Trouble Seems to Follow Chapter 7
Monday, June 30th, 2014 12:08 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sleetgeekartist posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
mindcrackloveAN: Sorry for the long wait everyone! I just couldn't get myself motivated enough to finish this as quickly as I've done other chapters. My excuse for why Etho and Beef are fencing in this chapter is the fact that Canada has a french influence and fencing was regulated by the French (and the Italians). My actual reason is the fact that fencing is the only swordfighting I know.
“Same old, same old. I’ve been slacking off in training, clearly, if my little brother is a better shot than I am.” Beef mussed up Etho’s hair, having hopped over the fence.
“Well then, you need these more than I do.” Etho handed Beef the throwing knives. “Start back here, show me what you’ve got.”
Beef laughed, figuring this was all payback for the years he spent training Etho, using those exact words more times than either of them could count. He took his stance on the training block, fifteen feet away from the target. Thump, thump, thump, thump, clack! Three bull’s eyes, one within the kill zone, and one that bounced off the other blades and fell to the floor. “You really have been slacking off.” Etho laughed, going to pick the knives out of the target. “Here, scoot over, let me show you how it’s done.” He mounted the block, bumping Beef out of the way. Thump, thump, thump, thump, thunk! All bull’s eyes, all accurate.
“Fine then, show off.” Beef rolled his eyes, smirking. “Have you gotten better than me at combat, then? Grab a sword.”
Etho hopped out of the target practice area, grabbing a pair of wooden practice swords. He tossed one to Beef, who caught it by the handle and dropped into a typical right-handed sword-fighting stance. Etho mirrored his brother’s actions, standing at the typical distance for a regulated sword fight. “House rules, no biting. On my word.”
“Alright, bossypants. Ready.” Beef answered, spinning the tip of his blade as a distraction.
“En garde. Fight.” Etho began the duel, stepping forward and thrusting as was his usual first move in any match.
Beef parried, feinting just off of Etho’s shoulder and lunging at his legs. Etho retreated, parrying the blow. While he was distracted, Beef disengaged Etho’s blade and thrust for his chest. Etho managed to parry again, switching hands. “I never knew you were ambidextrous.”
“Just learned this morning!” Etho responded, lunging again, this time at Beef’s chest. He was parried, but a simple disengage drove the point home. “Touché, brother.”
“Touché indeed.” Beef laughed, rising out of stance. “It seems you have exceeded my skills.”
“They don’t call me House Canada’s best for nothing, brother.” Etho replied, grabbing a bottle of water. He opened it between his teeth, dropping the cork as he poured the water over himself as relief from his sweat.
Etho yanked the throwing knives out of the practice target. All bull’s eyes, each blade only a few millimeters away from each other. Perfect as usual.
Turning back to shoot again, he noticed Beef, leaning on the fence with pride in his eyes. “Hey, brother.”
“Same old, same old. I’ve been slacking off in training, clearly, if my little brother is a better shot than I am.” Beef mussed up Etho’s hair, having hopped over the fence.
“Well then, you need these more than I do.” Etho handed Beef the throwing knives. “Start back here, show me what you’ve got.”
Beef laughed, figuring this was all payback for the years he spent training Etho, using those exact words more times than either of them could count. He took his stance on the training block, fifteen feet away from the target. Thump, thump, thump, thump, clack! Three bull’s eyes, one within the kill zone, and one that bounced off the other blades and fell to the floor. “You really have been slacking off.” Etho laughed, going to pick the knives out of the target. “Here, scoot over, let me show you how it’s done.” He mounted the block, bumping Beef out of the way. Thump, thump, thump, thump, thunk! All bull’s eyes, all accurate.
“Fine then, show off.” Beef rolled his eyes, smirking. “Have you gotten better than me at combat, then? Grab a sword.”
Etho hopped out of the target practice area, grabbing a pair of wooden practice swords. He tossed one to Beef, who caught it by the handle and dropped into a typical right-handed sword-fighting stance. Etho mirrored his brother’s actions, standing at the typical distance for a regulated sword fight. “House rules, no biting. On my word.”
“Alright, bossypants. Ready.” Beef answered, spinning the tip of his blade as a distraction.
“En garde. Fight.” Etho began the duel, stepping forward and thrusting as was his usual first move in any match.
