OOM: Training montage

[bigarmy_strangepants]

Turning a monk into a viable fighter is a process, one that will take some years -- taking a lot of work, some carefully applied practical experience, and the occasional break to let things settle.

By the end, Ragnar will have to be certain that Athelstan can pull his own weight in battle when they go to England. He can't afford to worry about Athelstan's safety in the back of his mind while he is fighting; he will have to know that he will do well and not hesitate. Just as he knew with Lagertha.

Comments

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan, for his part, is all too willing to learn. He comes out to the practice grounds with Ragnar, day after day, taking all the minor punishment that comes with the lessons.

[bigarmy_strangepants]

It's Ragnar with the shield today, crouching low as if in a shield-wall.

"Your axe," he says, "isn't made for chopping wood, little monk!"

He's grinning at Athelstan to bring it on.

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan grins back fleetingly and charges, holding his axe ready for a swing.

[bigarmy_strangepants]

Ragnar watches his every movement closely, blue eyes positively glowing.

[athelstanthescribe]

He's aware that with this particular axe, he couldn't hurt Ragnar if he wanted to, so he has no hesitation in swinging it at him.

(And this is why they haven't moved on to real weapons yet.)

[athelstanthescribe]

"Ragnar", Athelstan says patiently, "I can always tell when you're bored, because you make mistakes you're too clever to make."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"Does it matter whether it's a horse or a house?" Ragnar says.

He's sitting back on the bench and leans his head against the wall.

[athelstanthescribe]

"Does it matter in daily life whether you're buying a horse or a house?" Athelstan counters.

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"I guess it does," Ragnar says.

He folds one of his long legs to rest on the opposite knee, and looks at the toes of his bare foot.

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"Bring it on!!" Ragnar says, raising his shield, his eyes glittering at Athelstan.

It's cold on the training grounds today, and some of the ground is even frozen. But they need to keep training. Ragnar and Athelstan aren't be far the only ones today.

[athelstanthescribe]

He doesn't care about the weather, although he might get a few more bruises than usual from the ice.

He raises his axe - a half-sharpened one, now - and lunges. He mastered the hooking trick with the beard long ago, today's lesson is something else.

[bigarmy_strangepants]

Ragnar comes at him with the lance he'd been holding in his right hand, just as the shield is pulled aside to give him the elbow room to wield it.

[athelstanthescribe]

His reactions have got quicker while they've been working together, and the axe swings around to block the lance, rather than to attack.

[bigarmy_strangepants]

Going east is easy; and the pickings are slim. But Ragnar can't afford to not go raiding this summer while still building his alliance to go west.

And even in the east, people will still fight for their lives and their possessions. It is a chance to get new fighters on the first Viking voyage bloodied, without them having to face the trained soldiers of England as the first thing.

That is why they're currently holding a shield wall against a group of Sarmatian traders.

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan is trying not to look scared, though he is, copying the other men's posture behind their shields.

[bigarmy_strangepants]

The traders' guards are shooting arrows at the shield wall, the nasty armour-piercing ones with the three-bladed heads.

The tip of one even makes it way through Ragnar's shield, sticking out for a threatening half-inch on the inside.

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan stares at it, doing his best not to imagine that terrible thing sticking into Ragnar's body.

But then, that's what the shields are for.

[bigarmy_strangepants]

The boat is small and feisty; not a full dragon-boat like the ones they use to go raiding, but a small version of it in which up to five men (eight, if they're really good friends) can go on a few days' journey, to trade or meet people.

Currently, it's only two of them sailing, and that is a good thing. This is another kind of experience that Athelstan lacks so far.

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan's hands are blistered from handling the ropes, but he doesn't care. They'll build up resistance soon enough.

He looks to Ragnar. "What next?"

[bigarmy_strangepants]

Ragnar is utterly at home in the boat.

"Hold on to the sail and the rudder," he says. "Just hold her steady. We turn again when we're level with that large pine, see?"

[athelstanthescribe]

"Yes", Athelstan says with a nod. "You remember the way after all this time?"

[bigarmy_strangepants]

Ragnar buries the sword in the sand as Athelstan turns his head away, and smoothly sits on him, prone on the beach, among the other men and women.

Nobody pays them any heed.

"Never hesitate!"

Ragnar looks down into his face, his eyes silver-pale in the sunlight.

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan stares back up at him, wide-eyed.

"Never again."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

Ragnar decides that Athelstan needs to remain being sat on a few heartbeats longer.

"You know how to use your weapons now," he says. "But the real battles are won here" -- he taps his head -- "and here!"

He slaps Athelstan's side, where his heart is.

[athelstanthescribe]

"The head for thinking, of course." He's not trying to dislodge Ragnar. "And the heart for looking out for your comrades?"