[Godah]

The brightening went on for the dorin with repeated exercise cut by short episodes of rest and stretching. Godah was tired and he could feel the strain in his arms when he tried to articulate his fingers. The waves of pain that such attempt sent through his upper arms and reaching to his shoulders was enough to tell the arakmatan was not yet as prepared as he first thought. He would need further practice after the training ends; he couldn't accept the thought he was weak. The pink skin under the fur shaped to suit the muscles contracting to the effort of lifting the weight. He started again a new series of exercises and put more power and endurance into his arms and fists.

Godah's night went with pain and aches everywhere on his body; it seemed he lost the habit of such efforts. Damn politics! He thought before changing side on the hard bed; he could feel the needles of pain strike from all over his skin. Oh yes, the night was sleepless. He cursed the brightening he decided to learn wielding a mace.

The next brightening, rays of light cleared through the window and washed Godah's room at the Lingerer's Inn. The dorin was already up and preparing his first meal. He had slightly different meal schedule than most of allerians and he preferred to eat something just as he got up. He left his room a candlemark after and he headed toward the training area.

Eventually the dorin was greeted by his instructor who had a fresher face than his trainee.

"How was your darkening?", he said with a knowing smile on his face. He met many veteran soldiers who stopped for a reason or another from training and he knew the pain they felt when starting a new training.

"Good. Just not used to the place"

Godah's answer was not what the instructor expected but it did make him chuckle slightly. Dorin's pride was as true as people thought to be. Evvram was not one to follow a useless honour rigid path, preferring to be pragmatic, but he respected the dorin who chose that path especially in the army. Those were soldiers you could count on and rely on their loyalty.

"Alright then. We will start by warming. When you are ready we will begin your new lesson"

Evvram began his own stretching and warming without any further word. Godah started to stretch and made warming movements similar to those of the yesterbrightening. When both were ready Evvram stood a step from the dorin. He handed him a training mace while he kept one in his hand.

"Now, make some swings with your mace. Try to control its direction slightly. Put enough effort to guide the weight but keep it smooth", said the instructor.

Godah looked at Evvram and tightened his grip on the handle. His muscles contracted as he felt the weight of the mace. He started by lifting it to a height of his chest and trying to swing it slowly. The mace was obeying to his command with reluctance as his body started to react to the weight of the weapon. It would be a while before the dorin accustomed to his weapon. A first attempt to swing a slash of the mace, he was surprised by the momentum of the mass and he almost lost his balance; he remembered the words of Evvram, he would need to control his efforts and put less momentum for the time being.


He gained again his position and with a short glance he noted the smile on Evvram's face. He knew how much common that sighting was to his instructor. He would not let that smile rest to long on his face; the dorin was enough strong. He adapted his stance pushing his left leg a shoulder apart from his other leg. That would give him a better base and permit him to swing the mace without loosing his balance.

His next attempt was better controlled and he could feel the mace gaining speed ad momentum but he contracted his forearm's muscles just at the best moment and with the right amount of effort. He made another swing and then another. He started feeling better and comfortable with handling the weapon.