automatically checking it for any gross injuries or scuffs, "I have an idea." He sheathed it in one smooth motion, turning to face Geddoe squarely, nodding. "Thank you." Brushing his long bangs out of his eyes, Troy looked up for a moment, again gauging the weather - something that has become a habit in the past few months of traveling. "Will you be returning to your friend's bedside?"

Geddoe sobered, particularly upon hearing Belcoot referenced as his friend. I suppose he is, isn't he? "I suppose I should," he said quietly. "I trust he's in good hands, though." He nodded toward Troy. "You seem to have recovered nicely yourself, if you were able to hold me off that long."

"The Doctor is a competent man, I am sure he is well taken care of." A quick chuckle escaped him, and he found that he didn't want to admit how sore he's going to be in a few hours, or how stupid it was of him to take on someone as skilled as Geddoe full-out with broken ribs. "Tolerably well. It is truly amazing what a bed and food will do for a man."

"Yes, I know that all too well." Geddoe regarded Troy for a moment, and decided to at least give it a shot. "You've been at Budehuc for a while, have you?" he wondered, trying to be casual about it. "Gotten to know everyone, more or less?"

Troy wondered at the change in questions, but shrugged, answering, "I have...although I have not been here in many months. Why do you ask?"

Sheathing his sword, Geddoe came closer, so that their words wouldn't carry on the wind. "Something very serious is going on, something which led to Belcoot's injury in part, and I'm concerned that it'll get worse before it gets better," he warned. "Did you know Master Thomas has gone missing?"

Troy blinked, shades of the past rising up in his mind, before he carefully responded. "No, I did not know this. When was he last seen?" A quick pause. "Is this the event you spoke of happening, that you wished to be close for?"

Geddoe hesitated, because he wasn't sure how to answer. "I don't know," he said at last. "It could be one reason I'm staying." He paused to brush errant snowflakes off his face. "Cecile found Thomas' room disturbed the other morning, he vanished overnight without taking anything or changing. We've searched the castle and found nothing. Nothing except Luca Blight blatantly accusing Roy of kidnapping him," he went on in a deadly growl, "which I know to be impossible because Roy was with me when it happened."

Troy frowned, skipping over asking why Geddoe was with Roy - it was none of his business, and focusing on the name of Blight, one that had been passed around before in relation to troubles. "And you believe these two incidences are related?"

"I'm beginning to think they're all related," Geddoe grumbled, "everything that's happened in the past week. Some way or another. The fact that Luca's name keeps coming up doesn't sit well with me." He shook his head wearily. "Long story short, I'm not about to let anyone else get hurt. I'm seeking out anyone, and everyone, who cares enough to stand up to Luca's belligerence and bullying. By sword if necessary."

Troy stood listening to Geddoe for a long moment, his face impassive as he watcheed the snow fall, and his wind whirring with the implications of what all of this could mean. It wasn't a question of if he cared enough to protect the castle, he had proved that long ago, but whether or not the course of action being taken was the best way to go. "Do you have proof of Blight's duplicity?" He dropped his eyes, brushing his hair once more back from his face and wrinkling his nose at the wet snowflakes falling from his dark hair, "I would like to know that the man I stick my sword into deserves such treatment."

"Proof, no," Geddoe said heavily. "Which is why I haven't hauled off and attacked him myself. But I know he's lying about Roy. It's going to come down to his word against ours, and from what I've heard, he isn't the type of person to listen to reason, or even speak the truth. I'm not advocating any open movement, just..." He looked away, at the trees over the castle wall in the distance, where the snow could be seen falling. "...hedging my bets. Preparing for the worst-case scenario."

Troy's eyes follow Geddoe's, and he thinks that as much as he privately misses the Islands, the blue open sea and white sand, there is a certain beauty about pure snow falling down. He sighs, gaze falling back toGeddoe's dark eye, "It is always a good idea to have a contingency plan."

"I'm not asking anyone to do anything they're not comfortable with," Geddoe immediately added, sensing hesitation. "I'm only trying to find out who, among the capable, respectable inhabitants, would be willing to stand up if push came to shove and someone - anyone - tried to usurpThomas's place." He bowed his head, his voice quieting. He didn't often share this with people. "I was one of the ones responsible for establishingBudehuc as a free territory, almost sixty years ago. I believe now, as I did then, in freedom, and peace for its citizens. I don't have many causes, but this is one dear to me."

Troy, surprising himself, placed a hand on Geddoe's shoulder, "Freedom for our people is something that any man can appreciate, and any man that appreciates it, will defend it."

Geddoe turned his head to regard the hand on his shoulder, and then Troy's serious face. "Then, I have read you right." His gaze wavered slightly. "The only thing I will ask of you is to keep alert, to be ready if something happens. If all other routes of diplomacy fail."

Troy nodded, dropping his hand, again surprised that he felt pleased to have appeared to have earned the approval of such a taciturn man. It was nice to speak to someone and feel that they wouldn't try to steal yourpotch when you weren't paying attention - the months on the road had been difficult in more than just physically. "Of course. And there is no word on Thomas' whereabouts?"

The mercenary captain shook his head sadly. "No. We've searched the castle, and there's no sign of him. Unfortunately, by the time anyone thought to search the grounds, people had trampled any tracks that might have been out here. I'm at a loss as to where else to look."

"Unfortunately, tracking is not one of my skills, I am rather lost on land." Frowns, trying to think of something, anything he could offer to help. "Please let me know if there is anything I can do."

"I will," Geddoe nodded. "Even if it's just to have a cool head present to sort out the lies and accusations from the truth. I'm afraid this is the one time I'll lose my objectivity."

"I will be there," A small smirk curls his lips, although it is more dry than humorous, "I am used to sorting out the lies from everything else."

"Thank you, Troy. For the brisk workout, and for hearing me out." Geddoe stepped back to disengage the serious conversation. "You'll get your rematch, I promise. But I have things I must look after, first."

Troy nodded in return, both for conversation and the prospect of a rematch. "I will look forward to it."

Geddoe turned on his heel and strode away, up the snow-covered steps back toward the manor house, saying no further word. His dark figure disappeared at a quick pace.