Subj:	 [ffml] [MW] Sparring
Date:	00-01-11 13:51:36 EST
From:	skyhall@hotmail.com (Sky Hall)
Reply-to:	ffml@onelist.com
To:	ffml@onelist.com

From: "Sky Hall" <skyhall@hotmail.com>

  Tim stood on the open ground, his sword in his hand, angled down towards 
the ground.
  He stared straight ahead, looking at the older man who stood a few feet 
away. Tim stood at six feet tall, with short, curly, brown hair. His face 
and arms were tanned from being in the sun daily. And his shoulders, arms, 
and torso bulged with firm muscles. His plain face was marked by a partial 
shade of stubble growing from a beard.
  The man facing him stood about equal with Tim. His hair was long and pale, 
almost grey, yet he was probably in his late thirties. His eyes had an 
almost feline quality to them. His body was sleek and angular.
  Both men wore padded vests and leather trousers, and sported wooden 
practice swords.
  Raising his sword, the swordmaster signaled. Tim followed the example and 
the two men brought their weapons to their faces, then away, the sparring 
was on.
  Both men stepped twoards each other and brought their swords to the ready. 
The master had his sword at an almost horizontal angle, aimed at Tim. Tim 
kept his weapon more vertical.
  Nearing each other, the master stepped forward with a feint. Tim blocked 
and stepped forward, delivering his own feint. The master retreated and 
side-stepped, bringing his sword down and curving, seeking to catch Tim's 
sword and turn it away. Tim jumped back and was able to barely avoid the 
maneuver. His sword was knocked aside slightly.
  In that moment of openness, the master stepped forward, driving his sword 
through. Tim was almost taken aback by this, and barely side-stepped, 
avoiding the point. He was able to bring his sword back, and deflect the 
master's, making his weapon turn away. Seeing an advantage, Tim started his 
own attack, striking at the master, who side stepped.
  Tim carried forward an attack, swinging his sword and making wild feints. 
The master began retreating a few steps, deflecting and dodging. The master 
bided his time, and Tim knew it.
  Finally, the master had had enough and unleashed a surprise deflect, 
following through with a slash. Tim barely missed the slash, and retorted 
with a low slice to the leg. The master jumped and swung his sword down. Tim 
withdrew.
  Both men were breathing hard. The master kept his stance loose and was 
pacing back and forth, but facing Tim the whole time. Tim stood his ground 
and let his sword sway, and his hind foot move back and forth.
  The master stepped forward, feinting from high, then low in quick 
succession. Tim dodged the first, and blocked the second, stepping in with 
his own feint, then with a strike.
  The master blocked and deflected, and returned a strike with feint, and 
followed by a slash. Tim responded, keeping his distance.
  The two swordsmen danced across the open ground, kicking up some dirt.
  Tim stepped forward and twisted his sword, catching the masters, and 
locking it up to the hilt. The two men stood, both hands on swords, 
struggling.
  "I thought you wanted to test skill, not strength," grunted the master.
  Tim smiled back. "To defeat a moogleboar, you need a little of both, I 
find," replied Tim. He began driving back the master.
  The master tried to break the lock up, by pushing back on Tim's sword, or 
stepping to the side quickly, but Tim gave the man no leway. When the master 
pushed, Tim pushed harder. When he stepped one way, Tim followed him, and 
kept his place. The master continued to back up, and Tim kept pushing him.
  Finally, the master extended his leg and hooked it into Tim's leg. He 
lifted slightly and the two were stuck. When Tim tried to advance, the 
master would lift their legs, unbalancing Tim. Unable to move, Tim could no 
longer advance.
  Tim laughed. The master chuckled. "A new attack calls for a new approach," 
he said mockingly.
  Tim tried to analyze the situation. His body was occupied in every way. 
His left leg was being used to push against the master. Both hands had to 
keep on the hilt of his sword or loose the lock up and possibly get stuck. 
His right leg was being unbalanced by the master.
  "Too bad I can't headbutt you," muttered Tim. The instructor laughed.
  Tim came up with an idea. He started easing up on the swords. The 
instructor eased up on his leg hold. Doing so, Tim began to step back, and 
the instructor was following through in order to keep Tim from pushing him 
again. Tim released his left hand from the hilt and grabbed the master by 
his sleeve, and pulled him. The master was taken by surprise and was alost 
thrown to the ground by Tim.
  Barely getting his balance, the master turned and just managed to block 
Tim's following slash. In that moment, Tim tried another slash, but felt the 
instructor's practice sword strike his abdomen.
  "D'oh!" grunted Tim.
  While Tim was preparing to strike the instructor, the instructor had 
turned on the inside and struck.
  "Good strike, swordmaster," said Tim, smiling.
  "Aye, good spar," said the man, returning the smile. Both men pulled off 
their gloves and shook hands. "That was a good approach and interesting 
idea. You almost took me by surprise."
  Tim smiled and nodded. He then turned to his brigade, which was watching.
  "Okay men. You see how it's down. Now, I want all of you practice today 
till you get as good as me." All the officers silently chuckled while the 
soldiers looked dumbfounded.

  A short ways away, on a balcony over looking the parade ground, a woman 
watched.
  Ladice nodded to herself. "Tim is quite good," she said.

Sky