The training courtyard in the Mercenary Quarter was an expanse of fine and stained sand, bordered on three sides with the fourth left open to the rest of the Quarter. It was not uncommon for passerby to stop and watch drills or practice spars, and I later found out it was a means of false transparency and recruitment. One of the walls of the courtyard was an entrance to the Low Knight's barracks, the actual Crown appointed boots on the ground law keepers, which were completely separate from the baron and his men. One of the walls held a drinking trough and a well-used first aid session, where stained bandages littered the sand around a small pavilion. And the final wall, where the Instructor Phillip Blackrest now stood, was lined with practice weapons, including several exotic weapons, such as the spool of colored ribbon.

"Oi, Kid!" Blackrest boomed out across the courtyard, snapping me from my thoughts. I had trouble maintaining eye-contact with him, due to his imposing eye-patch and horrific battle scars lining his face and neck. "What do you know of ribbon fighting?"

The question took me aback. While attempting to ignore the unsightly visage, I gave a delaying answer.

"Not much?" I replied, somewhat confused at where he was taking this. If I knew how to fight, would I have been brought here? I was beginning to have second thoughts about declining knives. The ribbon was sounding like more and more of a production the more I learned. I wondered why Esmerelda had gone along with the decision in the first place; surely she knew all of what the ribbon entailed.

"Pfah! If I'm gonna show ya..." he grumbled, before he shouted, "Then why'd ya choose it?!" He began pacing the sparring weapons pointing out several alternatives. "If you don't wanna spill blood, a mace coulda worked. Or a blackjack... A blow to the back of the neck or temple works just fine, no matter yer strength."

I winced at the descriptor. From personal experience, I knew he was right. A foe that was unprepared for the strike was often felled, though not always non-lethally and not always bloodlessly. He had a point though, that a mace was easier to learn, though more difficult to hide. What he failed to consider due to his ignorance was that my false arm was already far more lethal than any bludgeon. I had no incentive to carry a mace or blackjack. Before I protested though, Esmerelda stepped in once again.

"Phillip, dear," Esmerelda almost cooed. "Why are you still trying to get out of demonstrating the ribbon? You already said you would."

He growled, catching the eye of several trainees who were watching on amused. He grimaced and spat. "And I will. But I just don't see why ya'd want it... Nobody uses 'em--" he coughed "-well, nobody seriously uses 'em."

"Please, Phillip..." Esmerelda said. "They embody grace. I can think of no better weapon skill for a young girl to take on, especially one who can already defend themselves."

"That right?" he said, glancing towards me with speculation and doubt. "That slip of a girl can defend herself? Been in fights before?"

"Yes," Esmerelda said. I worried she would recall the three dead muggers that I had left in my wake the previous night, but fortunately she did not; that likely would have been uncouth.

"Then why'd you bring her here?"

"Is it so wrong to seek out my favorite weapons trainer for company?" Esmerelda asked, batting her eyelashes.

"Well," he coughed again. "Suppose it isn't touch much outside of... Crown, I don't even know where's it taught. You sure I can't train ya on using small blades?" he asked, prodding an entire shelf loaded with wooden knives of all sorts, including the dagger he had shown before."

"Just do it already!" one of the knights shouted at Phillip. "We're tired of you dilly-dallying. You gonna dance or not?!"

"Shut it!" Phillip snapped in his growling voice. "Me n' the lady are discussin'."

"That's what he calls it," another of the knights scoffed. Phillip's face flushed in either anger or embarrassment, or possibly both.

"You volunteerin' to spar?" Phillip growled at the outspoken knight.

"Nah, just here to watch," the knight replied casually.

"What I thought..." Phillip grumbled, before turning back to Esmerelda and myself, showing us the spool of ribbon. The ribbon itself was two fingers wide, and as thick as a fingernail. It was maybe six feet long, and attached at the base to a wooden grip which served as a spool. The ribbon was made of some sort of linen like silk, and gleamed a gray-yellow. "Well, this here's a fightin' ribbon. On the shorter side, but it serves well enough here. If this is what you wanna fight with, you'll end up gettin' a better one, I'm sure."

"Why keep such a low quality tool?" Esmerelda asked, frowning at the ribbon in disdain. I wondered if she had experience with the weapon type.

"Ha." He gestured with his spool of ribbon. "It's cuz we don't typically train with them here."

"Why keep one here if that's the case?" Esmerelda asked. "Training on such a sub-par example cannot grow talent."

"Well, it's not here to give the boys weapons mastery of it. It's cuz every once in a while some fool tries fightin' a knight off with one of these exotic types, an' we'd be godslickin' cunts if we didn't prepare our charges for it. You still wanna do this? Even after you've seen it?"

"Please, Phillip," Esmerelda said with a coy smile. "While the tool may be lacking, do not undersell yourself. I'm sure you can make it work, at least this time."

Phillip's cheeks took on a minor flush, and he cleared his throat. "If we're gonna do this, I need a partner. Else I'll look the fool dancin' and wavin' this around."

As word spread of the impending demonstration, knights began to gather at the edges of the training yard, their armor glinting menacingly in the weak sunlight. Laughter and crude jests filled the air, and I could see the anticipation in their expressions. Unfortunately, their good moods could easily be construed as demeaning.

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Phillip glowered at the on watchers , "Oi!" he snapped. "Who's gonna get their asses whipped by yer's truly?"

Several of the men shook their heads ruefully, but none of them stepped forward.

"Come now," Blackrest growled, his voice laced with impatience as he surveyed the yard-rats before him. "Which one of you has the courage to face me in this little exhibition?"

