Private Training And Trouble

[Dorin & Darin]

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The courtyard rang with the song of swords. Under black wool, boiled leather, and mail, sweat trickled icily down Darin’s scarred chest as he pressed the attack. Dorin his twin, once the mirror image of himself fell back on his heels, catching every one of Darin’s blows on his shield. Soon Dorin’s back would be pressed against the wall and he would have no more room to run, or that’s how it would have been had Darin not over-committed to his attack. Dorin shifted his feet and rolled his shield arm, causing Darin to land but a glancing blow and go stumbling by awkwardly. Darin could hear the whistle of the blunted blade as it sliced through the air and toward his unprotected skull. At the last moment with the barest margin for error Darin moved his head and kept his brains where they belonged. Dorin did not stop his attack, he cross-slashed up before Darin could lift his shield and so now it was Darin who was racing to meet the wall. Slash after slash was barely avoided until there was no slash but a thrust that punched Darin so hard in the chest he coughed and fell flat on his ass.

‘Pathetic!” Roared the booming voice of Gunar. Gunar was an old grey-beard Wolf over seven feet tall and missing a hand who walked with a limp. He was the newly appointed Master-At-Arms at Hardhaven. A grizzled old man Gunar looked more like a bear than a Wolf but there was no doubting his skill.

“Next time get your fething shield up, boy. Your head is thick but it ain’t that thick and you better believe that if you…Gods help us…face off with one of them Fayth knights, they arent gonna pull their strikes like your loving brother. So stop showing off for ‘is sake and do it right.”

‘Is sake’ meant Deidric’s. He had traveled North with the rest of them after the attack on the ruin by The Fayth. Darin had helped lead the way north and had seen Deidric around in passing but today was truly their first day spending any time together. Dorian had asked that the twins bring him along to be taught by Gunar, so far today only the twins had faced one another.

“Get up and get out dead-wolf!” Gunar shouted to Darin. “Go practice lifting that shield of yours and figure out how to swing that sword the way your father taught you.”

Dorin helped his brother to his feet and watched him sulk off to square off with one of the straw mannequins. He knew how little Darin cared to be mocked in this way.

“There you go dead wolf. That seems the perfect opponent for you but feel overmatched just shout.” The old weapons master shouted over to Darin unable to let it go.

“Let’s see if you can handle killing someone that isn’t so eager to let you,” Gunar said to Dorin. “Get over here, pup, grab a sword and a shield, and Vaytn help you if your not already in yer armor, this one here is a killer.” Gunar called to Deidric Drage

​

 

[Deidric Drage]

Gunar was being extremely harsh today. However it wasn't, not needed. It built character, strength and then sometimes it really lowered someone's self esteem.

"This is gonna be awful...." Deidric muttered under his breath. "I should've just stayed in the forest today." The five foot nine inch Lupo took a deep breath as he crossed his arms. He was already dressed in a leather armor setup. Something more fit to his style, and it was easy to move around in. Deidric was in his wolf form more often that not. It felt more natural that way, and he wasn't the type to shy away from running around as a free spirited individual.



"A killer...." Deidric smiled and laughed but that was overall wiped away as he cast a small side glance over to Gunar. He pushed himself off the side barrier that he was leaning against and grabbed the set of weaponry. A sword and shield, shield in his left and sword in his right hand. Deidric twirled the hilt around in his hand once as he approached the center ring.

Dorin was in front of him and Deidric gave him a friendly nod. More than anything, the young pup would indeed be ready for anything.

"Alright, let's do this. By the way, I'm Deidric Drage nice to meet you." He moved around slightly quite quick on his feet before he pressed the attack on Dorin.

In his mind, he was praying in his mind to the gods.....

Please don't kill me....

Dorin & Darin

 

[Dorin & Darin]

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Deidric’s attacks came in a flurry. Dorin weathered them as he weathered all, catching each blow on his shield. His opponent pressed and yet Dorin found no reason to give ground. Speed was in favor of the Wolf from Clan Drage but his strikes were uneven and sloppy. There were half a dozen chances for Dorin to have made an end of things and yet he endured.

With a sword, his brother Darin was an artist. A painter with steel. He created as many possibilities as he could imagine. Dorin was a stonemason. He worked brick by brick and took no opportunities save for those he could see.

Dorin was half a foot taller and much heavier than his opponent. He also had good timing. Dorin swung his shield forward to meet the downward cut of Deidric’s sword clashing just before the strike would have its full momentum, striving to knock the smaller Wolf back onto his heels and off balance. Dorin’s shield strike was immediately followed by a slashing cross cut from his blunted training sword aimed directly at Deidric’s chest. A killing blow were the swords real but only a bruising one should his strike land true with these weapons.

Deidric Drage

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[Deidric Drage]

He hoped speed and his quickness would catch his opponent off guard. It was to no avail, he was indeed bigger and stronger than he was. And with that being in his mind, he didn't want to over extend and tire himself out. Most battle are won through cunning tactics and the ability to weather the storm that was coming their way.

The downward cut was met with a strong shield as it stopped with impressive power. The attack coming towards his chest, was met by the young wolf's own shield. As he raised it up it met with a firm sturdiness that Deidric could muster however it still knocked him back a few paces. The wolf stayed on his feet, his nimble quickness and agility saving him from losing momentum.

The wolf moved forward quickly as his sword moved forward with a good quickness in a straight thrust towards his sparring partners midsection.

Dorin & Darin

 

[Dorin & Darin]

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Dorin grit his teeth and scowled to see the Drage wolf still on his feet and unmarked. The distant sound of his twin’s fight with the straw soldier faded and Dorin knew that to mean that Darin had taken an interest in his fight with Deidric.

