Chapter 55: The Sparring Ring

Having a little time to kill, Beniter snuck into the armory. He had learned about the place when Felux pointed it out on their way to dinner. It had immediately piqued Beniter's curiosity and he was excited to check out the quality and make of the weapons, especially considering his experience in blacksmithing.

The immediate chamber opened up to display a showroom of armored displays. Passing by a retired cannon, Beniter gawked at the assortment of weapons hanging on the walls: spears, axes, daggers, staves, maces, lances, halberds, quarterstaffs, bows, arrows, scythes, crossbows, throwing knives, and the most impressive of all, swords.

Examining an impressive damascus steel sword with a golden handle, Beniter jumped when he heard a voice say, "Ye've an interest in the brotherhood of knights?"

In fright, Beniter saw Lurois standing in the doorway. Lurois said, "I saw ye sneakin yer way in."

Beniter bowed, face flushed from being caught. He said, "Forgive me governor. I couldn't help myself."

Lurois joined Beniter's side, saying, "There's nothin to forgive. Ye've a healthy bout of curiosity in ye if yer searching out these relics."

Beniter said, "I thought this was the armory."

"Part of it. This part here's the gallery for the brotherhood."

"What's the brotherhood?"

Lurois explained, "Brotherhood of knights, they'd be the best of the best. An elite number of skilled fellows, true in the sword as true they'd be in life. Honorable fellows. Yer welcome to take a look anytime."

Beniter smiled, "Thank you, governor."

"Drop them formalities. On the battlefield it's yer skill, not yer rank that gives ye the right to respect."

"Yes gov-… thank you."

Lurois moved to the centerpiece in the collection; a giant, full body armor set. Complete with dents and scrapes from battles.

Lurois asked, "Ye like it?"

Beniter nodded, admiring the detailed armor, he said, "It's amazing. You can see the battle scars from previous battles. The armor itself must be so heavy."

"It's me armor back in my tourni days."

Beniter's eyes widen as he slowly turns to look at Lurois. He had thought the man was impressive before, but now, it was like he was seeing him in a whole new light.

Lurois said, "Yer Felux's apprentice, ain't ye?"

"Yes," Beniter nodded.

"How about we test yer skills? Ye can take a turn with the other apprentices in the field and see what real trainin looks like. What say ye?"

Beniter stood at stiff attention, saying, "I'd like that very much, sir! Though I just started training, and I'm not very good at real combat. I've only spared against Felux and the other knights we traveled with."

Lurois raised an eyebrow, saying, "ONLY against Felux ye say? I'm thinkin ye'll be just fine."

༻✧༺

On the knight's training ground, Beniter watched the apprentices working together in unison, practicing the routines set by their commanders. Their impressive movements made Beniter smile with excitement. He wanted nothing more than to get out there and join them. Most seemed to be younger than Beniter but Beniter did manage to spot a few boys who looked to be around his age or older. It wasn't long before one of the knight captains approached him and Lurois.

Captain McClary said, "Lurois, what brings ye out to the field?"

Lurois said, "Showin Beniter here about the trainin."

McClary asked, "Wantin to be a knight, are ye boy?"

"Yes Sir, I'm apprenticed to Sir Felux."

McClary's eyebrows flew up, saying, "Felux Lothar?"

"You know him?"

McClary turned to Lurois and said, "I'd dinnae ken he'd taken an apprentice."

Lurois said, "I'd been thinkin we see about settin up some sparrin with the other apprentices."

"Aye, let's." McClary smiled, "It'd be a joy to skid Felux's boy."

Beniter almost bounced with joy. He was all too eager to compete against other boys around his age.

༻✧༺

In the sparring ring, Beniter stood across from his opponent, Gareth. They wore light armor and wielded wooden swords. Gareth was a little younger than Beniter, but he had been in training for over three years. Although slightly taller, Gareth was more lanky and did not match Beniter's muscular build.

Beniter told Gareth, "I don't have very much experience, but I'm honored to be here."

Gareth nodded. He was the type to be choosy about his words.

McClary and Lurois stood on the sideline of the ring with a few other onlooking boys.

McClary said, "Begin."

The boys immediately began to engage in battle. Gareth would strike as Beniter blocked. Keen to show his training, Beniter launched an impressive swing but with clever footing, Gareth dodged and performed a counter strike. The blow stopped just before hitting Beniter, ending the round.

McClary said, "Round one, Gareth."

"Yeah, Gareth!" Reed said. He was one of the onlooking boys. The rest of the gathered group cheered.

Gareth nodded, acknowledging the support from his adoring fans, before preparing to start the next round.

Once both boys had taken position, McClary said, "Begin."

Gareth exploded into action and released several quick blows. Beniter dodged and blocked and dodged again.

Patient as a snake, Beniter thought, Wait for the opening.

