Birthright: The Contested Seat

Kyran

Kyran reeled backwards and plummeted into the dirt. He rolled several feet before hitting the courtyard's inner wall with a thud. The collision knocked the wind out of his lungs, leaving him gasping for air.

"Dead," boomed Gerta from across the yard.

Desperately trying to catch his breath, Kyran shot a glare at his new instructor. Gerta was a fierce woman and unlike any other woman he had met before. She was stern, unyielding, and quite harsh in her criticisms. She struck fear into him but was also a comfort. He felt comfortable in her presence, despite her coldness. He would even go as far to say that he felt safe.

"Again," she boomed as she took her stance, holding her sword forward.

Kyran stumbled onto his feet, letting out a stifled groan.

"Can't we take a rest? My body aches and I don't think I can take much more," he grumbled.

"I said again," Gerta snapped.

Cowering before her threatening aura, Kyran raised his sword and moved forward. Gerta's eyes were fixed upon him. With sharp precision, her eyes focused on every step, every twitch, and every move his body produced. She resembled a lioness, lying in wait for the right moment to pounce and sink her teeth into the throat of her prey.

Before the fear could take him, Kyran lunged forward.

*thwack*

With nearly half the effort it took to blink her eyes, Gerta parried his attack, striking him on the back with the flat edge of her weapon.

"Dead," she boomed once more. It was louder than the first time, echoing for all to hear.

The sound of a stifled laugh came from his left. Talia was sitting on a nearby bench, watching his failure while waiting for her turn to practice.

"Out with it then," spat Kyran.

Talia shrugged her shoulders, "It's not my fault you're incompetent. Don't blame me".

"You have a go then if it's so easy," Kyran laughed, tossing his sword at her feet.

"As you wish," she smiled.

Gerta watched them closely, silently. She never interjected or prevented their squabbles. At the start of their lessons, she was quick to tell them that every moment is an opportunity to better yourself, even more so in competition.

Gerta took her stance once more. Talia picked up Kyran's sword and took her place opposite Gerta.
Silence permeated the yard. Talia studied Gerta just as Gerta studied her. Kyran thought it comparable to the way a mouse studies a bear. There is no scenario in which a mouse defeats a bear.

Talia burst forward with such speed that Kyran nearly missed it. She was on Gerta in an instant, moving in for a strike. Gerta whirled around her, knocking her sword away. Talia quickly recovered and swung again. The two exchanged blows for what felt like minutes. Nothing but the clank of steel could be heard in the courtyard. Talia's speed was remarkable, none could argue. Gerta dodged, parried, and weaved effortlessly, but couldn't seem to put distance between herself and Talia.

With a shout, Talia rushed in once more raising her sword to strike. This time, Gerta dodged to the left and grabbed Talia's wrist. Taken by surprise, Talia let out a small squeak before dropping her weapon. Gerta whirled her around and tossed her to the ground.

"Excellent," said Gerta in her normal monotone.

Just as Talia turned to gloat, Gerta boomed, "but dead".

"I lasted much longer than he did," complained Talia, her scrawny finger pointed at Kyran.

"And yet you died all the same. Though your skills differ, you both lack the ability to survive against a trained soldier. I plan to fix that," Gerta responded as she picked up the dropped weapon. She looked up at the setting sun then back at them.