How To Win a War

There was a small clearing, with a large mountain overlooking, and it was silent besides the loud clang of steel on steel. A ragged male, clothed in stolen articles. He fought desperately with a rusty sword, that stood no chance against the well sharpened, well-made and balanced sword it was fighting against. There was a ton a sweat running down his face, and he couldn't keep up with the master swordsman he was up against. The swordsman went for a cut to the shoulder, and the thief attempted to parry. But the blow never came, as the swordsman swung around and hit the brigand in his unprotected side. The thief's eyes went glassy, then he fell over and lied ominously still. The swords man took off his helmet, revealing a mass of now uncombed blonde hair and blue eyes; he looked to be about forty. He turned to a younger man, with untidy black hair and green eyes but only looked to be fifteen years old. He had been silent and wide-eyed the entire fight.

"And that," The older man said. "is how you win a war."