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Post by Berwyck Nawren on Aug 12, 2012 19:08:48 GMT -5
"Study your opponent! Learn his ways!" The Knight ordered the men training before him. His speech was on the verge of yelling, but quite enough for it to not carry through the wind and across the whole grounds. He walked among the men he had pared up, studying them individually as they tried to best the man they were put up against. It was a tactic that he believed to be the best way to train, versus Cenred's own belief that they should train by attacking the air. The Prince simply did not understand that in order to become a good Knight or even a soldier, one must practice against another. Cenred's excuse was that the Knights-in-training get enough of that from the tourneys that the King holds ever so often. That idea, however, would never do unless the Prince's aim is to have knights who can barely hold a blade. He suspected it was why the King had asked him to train the men this morning.
Berwyck walked in the direction of the approaching Connor, whom he had tasked with escorting Simon to the Training Grounds. "Sir Simon Drayton," the manservant said as he gave his master a bow. Connor was a heavy joker who couldn't help to not exaggerate his servitude. Berwyck laughed and dismissed the servant, turning his attention to Simon as he caught him up on what he missed. He turned his attention back to the training knights and folded his arms. Catching a mistake, he began barking orders once again.
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Post by Simon Drayton on Aug 12, 2012 20:08:06 GMT -5
"Sorry I am late, I had promised Frances I would have breakfast with her. And you know how women like to talk about what has happened." He chuckled at his own words. Frances loved telling him what he had missed. He surveyed the knights training, "They look like they need to work a little harder there."
He shook his head as one of them dropped their sword. He almost laughed as one fell back. "Mind if I help?" He asked as he looked at Berwyck. He wouldn't have any hard feelings if the man told him no. He just thought that he might need a little help.
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Post by Berwyck Nawren on Aug 12, 2012 20:33:16 GMT -5
He dismissed Simon's apology. He hadn't even noticed the knight was late to the grounds...he was much to busy dealing with the poor fighting skills of the men. "They look like they need to work a little harder there." Berwyck agreed immediately at the comment. "It's due to the Cenred's poor training methods. The King is on the verge of irritation with it. Even Arys would do a much better job than her brother." He was one of the few on first-name bases with the royal offspring, almost always forgetting to use their titles when talking about them to others.
His irritation with the men rising, he agreed to let Simon take part. "Go ahead." Berwyck stepped back and watched as the Avarian Knight made his way around the training grounds. The Nawren son began to daydream about returning home briefly sometime. Narsworth was in desperate need of his help...he removed his homeland from his mind as he returned his attention to Simon's methods. He studied it intently, always eager to learn new fighting skills.
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Post by Simon Drayton on Aug 13, 2012 15:34:09 GMT -5
After getting the go ahead from Berwyck Simon stepped forward and walked around the knights-in-training. He stopped at one that was just swinging his sword madly. He grabbed the man's arm to stop him. "That way will get no one but yourself injured." He took the man's sword then faced his opponent, the other knight-in-training looked confused. "It's just a demonstration, but try your best."
After the young knight started fighting him Simon was able to stop just about every blow. Their swords clanked together until the young knight lost his sword from Simon making him lost his grip. He stood straight then handed the young knight his sword back. "That is how you use a sword, you do not wave it around like you are a mad man." He looked at the one he had been fighting, "Get your sword."
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Post by Berwyck Nawren on Aug 13, 2012 20:13:06 GMT -5
Berwyck watched the match intently. He was equally impressed with each blow. He had clearly not given the men of Aravia as much credit as they deserved. He studied the Aravian knight intently, eager to learn his methods and better himself the next time he fought in battle. He was so consumed with the energy of the fight that he barely noticed when his cousin approached him. "How is my brother in training today?" Arianna Mehawk asked as she looked to Arthur.
