Chapter 10: Training

 The trio had begun their trek the next day, taking it easier than usual. They were all aching in different places, and the new packs and added supplies made hiking that much harder.

   Ilben was feeling useless. First, Owain and Elisa had each killed two of the attacking bandits two days prior. Then, Elisa had found a way for them to make money, and Owain had led them to escape.

   What had Ilben done? He had thrown a club at a horse, and luckily killed the rider in the process. Also, he had played the part of a fake bettor. Still, his achievements seemed juvenile in comparison.

   As they walked, he thought: What can I do to contribute well?

   He was thinking about it when they reached a large clearing in the forest they were walking through. It was a spacious open space with plenty of room to settle down and rest. 

   “Let’s rest here guys,” Owain said.

   They all nodded thankfully and set their packs on the ground. Ilben looked between Elisa and Owain, noticing that they both had daggers strapped to their wastes from the bandits. That was it!

   Ilben stood up, suddenly excited. “Guys, I need you to fight.”

   “What on earth has gotten into you, Ilben?” Owain grumbled.

   “Look, I have been feeling useless, and I want you guys to teach me to fight with a dagger. First though, you guys need to fight and show me who is better,” Ilben said.

   “That wouldn’t be very safe. Besides, we just sat down to rest, why would we do it right now? Also, we should do it with a short stick to avoid injury,” Elisa said.

   “Fine, we can wait, but I still want you guys to show me.”

   They nodded their assent and then laid back on their packs and fell asleep. Ilben couldn’t sleep, though.

  He stared up at the swaying branches, noting their beautiful leaves, and rich colored bark. The majority of western Talora Kal–or Kelt–was made up of wooded areas and fields. They had spent most of the journey today going through long stretches of field, but they had found the forest later in the journey. 

   Although Ilben was probably as tired as Owain and Elisa, he was just too excited for the training he was going to recieve.

   When Owain and Elisa woke up, Ilben was already ready. “Alright guys, you ready?”

   “Ilben. We just woke up, and you want us to fight. Go and do some pushups or something while we get ready,” Owain said.

   “Fine,” Ilben went over and started his pushups.

   He wasn’t the strongest kid, but he could get twenty reps; nothing like Owain’s thirty-five. When he finished that, he did a plank for a minute and then ran over to his companions.

   “Ready?”

   “Ilben, you are nagging like a child. But fine–we’ll fight,” Owain said.

   Elisa groaned as she got up. “Let’s do this.”

   They walked to the center of the clearing and grabbed two short but sturdy branches. Ilben walked up, so he could explain the rules.

   “Alright, you guys are going to fight till one of you has your sticks in a killing position to the other.”

   Ilben stood there, a wide grin on his face. Then he lifted the wooden rod he was holding to signal the beginning of the battle. Instantly, they assumed fighting positions and circled each other. Ilben noted how they seemed to study each other's fighting positions and carefully calculate their first move.

   Owain edged forward, and Elisa flinched. Elisa switched her grip on her weapon, and Owain pranced back. Then, they were going at each other in a twirl of moves. It reminded Ilben of two dancers; following each other but careful of those around them.

   They crossed sticks, once, twice, and then parted. They stared each other down, and Owain smirked. Again, they clashed, weapons shaking as they slapped and jabbed.

   Finally, Owain grabbed Elisa’s arm and flipped her over his shoulder, making her land hard on her back. Her stick fell around a foot from her grasp, and she could do nothing. 

   Owain leaned down and pressed his branch to her neck. “Do you submit?”

   Elisa rolled her eyes. “Yes.”

   Ilben laughed and clapped his hands. “Dang. That sure was impressive!”

   “I never cease to amaze, do I?” Owain said, jokingly.

   “So, that means you should teach me, Owain,” Ilben decided.

   “Well, do I have to?” Owain asked.

   “Yes.”

   “Alright, let’s get to work.”

   Immediately, Owain had him up and training. “First, let’s talk about fighting stance.”

   Owain shifted himself so that his left leg was forward, and his left arm was extended toward Ilben. His impromptu weapon was held near his side back from his body, with the tip pointed at Ilben. 

   “Here is just one stance you can use, and it is useful for grabbing your opponent and stabbing them repeatedly,” Owain said. “Just like this.” 

