The Ruins of Gorlan- Character Reaction

13

Duncan handed the book to his daughter and looked outside at the waning light. "I believe that after this one, it should be enough for the day."

Cassandra and the others nodded. After a moment, the Princess cleared her throat and began to read.

"SO, YOU SAW IT. WHAT DID YOU THINK?" SIR RODNEY ASKED. Karel reached across and poured himself another tankard from the jug of beer that was on the table between them. Rodney's quarters were simple enough— even spartan when it was remembered that he was head of the Battleschool. Battlemasters in other fiefs took advantage of the position to surround themselves with the trappings of luxury, but that wasn't Rodney's style. His room was simply furnished, with a pinewood table for a desk and six straight- backed pine chairs around it. Rodney gave a little smile at the quaint description of his quarters.

There was a fireplace in the corner, of course. Rodney might have preferred to live in a simple style, but that didn't mean he enjoyed discomfort, and winters in Castle Redmont were cold. Try staying in Skandia for the winter, Will thought. Right now it was late summer and the thick stone walls of the castle buildings served to keep the interiors cool. When the cold weather came, those same thick walls would retain the heat of the fire. On one wall, a large bay window looked out over the Battleschool's drill field. Facing the window, on the opposite wall, was a doorway, screened by a thick curtain, leading to Rodney's sleeping quarters —a simple soldier's bed and more wooden furniture. It had been a little more ornate when his wife Antoinette was still alive, but she had died some years previously and the rooms were now unmistakably masculine in character, without any item in them that wasn't functional and with an absolute minimum of decoration.

"I saw it," Karel agreed."Not sure that I believed it, but I saw it."

"Look at that, Horace, you're unbelievable," Will said, smirking. Horace rolled his eyes.

"You saw it only once," said Rodney."He was doing it constantly throughout the session—and I'm convinced that he was doing it unconsciously." Horace felt his cheeks redden as everyone looked to him with approval.

"As fast as the one I saw?" Karel asked. Rodney nodded emphatically.

"If anything, faster. He was adding an extra stroke to the routines but staying in time with the call." He hesitated, then finally said what they were both thinking."The boy is a natural." Rodney nodded agreement with his younger self.

Karel inclined his head thoughtfully. Based on what he'd seen, he wasn't prepared to dispute the fact. And the Battlemaster had been watching the boy for some time during the session, he knew. But naturals were few and far between. They were those unique people for whom the skill of swordplay moved into an entirely different dimension. It became not so much a skill as an instinct to them. Both Rodney and Gilan nodded in agreement.

They were the ones who became the champions. The sword masters. Experienced warriors like Sir Rodney and Sir Karel were expert swordsmen, but naturals took the skill to a higher plane. It was as if for them, the sword in their hand became a true extension not just of their bodies, but of their personalities as well. The sword seemed to act in instant communion and harmony with the natural's mind, acting even faster than conscious thought. Naturals were possessed of unique skills in timing and balance and rhythm.

Only the knights in the room looked interested in the lengthy descriptions.

As such, they presented a heavy responsibility to those who were entrusted with their training. For those natural skills and abilities had to be carefully nurtured and developed in a long-term training program to allow the warrior, already highly proficient as a matter of course, to develop his true potential for genius. Horace straightened at the word genius, feeling a little better at the compliment.