The exercise was simple; Kero disarmed her, and she would try to get to another weapon-by whatever means possible-before Kero could corner her. Hence the rough circle of weaponry scattered around the Salle.
Her setup-such as it was-completed, she stood in the middle of the circle, sword in hand, and waited for Kero to disarm her.
Kero went into 'ready' stance, and Elspeth matched her.
Here it comes- Her heart beat a little faster, and her mouth dried. No matter that it was 'just' a practice. With Kerowyn or Alberich, nothing was ever 'just' a practice. When they delivered killing blows, they left bruises, as a reminder of what could have happened.
The Captain came in slowly this time; Kero feinted and fenced with her for a few moments, forcing her to move away from her original position. Then, when Elspeth was not expecting it, the Captain bound her blade and sent it flying out of her hand.
She didn't waste a moment; the instant she lost the blade, she dove to one side, rolled, and came up with another in her hand; a shortsword, this time. Without thinking, she shifted her grip until the balance was right.
This time Kero rushed her before she had a chance to settle herself, catching her off-guard while she was still finding the balance for the blade.
Crap!
She back-pedaled but not fast enough; Kero got to her and literally swatted the blade out of her hand.
She did the unexpected-as Kero had been trying to get her to do. She rushed the Captain. barehanded, shouldering past her and springing for the next sword on the floor.
This time, she didn't even get a chance to get her hands on it. Kero beat her to the spot and kicked it away before she reached it.
She dove after another, sliding belly-down across the wooden floor; she got it and started to roll over-but Kero was on top of her, and swatted that one out of her hands. too.
This one fell short. and Elspeth made a short dive and grabbed it again; her hand tingled, and she had trouble feeling her fingers, but she got it all the same, just as Kero reached her and cut down.
This time she didn't lose it. This time she managed to hold onto the hilt long enough to counter Kero's first three attempts at disarming her-even though her grip was an entirely unorthodox, two-handed one, and she never managed to return a blow.
'That's enough,' Kero said, stepping back and wiping the sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand. Elspeth simply collapsed where she lay for a moment, spread-eagled on the floor. She blinked several times to clear her eyes, and rolled over onto her side. And when Kero offered her a hand to help her up, she took it without shame.
'Not bad,' the Captain said, as she started to pick up the scattered swords. 'Not bad at all.' Elspeth cast her a startled glance. 'oh, I mean it,' the Captain grinned. 'You were exhausted, your hands were numb-and you still always managed to get a weapon in your hands before I could close with you. Good job, kitten.' And this is the person Alberich says is better than he is. For a moment Elspeth truly did not know what to say in reply. Finally, she managed to think of something that wouldn't get her into trouble. 'Do you think I could have kept myself alive for a little while longer?' she asked.
'At least until help came-and if Gwena couldn't get to you in time to help, you'd be in deeper compost than anyone could be expected to get out of,' Kero told her, as she got the remainder of the practice blades and took them over to the wall to rack them. 'And that is all anyone can ask for.' Someone cleared his throat conspicuously, and Skif emerged from the shadowed entry of the door leading to the outside of the salle. 'Excuse me, Captain,' he said meekly, 'but if you're through with Elspeth, the Circle and Council want to talk to her.'
'Now?' Kero asked, her eyebrows arching.
Dear gods, now what? Elspeth wondered. Skif looked very odd, and unusually subdued.
'Well, yes, sort of,' he replied, uncomfortably. 'I mean, they're meeting now, with the Queen, and they really wanted to talk with her now.'
'Well, they can just give her a moment to sluice herself off,' Kero replied firmly. 'There's no sense in making her show up looking like a shambles.'
'Kitten,' she Mindspoke, in private-mode, 'there's a set of my Whites and a kind of wash area in my office; you'll fit my uniform closely enough. I know from experience that it's easier facing an official situation if-you feel as if you look presentable.'
'thanks,' Elspeth replied gratefully, surprised a little at the Mindspeech.
