The Traveler: Part 1

Chapter 16

"Oh Lambert, you think that is being tough on the girl? The way you pamper her she wouldn't have lasted a day in my younger days as a pupil at Aretuza. So you lied to her to get her to push herself while running? I know you can do better! Remember, she needs to be prepared for that cruel world that she will go out into once the snows pass," Keira told him.

Lambert remembered that night vividly. He had been happy that the sage had finally left. He wished to enjoy the evening until Keira stressed to him the importance of his duty to his pupil. Reminding himself of that "cruel world" and all the horrors it held kept him concentrated as he taught the young she-elf. He looked into her big emerald-eyes as her arms shook from holding up a wooden sword the entire morning.

It hadn't snowed in two days, which at this point was a record. Despite a slight breeze, the Gauntlet overlooking the yard where he and Iespeth were training remained still. The blasted thing was forced to stay put with the weight of snow on it. Iespeth wished she could have continued fighting the wooden contraption. No matter how often it knocked her to the ground, it was still more merciful than Lambert had become.

Due to a lengthy bit of vigorous training, the snow on the ground was packed solidly. Although it was easier on Iespeth's aching thighs, it made traction difficult and her footing unsure. She held her wooden sword in both hands preparing for the witcher's next onslaught. She watched his shift in weight just as he'd taught her and anticipated an attack from the left. Lambert twirled his sword making it look as if his weapon could come at her from any direction. When he finally swung the elf moved her sword to the predicted position and deflected his attack. He lunged at her to which she replied with a parry. This was the first time she had withstood two attacks in a row. Iespeth was accustomed to getting a rap on the forearm or a painful prod to the shoulder. She took too long silently congratulating herself and was met on the right with a painful blow to the thigh.

"Pay attention! I'm going to do the same two attacks again and instead of patting yourself on the fucking back you better riposte!"

She gripped the hilt of the rough wooden hilt of her training sword and prepared. Lambert wiped away the subtle frost that had accumulated in his beard, shifted his weight to the left, and attacked.

Attack on the left. Defend. Lunge. Parry. Riposte.

Before she made contact with his torso he pirouetted away.

"Again."

Attack on the left. Defend. Lunge. Parry. Riposte. Pirouette.

This round was much faster than the first. Though it may have looked sloppy, Iespeth muddled through. She suppressed a proud smile.

Lambert attacked with the same speed again.

Attack on the left. Defend. Lunge. Parry. Riposte. Pirouette.

This time, Iespeth was quicker, although still not fast enough to meet the witcher before he pirouetted away. Her moves were precise and she understood her success. She held up her sword confidently awaiting his offensive. Lambert shifted his weight elaborately to the left.

This will be easy. Too easy, she thought skeptically. Ow!

Lambert leaped forward to her right side, swung his sword backwards and gave his pupil a forceful blow to her inner knee. Iespeth dropped down and made a deep howl. He looked down at her sinisterly.

"That was a fake," Lambert said. He began laughing at his trick, turned, and slowly walked away.

Iespeth was seething with anger. He had never told her about a fake, never once mentioned that as a move. It wasn't fair. She could feel her face turning red, her outrage circulating through her blood. She ignored the throbbing pain in her knee, leapt up and charged after him. She raised her sword over her head and as she reached her "enemy" tried with all her might to bash his cruel skull.