Chapter 3: Chapter 2 The Stream
He threw off his helmet and plunged his head into the stream. He pulled it out, shook the water from it, and sat back panting heavily. The stream ran down from the forested hills to the north, and ran down into the plains below, where it joined into the serpent river. He was currently sitting at the stream just far enough into the trees that no one would see him from outside. He saw someone approaching from the trees, but ignored them, stretching his arms behind him, trying to catch his breathe. The person stopped a short distance away before speaking.
"You're supposed to be with the group you know", person said nonchalantly. It was the voice of his commanding officer. He glanced back at him for a second before returning to his rest. The officer was of average height, but was well built, with dark hair and eyes. He sported a well-trimmed beard and carried himself with an air of relaxed authority. He was wearing full silver colored, plate armor. The armor had red and yellow accents and there was an insignia of a wolf on his breastplate and short cape. Realizing that he was being ignored, the officer sighed and plopped down next to him on the riverbank.
The unwanted visitor pulled a flask from his belt and took a swig before wordlessly offering it too him.
He gave the officer a quick glare before returning his gaze to the stream.
"Still remembering last time eh . . . Ain...s...ley," replied the officer emphasizing each syllable of his name in a slightly mocking manner. Ainsley completely ignored this and continued gazing at the stream. He was starting to breathe evenly again.
The officer sighed again, "look, I know that you're not used to wearing armor and training like this, but if you can't master it you will die on the battlefield."
Ainsley felt a small curdle of annoyance and anger in the pit of his stomach. He stood up abruptly and began removing his armor. The officer stood up as well, a confused look on his face.
"What in the three lands are you doing now?" He asked in an exasperated tone. Ainsley ignored him and finished taking off the last piece of his armor. He then drew his sword, took a fighting stance, and pointed it in the officer's direction. The officer raised an eyebrow, "Seriously?" Ainsley just stood in his ready position, his eyes completely serious and focused. "Fine, I suppose I will humor you boy," he said drawing his own sword and taking a relaxed stance. The officers armor glittered in the sunlight and his short cape swayed back and forth in the small breeze.
They stayed like this for several seconds, neither one moving an inch. Ainsley lept forward, and slashed his sword across the officer's chest. The officer reacted quickly, raising his sword and blocking the slash with a metallic clang. The officer quick and experienced, but his armor was slowing him down. Ainsley sprung back a step, crouched, and dashed forward, stabbing at the officer's stomach. The officer ignored the stab that was headed toward his heavily protected stomach and slashed downward at Ainsley's exposed arm and shoulder. Ainsley was anticipating this attack. He swiftly stopped his feint and balanced his sword against his shoulder to block the blow while sidestepping to the right. Ainsley waited for the officer's sword to clang heavily against his own before using his crouched position to nimbly dash behind the him. The officer began to turn, but his arm was not in a good position to attack or defend and his armor was slowing him heavily.
Ainsley tackled the guard from behind, straddling him and pinning him down. He then put the tip of his sword against the back of the officer's neck. The officer lay face down in the dirt, unable to move.
"Alright, you win," the officer announced, his voice muffled by the grass. "You've proven your point, now get off."
Ainsley removed the tip of his sword from the officer's neck and stood upright. He turned back toward the stream and sheathed his sword as the officer got back to his feet. Ainsley felt a sudden sharp pain from the back of his head and crumpled to the ground, his hands shooting up to the source of the pain.
"That my boy, is why you wear armor," The officer said with a chuckle. Ainsley glanced back at him and saw him with his sword resting on his shoulder, a sly smile on his lips. The hilt of the sword was the source of his current pain. "Yes, you are right, you can move much better and faster without armor," the officer began, "but we don't wear it for the mobility, but for the protection." Ainsley glared at him from all fours, were he was still nursing his injured head. The officer ignored him and continued his lecture, "mobility may be important when you are fighting some monster or another person in a fair fight, but the battlefield is hardly a fair place. How do you expect to protect your back and all of your vital points when you are in the heat of a battle surrounded by enemies and barely able to tell friend from foe? Any stray arrow or swing of a weapon would be the death of you if you go to battle without armor. Remember boy, you're not in the forest hunting monsters and animals anymore, this is a war."
Just as the officer finished his lecture, another figure emerged from the trees.
"Lieutenant Luxley the Capta...." The newcomer paused for a second and his eyes scanned the odd scene before him. Ainsley couldn't blame him for hesitating. Lieutenant Luxley was standing over top of an injured soldier bleeding from his head, and there was armor strewn about the bank of the stream. He may have hesitated for a second, but the soldier showed no sign of surprise on his face and quickly recovered. "The Captain is looking for you sir, he would like to discuss the new training regimen."
"Thank you soldier, lead the way." Luxley replied gesturing toward the forest with his free hand. The soldier took one last glance at Ainsley before turning on his heel and heading back into the trees. Luxley sheathed his sword and followed behind the soldier. He stopped at the edge of the trees.
"Get your damn armor on and get back to your training," he said looking back over his shoulder. Luxley then marched into the trees without waiting for a reply. Ainsley sighed and moved to the stream to wash the blood off his leather gloves. He hadn't been hit hard and the bleeding had already stopped. When the blood was rinsed from his gloves, he began to retrieve the armor scattered around in the grass. It was not full fancy and shiny set of plate armor like the officers had been. It was a lighter armor, a chest piece, gauntlets, boots, and a helmet, complete with chain-mail underneath. He glanced back toward the trees before starting the long process of re-donning his armor. He was really starting to wonder if this training would be worth it.
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