Beef parried, feinting just off of Etho’s shoulder and lunging at his legs. Etho retreated, parrying the blow. While he was distracted, Beef disengaged Etho’s blade and thrust for his chest. Etho managed to parry again, switching hands. “I never knew you were ambidextrous.”
“Just learned this morning!” Etho responded, lunging again, this time at Beef’s chest. He was parried, but a simple disengage drove the point home. “Touché, brother.”
“Touché indeed.” Beef laughed, rising out of stance. “It seems you have exceeded my skills.”
“They don’t call me House Canada’s best for nothing, brother.” Etho replied, grabbing a bottle of water. He opened it between his teeth, dropping the cork as he poured the water over himself as relief from his sweat.
--- Anders stared at the checkered board in front of him, finding no conceivable way to save his king from Zisteau’s well-organized pawns. He glanced up at the demonic king in question, who was spinning a captured white pawn between his cloven fingers. It truly amazed Anders that he had managed to become allies with the Lord of Fire and Darkness Himself.
Zisteau caught Anders staring at him. “It’s still your move, Viking. Unless, of course, you’ve forfeited.” The aforementioned Lord smirked, nudging Anders’s foot with his own.
“I’d never forfeit, a Viking never surrenders.” Anders stammered out, flustered in the face of the immense power Zisteau held. It was thrilling, being in the same room as what felt like a blazing beacon of immense strength, even if only for a moment. Even brought to the same height from their seats at the chessboard, a passerby could clearly see that the swine in the black crown was the most powerful in the room, and Anders craved that power. He’d seen how easily Zisteau could control the pig-men who traversed between their world and the Overworld, the power of his armies, the sheer strength. And this being, this god, was Anders’s ally. “No, a Viking would never surrender.”
“Then make your move, the board is waiting.” Zisteau carefully stitched a double meaning in that command. The two men knew that something more severe than repeated attacks on the Dalanian border would be required to ensure success, King Davion was a better strategist on the field than either of them anticipated. Anders let his hand drift over the board, indecisively hovering over his remaining five pieces. The black bishop was in the perfect position to take his king, but it was also in the perfect position to be taken by his pawn. A letter had arrived by arrow a few days ago, an offer of services from the infamous House Canada. Anders rested his hand on the white pawn. An assassin could not target King Davion, he was too quick witted and far too protected. Anders lifted the pawn off the board. He knew, however, of an easily targeted ally to the Dalanian king whose death would make the war so much easier.
The white pawn took the black bishop.
Anders grinned, leaning back in his chair. “Your move.”
One of the black knights took the white king. “Checkmate.” Zisteau responded, grinning smugly. Anders stared at the board in disbelief, having been certain that he would have won. His eyes darted over the board, only now noticing that any piece could have taken the king. Blood boiling at this manipulative play, Anders flipped the table. Zisteau dashed out of the way, surprised at this display of anger. He quickly ordered some nearby pig guards to clean up the table, crossing the room to address Anders’s outburst.
Anders turned away from the window, rushing out of the room. He stepped into his aviary, calling for his best messenger hawk. Anders quickly scribed a request for House Canada, one hundred diamonds and lordship in Nordenne for all members of House Canada in exchange for the life of Princess Aureylian of the Light and Sky. Anders rolled the message and slid it into the tube fastened to the hawk’s back. “Fly quickly, to House Canada.” He released the bird through the nearby window, watching it fly off.
Zisteau caught Anders staring at him. “It’s still your move, Viking. Unless, of course, you’ve forfeited.” The aforementioned Lord smirked, nudging Anders’s foot with his own.
“I’d never forfeit, a Viking never surrenders.” Anders stammered out, flustered in the face of the immense power Zisteau held. It was thrilling, being in the same room as what felt like a blazing beacon of immense strength, even if only for a moment. Even brought to the same height from their seats at the chessboard, a passerby could clearly see that the swine in the black crown was the most powerful in the room, and Anders craved that power. He’d seen how easily Zisteau could control the pig-men who traversed between their world and the Overworld, the power of his armies, the sheer strength. And this being, this god, was Anders’s ally. “No, a Viking would never surrender.”