"As he was yesterday and the day before." Berwyck replied, ignoring his cousin as she put her arm through his. "Give Arthur private training. The Prince hasn't done any good and you are one of the best Carneth has to offer." She sighed. "My father doesn't want him to shame our ancestors." He declined for the moment, realizing that he had forgotten his manors, Berwyck introduced his cousin to Simon. "Sir Simon," she greeted, giving a slight curtsy. "I've overstayed my welcome. I'll let you two continue with the training." She always did that, leaving when she didn't get what she wanted. He knew he would eventually start training Arthur but for the moment he needed a long break from all war related things.
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Post by Simon Drayton on Aug 14, 2012 20:49:36 GMT -5
Simon continued to walk around watching the knights-in-training, after helping a few more with their sword holdng and swinging he walked back up to where Berwyck stood talking to a young woman. He stood like a knight would as he watched the young men continue to practice.
He bowed hie head to the young lady before turning his attention on Berwyck. “Many of them have great potintal from what I have seen so far.” He looked at the men as some laughed as two men started using thier fists. “Those two, though.” He shook his head, one of them had been the one that had been waving his sword as if fighting bees.
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Post by Berwyck Nawren on Aug 15, 2012 12:07:00 GMT -5
Berwyck watched the men intensely. He felt ashamed of how they had gotten as men and knights. And all the blame would go to Cenred. The knight broiled with anger as he thought on how such a state the Prince had gotten the men into. Arys would do a much better job at training the men. If only the King would hear of it. Despite all of Berwyck's warnings, King Lucien still refused to listen about his son.
When two men broke out in an old-fashioned fist-fight, Berwyck knew he had to intercede. He grabbed one of the men by the color and swung him back away from his opponent. The men looked to him with confused expressions on their face. "Stop this madness!" He said with a grand fury rising to his voice. "You are behaving like children and should be ashamed to call yourselves knights!"
At that moment, he didn't know what he was going to do. All he knew was that he was to do something, and that it would be disastrous to the knights' pride. He thought to call for the King to show him the state he let his son get the knights into. He looked to Connor who was sitting a few feet away, sharpening Berwyck's sword. "Send for the King," he ordered. The squire immediately stood and ran off.
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Post by Simon Drayton on Aug 15, 2012 12:33:49 GMT -5
Simon crossed his arms as he walked over to where Berwyck stood. He looked at the other knights then back at Berwyck, "In Avaria if this happened the two knights would be given two choices, either give up their knighthood or be tossed in the barracks." Simon wondered how this fight would be handled in Carneth. He looked at the knight he had helped before and just shook his head at him.
He couldn't believe how childish the knights were acting. He wondered if one had said something that the other didn't like. He looked around and those that had just been watching the fight moved back from Simon, Berwyck and the two knights.
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Post by Berwyck Nawren on Aug 16, 2012 15:47:27 GMT -5
When Connor returned with the King following closely behind, Berwyck pushed the men in the direction of the King. "What is this?" Lucien Argoth asked as he approached the men. "Why have you sent for me?"
"Look at the state of these men!" The knight said without bothering to hide his mounting irritation. "Just look at the state you let Cenred get them into! Not one of them can wield a sword properly. At this rate we might as well surrender to the Aravians."
The King of Carneth looked down to the men. "Pick up your swords." The men did as directed. They put on a poor display for the King, causing him to look away in embarrassment. Realizing what he had done, Berwyck apologized. King Lucien needed to see the state of which Cenred let everything get to. The truth was painful, yes, but it was much needed. No longer could he allow for his son to cause such embarrassment to the Crown. "This must change," the King simply said as he walked away.
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Post by Simon Drayton on Aug 16, 2012 17:07:19 GMT -5
Simon stood like a knight when the king approached, though he wanted to speak about thee men he remain silent. He almost flinched as the king watched the men use their swords. He watched the pathetic display and wanted to show them how to battle like a real knight. He had trained alongside his brother, a pang of sadness hit him as he thought of his brother.
Simon hoped his brother didn't hate him for leaving, he would have told him about Frances but he hadn't been home at the time. He had been looking for his brother to tell him the news when his father showed up and demanded he tell him about the maiden that had his youngest son so happy. Drifting out of his thoughts he heard the king's last words as he walked away.
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