Return to the Land of Love

[Kender Bard]

Harmony squeaked in surprise as she was grabbed, but didn't seem much bothered. "I'm a hellion," the girl told Dusk, turning to hug her father. "Mom said so."

"I'd love to see them," Locket agreed eagerly. And, with that, she hurried off toward the temple.

That girl is going to run her whole country ragged, Twilight thought wryly. "I have no problem with your daughter wandering around, so long as she doesn't go into anyone's personal rooms. It's safe in the palace."

[Darastrix]

Dusk laughed at Harmony's comment. "I got into my fair share of trouble when I was a child, usually with good intentions.

Nagi did a double-take as Locket ran off, and quickly bowed to Dusk and Twilight again before hurrying after his wife.

Schuldig shook his head. "I think the kid's gotten more exercise since meeting her than he's had in his whole life." He mussed Harmony's hair and gave her a little push. "Okay, you heard the man. Go on and look around some more. And call for me if you need me." He looked back at Twilight, asking, "Which way to the training rooms?"

[Kender Bard]

Twilight grinned widely at Schuldig. He'd been hoping the man would ask that. "Right this way," he said, and walked off while Harmony grinned and split in a different direction. "What weapon do you favor?" the prince asked Schuldig curiously.

[Darastrix]

"Short blades, mainly," Schuldig replied. "I can use a longsword in a pinch, but I prefer closer combat." Privately, he thought that since touching a person's mind was fairly intimate, and he'd been trained as a telepath, he was just used to getting close to his victims in whatever way he could.

The fact that much of his sign training had involved deadening of his other senses while he was forced to reach with his mind probably had something to do with it as well.

[Kender Bard]

"Ah, I'm a swordsman myself," Twilight admitted. "Longsword, shortsword, and greatsword, though I disdain the latter. Too clumsy. The longsword is my favorite." He showed Schuldig to the training room where, as usual, Jonathan was. The weaponsmaster wasn't currently working out, however - he was merely chatting with a young teen, and only paused to give a small wave to Twilight and Schuldig.

"You've met Jonathan," Twilight said simply and smiled at his friend as he went to get the training blades out.

[Darastrix]

"Mm-hmm." Schuldig let his eyes wander over the weaponmaster's form. It was a damn shame that the man wasn't more flexible.

"As far as the blades I favour, shortswords count, too," he added. "Farf's the one really into knives and daggers--Lucifer's one-eyed guard."

[Kender Bard]

Twilight grabbed a shortsword for Schuldig and a longsword for himself, coming over and offering the wooden weapon to the man. "Ah, so that is Farfarello." The statement was very neutral and Twilight didn't deign to speak more on the matter.

"Let's see how well you fight against our dark prince," Jonathan called out, and moved to a better spot to watch.

"It occurs to me it's probably not wise to fight another leader's guards," Twilight mused as he warmed up a little. "Oh well, wisdom is my sister's job."

[Darastrix]

"Crawford would probably advise me against this, too," Schuldig commented, getting a feel for the practice blade. "So, naturally, I have to go ahead with it."

He unclasped his cloak and set it aside. It would only get in the way, and be something to grab besides. "Ready when you are," he stated, getting into a stance.

[Kender Bard]

Once Twilight had divested himself of unnecessary clothing as well, and felt sufficiently warmed up, he squared off against Schuldig. "Ready. Shall we agree to pure bladework?" He dropped into a defensive stance.

[Darastrix]

Schuldig considered the matter. He much preferred combining blade and Element. Or, as he had in the past, use his signs in one way or another to have a person allow him close enough to strike at leisure. But it was a spar, not a game of cat-and-mouse. At least years of dipping into others' thoughts gave him a good sense of what someone might be planning when they moved.

"All right," Schuldig agreed. May as well get some pure blade practice in. He really needed to get Nagi out there at some point, too.

With Twilight in a defensive position, Schuldig moved swiftly to attack first, seemingly focused on Twilight's sword arm. Instead of allowing his swing to come at the man's arm, however, he slashed at his side.

[Kender Bard]

Rather than try to defend or parry, Twilight twisted his body - and when Schuldig's feint revealed itself, he snapped his blade out to defend against that, following with a swift counter-attack slash at Schuldig's thigh.

Jonathan watched, a very faint smile on his face but with his eyes coolly assessing each move. He glanced away and murmured at the other man, who hurried away.

[Darastrix]

He jumped back nimbly, though the wooden blade did graze his thigh, and sprung forward ('favouring' his leg slightly) in an attempt to take advantage of the short amount of time Twilight would need to bring his sword back up to get past the prince's defense, his own blade ready to block in case he was too slow.

Well, Schuldig reasoned, agreeing to bladework only really just meant no sign use. And people spoke often enough of sharp tongues that really, talk would be legal. And he just couldn't keep his mouth shut to save his life at times.

"If you wanted in my pants so badly, Lord, you just had to say so."

[Kender Bard]

Twilight sputtered in surprise and his defense slipped, allowing Schuldig to score on Twilight's off-arm as the prince desperately swung it about as though he thought he had a buckler there. Cursing, he tried to put a little distance between him and the telepath.

Jonathan coughed out a bark of sudden laughter. This would be more interesting than he thought.

[Darastrix]

"Granted, my sword may be smaller, but it's aaaaall in how you use it." Schuldig continued with a sharkish grin as he advanced on Twilight, pointing his blade downward. He hoped, with his words, the prince would feel as though Schuldig were aiming for a very sensitive area, when in reality, his blade was poised a few inches higher when he thrust forward, attempting a gut stab.

[Kender Bard]

Twilight yelped and slapped his sword in a hard parry to the side. Schuldig's sword gazed against his side and he grimaced.

By now, Jonathan was openly laughing - and so was Sain who had been fetched to watch the fight.

"Oh for Forces' fucking sake!" Twilight muttered, flushing red. The two spectators laughed harder and urged Schuldig on.