[Tasad R'rowl]

Icewind called a halt after an hour had passed, the lionoid was tired, obviously, and the elf decided to call it a day and to start again in the morning. Looking at the panting katta Icewind said," Dismissed for the remainder of the day, but I want you here at first light ready for training, understood?"

Tasad nodded, panting heavily and growled," Aye, I understand." Icewind turned and walked away and the katta was left feeling hungry and tired, and decided to make his way to the barracks for chow and sleep. First light would come early.

The Next Brightening

Tasad arrived at the Forge early, the sun not yet peaking over the horizon and set about readying himself for the day. He was sore, although the night's rest had served him well and so set about stretching before Ivewind appeared. Feeling the muscles loosen was a blessing and the stretches felt good.

Moments after he had finished his stretches Icewind appeared and said," Ready to begin the day?" Recieveing Tasad's nod and growl of readiness the elf proceeded through the stretching and excercises they had performed the previous day. When they were completed he said," Unless you are a moron you should remember what I taught you yesterday and so I will not go over it again. Today I'm going to show you how to use your sword with your shield as you would in combat, while holding a line. We will both be 'fighting' each other, and I use that term loosely as what we are really doing is I am showing and you are learning, understood?"

Again he waited for Tasad's confirmation before continuing," Now get your shield on and your sword ready. The ready stance is the same with the shield as it is without."

Tasad strapped his shield, weighed down with lead, to his left forearm and adjusted it properly. Drawing his training sword, also weighed with lead, Tasad assumed the ready stance, his sword held by his side, pointed towards the elf with his shield held in front of him.

Assuming his own ready stance Iceinwd said," Now, remember the concept of the box, first and foremost. The first thing I'll show you is how to use your shield properly. Despite popular belief, you do not stop a strike with your shield or try to take the full force of the blow, but instead you hold your shield so that when a weapon strikes it the weapon will be redirected to either side and you can counter with your own strike. Here is the demonstration, try to stop my blow."

The elf struck quickly with his own short sword and Tasad attempted to stop the blade fully, getting knocked back in return. Reassuming the ready stance Icewind then said," Now, try to hold your shield so that my blade strikes your shield, but is redirected to your right."

Again the elf struck out and this time Tasad met it with his shield properly angled, sending Icewind's sword to the right, leaving the elf open to a counter strike. Reassuming the ready stance Icewind said," See the difference? Although a short sword does not make much impact an axe or war hammer would, and trying to halt such a weapon would more then likely shatter your arm and end with you dying. Now, your shield itself is used to keep the enemy from you as well. When an enemy clashes with you, either with a shield or without, you simply keep him on the otherside of it. Think of it as a wall with you on one side and him on the other. Do not let him cross that wall."

The elf moved forward quickly, smashing is shield into Tasad's causing a loud metallic clang. Pushing against the katta Icewind attempted to drive the katta back, while Tasad was trying to do the same with the elf. After several moments of both trying to gain an advantage over the other Icewind called a halt, stepping back and saying," No matter what hold the line. Do not let your enemy push you backward. Now, using your sword while equiped with a shield makes makes your life a bit easier. You don't really use your sword to block or counter very much, although there are times that you will need to do so. For the most part though you will block and redirect with your shield and attack with your sword. And while attacking, the thrust is the most common way to dispatch your foe, and the most practical. Follow me."

Moving over to two rows of stakes set into the ground Icewind moved to one side and indicated that Tasad should move to the other. Once they were situated Icewind said," Now, we are going to have a mock fight, using the training that I have given you today. The wooden stakes on either side of us represent our position in the line, and can be considered your comrades. You can only move forwards and backwards. If I push you out of the end of the stakes I win and vice cersa. Try to strike me and I will do the same, but a blow landing will not stop the fight until one of us thrown from the stakes. Understood?"

Tasad growled an affirmative and set himself in the ready stance. When Icewind called the start of the drill he moved forward purposefully, not hurrying nor dawdling in his attack. The pair met in the center of the stakes with the clash of shields and began to fight in ernest. It was clear from the start that the elf was much better than the katta and was holding back just enough so that his skills were better than Tasad's. Fighting an inferior oppeoent, even in training was to no purpose. Straining and striking the two traded blows, with Tasad recieving the 'lions' share of the strikes, although he did manage to slip several through the elf's defense.

The bout finally came to an end when the elf succesfully managed to push the katta out of the line of stakes. Both combatants panting Icewind said," Well done, you show drive and aggression, but not too much. You hold yourself well and do not let anger cause you to strike wildly. Break for lunch and meet me here afterwards."