   He rushed forward, shoved Ilben backward, and stabbed at him, stopping the stick right before it would have hit him. Ilben stumbled and regained his footing, surprised at the sudden attack.

   “Now,” Owain said. “Naturally, you should be able to defend yourself well pretty soon.”

   Ilben nodded. 

   “Alright. Now, if you are preparing for a battle, study your opponent first, try and figure out their preferences so you can have a better chance at fighting them. You might have noticed Elisa and I doing this.”

   “Yeah, it was one of the only things I noticed,” Ilben said.

   “Ok, well I want you to copy the stance I showed you.”

   So Ilben stepped forward, arm out, knife hand back. Owain took the stance as well. 

   “We will begin in three seconds. Remember, study my movements,” Owain said.

   Then they began. They circled each other, Owain obviously giving him time to get the hang of the stance and figure him out. Ilben was uncomfortable with the way he was supposed to shift and just move as a fighter. He didn’t have long to contemplate it, however, as Owain dashed forward. Ilben ducked out of the way of the first grapple, and swung at Owain. With practiced ease, Owain deflected the blow and struck out with his leg, tripping Ilben, and pressed his stick to his neck.

   Owain helped him up. “That was really good, Ilben! Your stance was great on your first try and your reflexes were speedy.”

   Even so, Ilben was frustrated. Owain had easily defeated him in seconds. Ilben got up and dusted himself off, then he picked up his stick. 

   Owain walked back to his starting position. “Again.”

   This time, Ilben focused less on how little he knew, and how much he could know about Owain. He noticed the way Owain guarded his left side with a slight tilt of his body, revealing his uncomfortability with his weaker side. He could afford to leave his right side more exposed because he was right-handed.

   Ilben figured his best chance would be to force Owain to defend his weaker side. So Ilben was the first to attack. He rushed forward, left hand out and reached for Owain. 

   Almost carelessly, Owain grabbed Ilben’s arm and wrenched him, flipping him toward the ground. As he tried to bring his weapon toward Ilben’s throat, Ilben rolled and lashed out with his leg, kicking Owain in the shin. 

   The boy fell to his knees and Ilben rushed to end it. But he grabbed Ilben by the arm, twisted, and pulled him into a headlock with his stick to his throat.

   Gasping for breath, Ilben crumpled to the ground, defeated.

   Although Owain had won, he had actually had to make a concentrated effort to finish it.

   “Man, Ilben. You got way better after just one match.”

   Elisa was clapping. “Definitely. You were more determined and focused than before. You seemed to use the skills you had to make it much harder for Owain. You’re a quick learner.”

   Ilben blushed and couldn’t help but notice the admiration in her voice. 

   “Well, I couldn’t have done it without my outstanding instructors.”

   “Alright, let’s take a short break,” Owain said. 

   Ilben sighed and sat on the ground with a huff. Elisa grabbed the water flask and they drank to their heart's content. Ilben’s heart was pounding and he wiped his skin from the sweat that trickled down. 

    He was proud of his effort and level of success against much better fighters than himself. He had always been a good fighter with passion. He had often beaten boys older than himself in wrestling matches and such.

   Unfortunately, Owain was better at pretty much everything than him, which was a source of jealousy for Ilben. He knew he shouldn’t; Owain was his best friend. 

   He had been resting for around ten minutes before Owain told him to get up. “We are going to go again.”

   Owain grimaced as he and Ilben circled each other. He was embarrassed at how Ilben had forced him to try. He had expected it to be an easy fight, barely worthy of his skills. Strangely, however, Ilben was quickly learning, and it was frustrating Owain.

   He could see Ilben’s unpracticed cadence and rhythm. His friend hadn’t quite got down the stance and his grip on the branch was wavering. Owain waited till he saw Ilben let down his guard just slightly, and then struck. He stabbed toward Ilben's gut, but Ilben dodged and lashed out with his own weapon.

   Owain barely managed to avoid the hit, before jumping back to reassess. Good git! How does he already fight so well?

   Owain growled under his breath before shooting toward Ilben again. This time, Ilben was not quick enough, and Owain rapped him on the arm and chest, winning the match.

   The older boy sighed. “That’s enough for today.”