“Then make your move, the board is waiting.” Zisteau carefully stitched a double meaning in that command. The two men knew that something more severe than repeated attacks on the Dalanian border would be required to ensure success, King Davion was a better strategist on the field than either of them anticipated. Anders let his hand drift over the board, indecisively hovering over his remaining five pieces. The black bishop was in the perfect position to take his king, but it was also in the perfect position to be taken by his pawn. A letter had arrived by arrow a few days ago, an offer of services from the infamous House Canada. Anders rested his hand on the white pawn. An assassin could not target King Davion, he was too quick witted and far too protected. Anders lifted the pawn off the board. He knew, however, of an easily targeted ally to the Dalanian king whose death would make the war so much easier.
The white pawn took the black bishop.
Anders grinned, leaning back in his chair. “Your move.”
One of the black knights took the white king. “Checkmate.” Zisteau responded, grinning smugly. Anders stared at the board in disbelief, having been certain that he would have won. His eyes darted over the board, only now noticing that any piece could have taken the king. Blood boiling at this manipulative play, Anders flipped the table. Zisteau dashed out of the way, surprised at this display of anger. He quickly ordered some nearby pig guards to clean up the table, crossing the room to address Anders’s outburst.
Anders turned away from the window, rushing out of the room. He stepped into his aviary, calling for his best messenger hawk. Anders quickly scribed a request for House Canada, one hundred diamonds and lordship in Nordenne for all members of House Canada in exchange for the life of Princess Aureylian of the Light and Sky. Anders rolled the message and slid it into the tube fastened to the hawk’s back. “Fly quickly, to House Canada.” He released the bird through the nearby window, watching it fly off.
no subject
Date: Monday, June 30th, 2014 07:55 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: Monday, June 30th, 2014 11:26 pm (UTC)I love this story and im very interested to read more. <3
no subject
Date: Tuesday, July 1st, 2014 01:15 am (UTC)And also, your second to last para graph was repeated :3
no subject
Date: Tuesday, July 1st, 2014 03:13 am (UTC)no subject
Date: Tuesday, July 1st, 2014 04:23 am (UTC)no subject
Date: Tuesday, July 1st, 2014 04:30 am (UTC)no subject
Date: Tuesday, July 1st, 2014 04:35 am (UTC)fencing is not a form of combat it is a sport. Even with out the armour, it would be nearly impossible to kill someone with the toadstickers those people call swords, not to mention that they cant stop an actual blade or go through any armor at all. If these people were actually supposed to be trained in combat, then they would be actually sword fighting, not poking each other with wimpy metal sticks that can barely be called rapiers. (Sorry if you are a fencing fan and I offended you, it is a cool sport, but it is a sport, nothing more (and defiantly not a form of combat))
Moving on!
ohhh, intrigue! the whole Magic v.s. no Magic thing is still annoying me, but whatever.
I wonder what the Canadians will do about Aurey? I hope it doesnt end in her death, as that would make the M v. N M permanent, but whatever!
good story, keep going!
no subject
Date: Tuesday, July 1st, 2014 04:46 am (UTC)no subject
Date: Tuesday, July 1st, 2014 05:00 am (UTC)that's good. I really dont like those kind of stories, it never makes that sense how the mundanes can actually fight back.
Perhaps, but going with the story is a good thing, it improves the story. Maybe have Aurey win the fight, and then officially join Vechs, as well as provide him with anti-magic shield(ing)?
no subject
Date: Tuesday, July 1st, 2014 05:29 am (UTC)i have a major plot twist in mind that involves almost everyone, it's going down in the next chapter. just going to warn you that if you're a big fan of etho or nebtho it might cause some feels. if not, then at least brace yourself for a feelsy situation
no subject
Date: Tuesday, July 1st, 2014 06:40 am (UTC)no subject
Date: Sunday, July 27th, 2014 04:51 am (UTC)no subject
Date: Sunday, August 3rd, 2014 06:29 am (UTC)no subject
Date: Saturday, September 6th, 2014 12:49 am (UTC)It's good to know then, your disappearance at the time made me worried and has been at the back of my mind since then.
Sorry for the one month reply, I didn't even think to check this post again but as you can tell, I have not created an account yet(assuming you get a notification whenever someone replies to you, if you have an account).
-shaziru
no subject
Date: Saturday, September 6th, 2014 12:50 am (UTC)no subject
Date: Saturday, October 4th, 2014 09:40 am (UTC)-shaziru
no subject
Date: Saturday, October 11th, 2014 09:18 am (UTC)-shaziru
no subject
Date: Saturday, October 11th, 2014 04:43 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: Friday, October 17th, 2014 08:05 am (UTC)