His challenge was met with averted gazes and shuffling feet, the yard-rats' reluctance plain for all to see. It was not surprising; they knew full well the reputation that preceded the scarred instructor. To face him in combat, even in a demonstration, was a daunting prospect.

"Is this truly the best Southbridge has to offer?" Blackrest sneered, his frustration mounting as he surveyed the cowering youths. "A pack of craven whelps too afraid to test their mettle against an old man?"

His words stung, but the yard-rats remained unmoved, their fear of being cut down by Blackrest's skill outweighing any indignation at his taunts. A heavy tension settled over the courtyard like a shroud, smothering any remaining traces of merriment as the gathered knights shifted uneasily, their amusement replaced with a growing sense of unease.

"Enough of this nonsense!" Blackrest barked, his tone seething with barely-contained fury as he slammed a fist into his open palm. The sound echoed through the courtyard, a sharp crack that reverberated off the surrounding walls and sent a shiver down my spine. "If none of you have the spine to face me, then I'll pick one of you at random!"

Several men coughed and shuffled their feet, while others playfully pushed their comrades forward, only for those same comrades to lean back and merge with the gathering on-lookers. I had to wonder, why were they all so hesitant to spar with Instructor Blackrest. Was it the man, or the ribbon that was scaring them away? Just who had Esmerelda convinced to train me?

Blackrest was about to point one of the onlookers out, when movement caught his eye, coming from the Mercenary Quarter. He almost looked relieved. Several of us turned to see what drew his gaze.

A familiar girl entered from the Merc Quarther with a boisterous laugh. All eyes turned towards the entrance, and I saw her – Sir Kate Guardson, the Captain's daughter. She strode into the yard with purpose, her tall, stocky frame exuding confidence. Her bluish skin seemed to shimmer in the sunlight, and her bluish-blonde hair was pulled back into a tight ponytail, revealing her startlingly cyan eyes.

My guts squirmed at her sight; I remembered her carrying me when I had been too weak to walk. I also remembered her collaring me, and treating me like a pet. What was she doing here? I wondered.

The chatter of the gathered knights died down as Kate approached, her determined gaze sweeping over the scene before her. She appeared unfazed by the disruption in her usual training routine, but an air of anticipation swirled around her like a charged storm cloud.

"Sir Kate," Blackrest called out, his voice firm but carrying a hint of hope. "I see you have arrived just in time."

"Have I? I heard your ruckus while still out in the Quarter," Kate replied, her eyes lingering on me before she finished walking towards him. "Just what're you shouting about now, old man?"

"Ah, well," Blackrest hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck as he glanced at the onlookers. "I was asked to demonstrate a weapon, and these louts seem to be somewhat... reluctant."

"Reluctant?" Kate echoed, her lips quirking into a faint smile as she studied the cowering yard-rats. "Or simply afraid?" she finished as she latched her eyes onto the ribbon. "I didn't know you danced."

"I don't," Phillip said, chagrined. "But I'm a weapons master. I can at least use them."

"True enough," Kate conceded. "So you need a sparring partner, and none of these other cowards are up to it?" she grinned. "And who, or why, might I ask, are you demonstrating it at all."

"For his lady friends!" one of the knights barked, causing several of the men to laugh.

"Quiet!" Phillip snapped.

Kate cocked half a grin and gestured towards myself and Esmerelda, almost winking. "That would be them, then?" She frowned when her eyes lingered on me. "Seems somewhat young for you."

"Not her!" Phillip snapped. "I'm doing this as a favor for the other one."

"Ah... and she wants you to teach her... friend?" Kate trailed off, unsure of how to describe my relationship with Esmerelda.

"Aye."

"Taking on a new pupil then?" Kate asked. "If that's the case, I'll need to spend more time in the training yard!" she laughed, her eyes once more lingering on me. Did she recognize me? I feared. I was unsure how she would have, but she was definitely giving me an undue amount of attention. It left me ill at ease.

"Ha! You already live here," Phillip barked. "Now, you ready to start?"

"Just a moment," Kate said, approaching me. "I would want the name of the girl I'm trying to impress first."

I blushed and hung my head, stammering. Had I introduced myself to Kate before? Would she recognize my name? I could hardly give her a false name, not with Esmerelda standing there. Why had I been so foolish as to introduce myself with my actual name at Ma'Ritz?! Why was I even there?!

Esmerelda nudged me from the side, "I think she likes you." I could hear the smile on Esmerelda's voice. "Well? Don't just stand there blushing, answer!"

"I--I'd rather not," I said.

"Hm," Esmerelda spoke on my behalf, after Kate's lingering silence. "Perhaps if you do well, Sir Kate."

Kate chewed on her lower lip and nodded slowly. "Then I shall." She turned back to Blackrest.

"Done with your flirtin'?" Blackrest asked.

"Depends," Kate scoffed. "You ready to lose?" she asked, striding towards the weapons wall and pulling a wooden bastard sword from a barrel.

"We'll see 'bout that girl,” Phillip said, sending the ribbon out from the spool twirling around him.

Blessings: Rank (1/9)

* Body: 65

* Mind: 75

* Spirit: 49

Talents:

* Athleticism (3/9):

* Climbing I (3/9)

* Featherlight I (3/9)

* Inversion (2/9)

* Stealth I (6/9)

* Trackless Tracks I (3/9)

* Area Coverage (5/9)

* Alchemical Immunity (ineligible for growth)

* Eschiver I (1/9)

* Evasion I (1/9)

* Impending Sense (1/9)

* Lucky Break (1/9)

Spells:

* Illusion I (5/9)

* Touch (8/9)

* Guise of the Kitsune (4/9)

* Closed

Gifts:

* Obsession (3/9)

* Closed (0/9)

* Closed (0/9)