The younger Wolf’s counter came quickly. His feet were deft and sure as he again used his speed to confront Dorin who was steady and implacable. The tip of Deidric’s sword was thrust hard at Dorin.

Dorin’s sword came down in a downward cut meant to take Deidric’s head off at the neck as he leaned forward making his thrust. If timed right the younger wolf would be dead, well not truly these were only training swords, but Dorin would surely be the victor. He should have just met the other Wolf’s sword with his shield. He would have, were his brother not watching, were he not facing some southerner with an ancient name who was loyal to those who had looked down upon him and Darin from the first. He was the blood of Durin.

The rough noise of steel on steel was heard, the air was driven from him, but Dorin stood firm as Deidric’s sword punched him hard. His own sword hit more of Deidric’s pauldron than anything else but the blade slid down and found a home at the young wolf’s exposed neck.

“Enough!” Gunar bellowed. “Very well done! We got two more dead Wolves! Deidric, don’t drop your shield when you thrust.” He instructed, looked at Dorin and whistled.

Dorin demonstrated what Gunar had meant, holding his beaten shield high at his shoulder and thrust his sword forward.

“So, you are aware you have a shield?” The old wolf called to him. “See you don’t forget again. Alright then, the three of you are done for today. Get out of yer armor and put everything back where you found it, God’s save you if I find anything left out.”

In the armory the twins helped one another out of the more cumbersome armor they had chosen compared to the lighter fare Deidric wore. They were once identical out of their armor but now Darin was covered in angry evil swirling scars. A reminder of their encounter with the first Durin who had taken control of their brother Declan’s body for the longest few hours of their life.

“Well fought.” Darin said to Deidric with a smile. He nudged Dorin hard.

“Yes.” Dorin agreed. “You move quite well. Though I think you find yourself more comfortable without the shield.”

The twins gave each other a look and came to a decision.

“There is a haunted village to the south of the castle.” Darin said conspiratorially

“We were gonna go check it out, since Dorian is off with Aelin.” Dorin said.

“Want to come?” They asked in one voice.

Deidric Drage

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[Deidric Drage]

The blows came and gone, and the training and refresher was much needed. More than Deidric would care to admit, however good strong arms were made in situations such as these. Strong bonds and strong shields, and they both seemed to be very good sports about their sparring match.


"Appreciated, and you as well. You fight well, it was an honor to train with and alongside you." Deidric thought about Dorin's comment about moving without the shield and he couldn't help but silently agree with him. He would be much more quicker and agile that way. More exposed too, but as long as his speed and quickness played their part well.

He shouldn't have any issue.

"Haunted village?" Deidric said with a small smirk. "Count me in, let's go!" Deidric said as he began to move past the duo. "Come on!"

Perhaps his more excitable side coming out, that was the way of his life though.

Dorin & Darin

 

[Dorin & Darin]

A bark of laughter flew from Darin as he witnessed Deidric's excitement. Dorin was always game for a spot of adventure or a bit of trouble. Never in his life could Darin remember his brother saying:

"Maybe, we shouldn't." Or "That sounds dangerous."(unless he followed that up by saying "I'm going first." But Dorin's joy was always more guarded than Darin's, as were all his feelings.

Make no mistake Darin loved his twin more than anything and always would. Their kind spoke of something called a soul-bond. A rare phenomenon amongst their people reserved usually for mating pairs. Two souls with a connection blessed by The Gods, deeper, stronger, and more meaningful than could ever be described. Dorin and Darin were one soul split into two bodies, a connection stronger than that of the most blesse. There were times however that Dorin's measured approach to things grew wearisome. His brother was never afraid to jump in with both feet, he just liked to have a look first. Darin never wanted to see the bottom until his feet had landed.

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The village was empty and cold. A layer of frost glinted in the sun like diamonds. There was naught a single sign of life to be found. No sounds of the winter birds with their bloody beaks, no scrabble of tiny rodent claws as they claimed the abandoned houses for their own, grass did not even grow here. In the distance was what had been an apple orchard. The trees were gnarled and black. Withered Like grapes left too long on the vine.

No signs of life at all but death was everywhere. The fields were barren of planets but thick covered with weather-worn bones that stretched so far and piled so high they were as wheat ready for harvest.

Every home in the village had in front of it a mound, some even had several mounds, the worst of them even had small mounds. Graves for every last Lupo who had once called this land their home.

"The Fayth poisoned this village and a score more just like it." Dorin said to Deidric as they walked through the empty silent streets.

The twins would always remember the day their brother Durin held court with a Brother of The Fayth. The man was bald and gaunt as a skeleton, his bare feet turned black and bleeding from walking the tens of dozens of miles from one of the poisoned villages all the way to Hardhaven.

They would not forget the way Yasmine wept when she heard what had been done. Done to their people for an act committed by a brother they had never met on a world not even their own. Did Declan even know how many were dead?

They would not forget as the man beseeched their brother, their Alpha to leave with him, to present himself before The Fayth and seek justice.

"You tell me it is The Fayth who poisoned my people and yet in the same breath say I should trust them for justice?" Durin had asked.

"It were not The Fayth." The old man said "but a knight who forsook The Mother's mercy for vengeance. The Most High would do what was right." He had said and their brother left, never to see his home again.

"Can you feel them?" Darin asked. The atmosphere was dark and thick, weighing heavy on mind and spirit.

"It pulls at you." Dorin said of death.

Deidric Drage