Gerhard's Training

[Gerhard Raeddegson]

Sweat pooled at the base of Gerhard's lower back, and his gambeson clung to him, sticking to his skin. Blinking a drop of sweat from his eye and repositioning himself, he looked across the courtyard at the two young recruits he faced off against. He knew the prince was watching closely, evaluating him, looking for faults or signs of weakness. But right now, that seemed like a distant memory, an insignificant thought. What really mattered, all that mattered, was the fight. Sure, it was only a training exercise, and there was no intention to kill anyone. In fact, the trick was to not kill anyone, since it was still combat, with bared steel and no punches pulled. But Gerhard was thrilled with the fight. It had been long since he had faced off against another in battle, too long in fact, and he loved the feel as the energy flowed through his muscles. Gods how he loved it!

Options ran through his head, almost unconsciously. Two against one, but recruits, not much challenge. Still, arrogance and overconfidence killed men in battle. These lads were ready and waiting for him, and if he pressed the attack, they may seperate, split apart, forcing him between them. Still, if he didn't press to take the fight to them, waited defensively, he could find himself backed into a corner. They had the advantage of numbers, and the ability to attack from multiple points. And a shield was only any good if you could keep it between you and the opponent. Otherwise, it simply served as dead weight, slowing you in combat. And with two opponents, one simple mistake could easily find Gerhard with his back to one of them, open to attack. Of course, that could be just what he needed against these raw youths, unseasoned in battle.

Bellowing a shout, he lunged forward, recklessly diving at the man to his left. If he was quick enough, he could catch them unprepared. Staying just outside of the reach of the one on his right, he could slam into the other, toppling him, winding him, and giving Gerhard the time to finish with them one at a time. As he dove forward, he could tell that he had misguaged the speed of the youth. Gerhard was probably three times his age, and battered from years of combat. He should have guessed the boy could move faster than him. No worries though. The clumsy attempt at a back handed slash as he ran past did no real damage, glancing off his mail and bruising him, but without the impact required to numb his arm or make him drop his axe. For the target to the left, however, he fared far worse.

Unprepared, he stumbled to raise his weapon to meet the charge. Bad mistake. He should have put less thought into an aggressive stance, and more into a defense. Gerhard's shield hit him like a bull, taking him clear off his feet. Worse, the failed effort to raise his sword left him holding it between himself and Gerhard. The impact twisted it up and in, wrenching his wrist too fast for him to be able to release his grip. The snap was loud, only drowned out by the lad's shriek of pain. Though even that only lasted a moment as the impact drove the breath from his lungs and sent him tumbling to the ground. And if the wrist wasn't enough, the man landing on the back of his head with the full combined weight of both bodies, armor and all, was easily enough to knock him unconscious. Not exactly as planned, but accomplished the overall goal.

Letting the momentum carry him right past and over the fallen opponent, Gerhard knew the other recruit would be expecting him to stop, stand, and ready himself again. Because of this, he figured the lad was already rushing towards him as fast as he could, hoping to catch him before he stood. But Gerhard rarely did the norm, or what was expected. Rolling onto one side, pushing off the ground with his shield, he raised himself just enough to get in a swing with his axe. Intentionally overreaching to catch the other man with the haft rather than the blade, it smashed into the young man's knee, sending him sprawling right past and over Gerhard. Pushing off again with his shield, harder this time, Gerhard flipped himself around, drove the rim of his shield into the other man's back between his shoulder blades, forcing him into the dirt.

Slowly standing, Gerhard slipped his axe back through the loop on his belt, and extended a hand to help the recruit up. "Well done, lad, very well. Just one mistake. Don't worry about acting on what ya think y'r opponent will do. Act on what ya see them do. I saw your first swing, and knew ye'd keep rushing at me. Y'underestimated that I'd be ready for that." Smiling, he slung his shield over his back and rubbed his arm, adding, "Same as I underestimated how fast you'd get that swing in at me. Was a good hit. Tighten your grip, and ya may well have landed a crippling blow, forced me to drop my axe. But ya did better than your friend there."

Nodding to the still unconscious recruit, "Ya best get him into the barracks and seen to. That wrist will need some tending." A smile beaming through his beard, Gerhard looked over to where the prince had been watching the entire fight. Aye, it was good to have a chance to face off against another man or two again.

(just in case, training for swordsman, but with an axe...

[Prince Arthur Pendragon]

Excellent post! I really liked the detail you gave at each stage of the battle.

You may update your signature accordingly and train again when ready.

[Gerhard Raeddegson]

As he stretched his arm, rolling the shoulder back, a loud pop could be heard in the training grounds. Gerhard winced slightly at the discomfort. But to him, the pain was good. It was when he stopped feeling the old injuries, the painful reminders of battles past, that he feared. When there was simply numbness, and the feeling was gone, that would signal the end of his days as a warrior.

Rubbing his shoulder with his left hand, he grabbed the Frankish throwing axe out of the target with his right and returned it to his belt, then reached for the second. He had been at this for over an hour. Draw an axe, take aim, throw at the target, pull the second before the first even reached the wooden boards. That was the key, speed and a steady rhythm. It was really all about whether the first axe finished its target or not. Too slow with the second axe, and the target may have closed the distance, making a throw impossible. Too fast, and you could wind up wasting a good shot throwing an axe into a man who was already dead. All in the timing.

