steel.
“Careful there, Sully. They’re very sharp.” Jasper hurried over to stand beside him. “Take a couple down, get the feel, and use which one you would like to call your own for now.”
“Really?” Sully asked, awed by Jasper’s offer.
“Really.” Jasper took one from the wall and handed it to him.
I watched Sully test out the sword in his hands, the grin never leaving his face. I exchanged glances with Jasper. He knew that this had made Sully’s day, probably made his year, actually. Jasper indulged my friend when it came to boy toys. In the past he had let Sully rummage around in the cellar and discover a lot of the old weapons, but this was the first time he had offered to teach us how to use any of them.
“Brie, let that boy go and come over here.” Jasper reached for another sword, then held it out to her.
She huffed out a big sigh but went over to Jasper anyway. Bones dropped into a chair at the large desk, a relieved look on his face.
“That is one mean-looking sword, Jasper,” Brie said. “Are you sure it is okay if I play with it?”
“Yes, Brie.” Jasper laughed. “It is a mean-looking sword, and yes, you can play with it. If you want to try a different one, feel free to choose.” He turned to me. “Nera, try this one. You may as well have your own too.”
He handed me a sword, and I tested it for weight and balance. “Thanks, this feels pretty good.”
“If everyone is happy with their chosen weapons, how about we go outside and begin.” Jasper signaled to Bones, who led the way.
We followed them to a clear part of the garden and lined up. “This is the boring but essential part of sword training,” Bones began. “It is no good racing off to battle without knowing any of the basics. So, we will start with the proper way to handle your sword. There are two different grips.” He looked up to see if we were following his instructions. “Choose whichever feels best for you. Try this one first. See how I’m holding the sword below the guard, right hand above the left. Make sure your hand is relaxed with the pinkie finger giving the handle the tightest grip. All the other fingers should be a little more relaxed. If you hold too tightly, your arm will tire faster with the tension.”
He moved his hands and held the sword a different way and glanced over at us again. “This is the second grip that you can use. Your right thumb hooked up over the guard. Not the grip to use in serious battle. You are more likely to lose your thumb. Get the feel of both grips, do a few cuts, and choose what works for you best.”
Bones watched us test out the different grips, and when we appeared to have chosen, he continued. “Now onto the foot work. Nera, if you would come here please.”
I walked over to him. He stood behind me, his arms coming around to cover my hands. I ignored the feel of his body leaning into mine and lowered my head so no one would notice the heat that I knew was coloring my cheeks. His foot tapped at mine to get them into the position he wanted before he continued.
“You must watch your weak line. It only takes a small amount of force to unbalance you. Try it with each other. Jasper, could you help me here, please.”
He stepped away from me and did the same with Sully while Jasper helped Brie.
Once we went through our paces and had the general idea, he went onto teach us the primary guards. “We will focus on the four main guards until you master them and then we can go onto the secondary guards. You will use all nine eventually, but I will be more than happy if you only get the first four right before you return to school after the upcoming holidays.”
“Take your places. Brie and Sully with Jasper. Nera, you are with me.” Bones faced me with his sword in his hands and circled, waiting for me to strike. “Remember this: about an inch below your belly button is what we refer to the center of your body. It must be facing your opponent at all times.”
I
“Careful there, Sully. They’re very sharp.” Jasper hurried over to stand beside him. “Take a couple down, get the feel, and use which one you would like to call your own for now.”
“Really?” Sully asked, awed by Jasper’s offer.
“Really.” Jasper took one from the wall and handed it to him.
I watched Sully test out the sword in his hands, the grin never leaving his face. I exchanged glances with Jasper. He knew that this had made Sully’s day, probably made his year, actually. Jasper indulged my friend when it came to boy toys. In the past he had let Sully rummage around in the cellar and discover a lot of the old weapons, but this was the first time he had offered to teach us how to use any of them.
“Brie, let that boy go and come over here.” Jasper reached for another sword, then held it out to her.
She huffed out a big sigh but went over to Jasper anyway. Bones dropped into a chair at the large desk, a relieved look on his face.
“That is one mean-looking sword, Jasper,” Brie said. “Are you sure it is okay if I play with it?”
“Yes, Brie.” Jasper laughed. “It is a mean-looking sword, and yes, you can play with it. If you want to try a different one, feel free to choose.” He turned to me. “Nera, try this one. You may as well have your own too.”
He handed me a sword, and I tested it for weight and balance. “Thanks, this feels pretty good.”
“If everyone is happy with their chosen weapons, how about we go outside and begin.” Jasper signaled to Bones, who led the way.
We followed them to a clear part of the garden and lined up. “This is the boring but essential part of sword training,” Bones began. “It is no good racing off to battle without knowing any of the basics. So, we will start with the proper way to handle your sword. There are two different grips.” He looked up to see if we were following his instructions. “Choose whichever feels best for you. Try this one first. See how I’m holding the sword below the guard, right hand above the left. Make sure your hand is relaxed with the pinkie finger giving the handle the tightest grip. All the other fingers should be a little more relaxed. If you hold too tightly, your arm will tire faster with the tension.”
He moved his hands and held the sword a different way and glanced over at us again. “This is the second grip that you can use. Your right thumb hooked up over the guard. Not the grip to use in serious battle. You are more likely to lose your thumb. Get the feel of both grips, do a few cuts, and choose what works for you best.”
Bones watched us test out the different grips, and when we appeared to have chosen, he continued. “Now onto the foot work. Nera, if you would come here please.”
I walked over to him. He stood behind me, his arms coming around to cover my hands. I ignored the feel of his body leaning into mine and lowered my head so no one would notice the heat that I knew was coloring my cheeks. His foot tapped at mine to get them into the position he wanted before he continued.
“You must watch your weak line. It only takes a small amount of force to unbalance you. Try it with each other. Jasper, could you help me here, please.”
He stepped away from me and did the same with Sully while Jasper helped Brie.
Once we went through our paces and had the general idea, he went onto teach us the primary guards. “We will focus on the four main guards until you master them and then we can go onto the secondary guards. You will use all nine eventually, but I will be more than happy if you only get the first four right before you return to school after the upcoming holidays.”
“Take your places. Brie and Sully with Jasper. Nera, you are with me.” Bones faced me with his sword in his hands and circled, waiting for me to strike. “Remember this: about an inch below your belly button is what we refer to the center of your body. It must be facing your opponent at all times.”
I
Similar Books