In a fraction of a second, Gareth adjusted his stance.

There!

Beniter lunged only to have fallen for Gareth's fake out. Gareth dodged and struck Beniter, ending the match.

Smiling, Beniter thought, This guy is so good!

"Round three, Gareth."

Beniter wanted to cheer along with the other boys. He didn't fault himself for losing, why should he? He had done his best but he didn't have the skills or experience. This boy had had years of training in comparison to Beniter, who had just begun. It was only natural for there to be a large difference in ability. If anything, Beniter felt honored to be able to go up against such a strong opponent.

McClary said, "Reset."

The two boys returned to their starting positions as Felux walked up.

Felux asked, "What's this?"

With a haughty look in his eye, McClary said, "Just a friendly sparring session."

Felux said, "Aye, let's see it."

Beniter gulped. He hadn't expected his mentor to come watch him. The pressure was on now.

"Begin."

Beniter blocked and dodged as Gareth stepped again and spun. With brute strength and a sturdy stance, Beniter blocked the full force of the spin attack.

Surprised, Gareth was pushed back by the recoil of his halted blow. Seeing that the tables turned, Beniter began to strike as Gareth moved to the defensive. However, it didn't take long before Gareth regained his bearings and resumed the offensive.

With excellent showmanship, Gareth performed a fast dodge of Beniter's sword, only to change midswing and strike Beniter, ending the match.

McClary announced, "Winner, Gareth."

"Wait a moment," Felux said before anyone could begin celebrating. "Let's have one more round. Beniter, over here."

Beniter approached Felux, worried that he let his mentor down. He said, "Yes Sir?"

Felux said, "You're stronger than he, and you've got a better stance."

Beniter said, "I only know the basics, he knows a ton of fancy combos."

"None of them fancy move's decides a winner. A simple move will strike harder than any fancy combos if you've done it right."

"But…"

"You can take him," Felux encouraged. "Use your strength. Break his stance and be watchin his right side. That's where he's weakest."

"Yes Sir."

Felux said, "Reset. Let's see it again."

The two boys took their places.

McClary said, "Begin."

The battle begun and Beniter immediately flew into action. His movements were simple, but powerful. Slice. Block. Thrust. Repeat.

Slice. Block. Thrust. Repeat.

It was the basic moves that every knight was taught. Reed called out, "Dude! He's just doing the same moves! Easy to predict. Gareth, you got this!"

With careful narrowed eyes, McClary commented, "I wouldn't be so sure about that. Watch."

At first, Gareth blocked well, but it didn't take long after the continuous relentless attacks that his block began to falter. The assault never let up, never slowed down, and never weakened. How Beniter was keeping up this pace was a mystery to the onlookers.

Eventually, after Gareth's breathing became labored and his block started to shake, Beniter's thrust made it past Gareth's defenses and landed the intended blow.

McClary said, "Winner, Beniter."

The onlooking boys were shocked. Reed said, "What happened? How did Gareth lose?"

Felux said, "Got tired."

McClary clarified, "Beniter's attacks're relentless. He never gave Gareth a chance fer fightin back."

Lurois said, "Play it right and a stong endurance'll easily win over skill."

Smiling, Beniter held out his hand for Gareth to shake. Beniter said, "That was a good fight. I wish I knew your moves."

Gareth gladly shook Beniter's hand with a firm grip and said, "Aye. I wish I'd yer strength."

Beniter shrugged, "I grew up in a blacksmith's forge."

Walking towards his friends, Gareth turned to Beniter and said, "We're goin to the river later to sport frogs. You wanna come?"

Beniter looked at Felux, his eyes pleading for permission to go. Felux nodded.

Beniter said, "I'd love to!"

Gareth asked, "Who's that?"

Beniter said, "My mentor, Felux Lothar."

"Felux Lothar!" Gareth's jaw dropped. He turned to Reed and whispered, "That's Felux Lothar."

Reed said, "Felux Lothar! No way."

Beniter shrugged, asking, "What's the big deal?"

Gareth, who was not the type to give speeches, began to gush, "Dinnae ye ken? Felux Lothar's the greatest knight in the brotherhood. Maybe the greatest of all time. He and Delrik, the Ragdorian, a've won more tournis than anyone in history. He's beaten every knight who's ever faced him in single combat."

Beniter leaned back slightly and said, "I didn't know Felux was that famous."

Reed said, "Yer SO lucky bein his apprentice."

The boys glanced over at Felux in awe.

Meanwhile, McClary turned to Felux and said, "When's our sparring match next?"

Felux said, "You're itchin fer another beatin?"

McClary said, "Already claimin victory, are ye? Yer so cavalier."

Felux snickered, "Prove me wrong."

It was that precise attitude that got Felux his initial fame. "Prove me", had been his mantra, and as people took up the challenge, they began to realize that Felux Lothar could back up whatever claim he made.