The rhythm was something Gerhard had down pat. Years of practice made it second nature to him now. And the accuracy he had as well. This routine practice was something he did as much to pass time as to stay in shape. But his last few throws had been off. Not terribly, but not as smooth and steady as Gerhard knew they should be. It was the restlessness. He knew the prince had been wandering through the training yards off and on throughout the morning, and each time he saw Arthur, he wound bow his head to silently acknowledge the young prince, and then continue his throws. Normally Arthur would have been here longer to oversee the training, but it was a quiet morning on the grounds, with only Gerhard and a few other soldiers here. It was mainly because of the prince that he kept at it this morning, but in truth he had mentally given up focus some time ago.

Gerhard hated this waiting, this routine of daily practice. He longed to not be throwing his axes at some stationary wooden target, but actually be in the thick of battle. Back home was so different. If no one was attacking you, then that freed you up to raid a neighbour. War wasn’t an occasional event, but a constant state of being. And it was something bred into Gerhard. But here he wondered if there was ever to be any battle to practice for. All seemed so peaceful, quite. As he continued his practice of draw, throw, retrieve the axes, start again, the restlessness for battle grew stronger. Out of the corner of his eye, he noted that Arthur had again come to the training grounds, and this time he seemed like he may be staying longer. This was it. Gerhard needed to do something to impress his new lord.

Retrieving his axes, he made his way towards some other trainees and called two over to him. One had been practicing basic manoeuvres with sword and shield, the other working on his archery. As they approached, he spoke to them.

“Lads, how about we try something out to really put skills to the test? Give you some real practice, and give the prince there a show of what we can really do?” The recruits seemed sceptical, as expected. After all, whereas Gerhard was a veteran with real combat experience, these were young new trainees, probably never used a weapon before other than in a training session. So he explained his idea to them, smiling at the thought. “Here, me against the two of you, a simple contest. I’ll throw two axes before closing, but you can move as soon as we begin. No worries, lad, just keep your shield in place and you’ll be fine. And while I’m throwing those axes, y’r mate here will be firing arrows at me. Keep your sword ready and your shield up before we start, and first one of us to tap the other with the flat of a blade wins. Simple practice lads, with the numbers on your side. And sure beats just shooting at a straw target, doesn’t it?”

With a bit more convincing, the others agreed. Arthur, obviously curious about what was being discussed and what was about to happen, had settled into a spot with a good view of all three. And once everyone was in place, Gerhard yelled out “Now!” and drew his first throwing axe. The archer seemed a bit hesitant, unsure if he should really be firing at another trainee. But as soon as the first axe lodged itself into the swordsman’s shield with a resounding thump, he let a shot fly at Gerhard. Gerhard had no trouble staying behind the large shield, the arrow harmlessly sticking into the hide covered wood. The second axe thrown, aimed at the dead centre of the boy’s shield. After all, this wasn’t about killing the lad, just hitting the target aimed for, and the boy’s movements making the target a little harder.

By this point they had almost closed, three arrows stuck in Gerhard’s shield and both axes launched. Here’s where it was going to get trickier. The other trainee already had his sword drawn, whereas Gerhard still had to draw his breidox. And in close quarters, he had to avoid the other’s blade as well. Just as he managed to get his weapon free, the younger trainee managed to side step away from Gerhard’s shield side and lunge in. The blow would have been good, connecting with the ribs of Gerhard’s right side. In real combat, that could have been fatal. The sword probably would have gone straight through his lung. But this wasn’t real combat, and Gerhard wasn’t fighting for his life. Worse, he was waging a battle for his pride.

Pivoting as quickly at the waist as he could, he slammed the metal rim of his shield into the blade, pushing the sword just enough to make it pass harmlessly under his arm and not make contact. Grinning madly, he knew he had done it. He caught the boy off guard, and that moment was his opening to tap him with the axe and claim victory. But the move had cost him his shield’s defence. It was no longer between him and the archer. The arrow had probably been released before Gerhard had even moved, and no doubt would have simply struck his shield along with the rest. But when Gerhard pivoted, it left his side and back open to the archer, and the arrow struck his hip instead of his shield.

Feeling the arrow puncture muscle and nick the bone, Gerhard grunted and cursed. He also tapped the swordsman on the thigh with his axe, and ended the fight. The archer was already rushing over, mumbling his apologies. Gerhard smiled at him and laughed. “I’ve had far worse, lad, and ya only did as I asked ya to.” Dropping his shield and putting his axe away on his belt, he pulled the throwing axes from the other’s shield. “You did well, lads. Worked well together, covered each other, and damn near beat me. And bloody good fun, wasn’t it?” Laughing as he picked up his shield, noticing the blood from the arrow was starting to run some as he knelt to reach for it, he added. “Let me go get this scratch looked after, then I’ll join you for a beer.”

Turning to look at the prince before leaving the field, he wondered what Arthur would have thought of his demonstration. Yes, it had been reckless, and he had possibly endangered himself, maybe even the others. But to Gerhard, this was how training was done. Without real danger, there was no way these boys would ever be made into true warriors, ready for real battle. Gods, the archer looked as if he would throw up when he realized he had actually hit Gerhard. How was ever going to be ready to kill a man in battle? Already knowing the prince likely disapproved of the Friesian’s methods, there was no denying the results. Nodding again to the prince, still smiling, Gerhard walked past him to go get the arrow removed and the wound tended to. “My lord.” was all he said as he passed.

[Prince Arthur Pendragon]

Another great post, it shows that experience doesn't mean someone cant make mistakes! I really enjoyed reading it and look forward to the next.

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