6. Fledgling

The town of Steeleets was at least twice the size of Morirom, but had no imposing landmarks like Isabella's castle. The three strolled a bit around the edge of town until they arrived at a small gray brick house with a large yard surrounded by a wooden fence. On the fence there were metal boots supporting a man dressed in a chain mail armor covered by a white coat featuring a wolf and leafless tree. On the knees, shoulders, elbows and wrists were black leather pieces. His hair was white and spiky and his face was stern. Caoilainn was the first to approach him, waving her hand:

- "Hello, Mazan! We bring news" - he barely reacted.
- "Hello, Mazanlold" - Isabella bowed - "I hope you are well" - the man moved his lips:
- "Lady Isabella, pleased to meet you again" - he turned to Caoilainn - "and hello Caoilainn." - Caoilainn just crossed her arms as he continued - "What news do you bring? Who is this? Do you bring me a fledgling?" - Isabella answered:
- "First, again, no need to call me lady." - she paused - "And well, we bring this man, his name is Richard" - she sighed and gesticulated - "Well, hear me out, because I am gonna tell you something absurd." - she hesitated again - "This is a scholar, and more importantly, a scholar from another world. So, Caoilainn believes he might be the key we've been looking for." - Mazanlold showed no reaction. He was the man to take matters slowly. Caoilainn said:
- "That's it Mazan, and do believe us, this man is from another world and he is a scholar. He fits the poem left by Jacques, he seems to be all we need." - Mazanlold again took his time before answering:
- "Isabella, you are right, this is absurd. But, the matters of magic and mystery and legends I leave to you two. So if you say this man Richard is a scholar from another world, I believe you, simple as that." - he skipped from the fence - "What I find hard to believe is that this man" - he approached Richard - "is gonna make this journey with us" - he looked him in the eye - "so tell me, fledgling, do you have the fiber, the resilience and the desire to venture with us?" - his look was imposing. Richard did not look him in the eye and answered:
- "Well, I have already decided it, so I won't change my mind." - he touched his chin - "I admit I am weak and not used to fights and journeys and all the sort. But I've always been able to face new challenges, so I will do my best."
- "I sure hope you are correct" - Mazanlold slapped his shoulder making him flinch and turned around. He got two reinforced wooden sticks, came back and threw one in Richard's direction. Richard was able to catch it. Then Mazanlold said - "So, if you are gonna make this journey, you will have to able to fight" - he let a subtle laugh - "at least to survive. And I'm sure lady Isabella thought of that before bringing you here."
- "Correct, Mazanlold" - she said. Mazanlold said:
- "Richard, you can copy my stance if you want" - he held the stick with two hands like a sword and bent his knees slightly. He waited a minute and looked straight at Richard's eyes. Then he shouted: - "EN GARDE!" - and leaped at him.
- "What?" Richard asked, holding his stick trying to protect his head. The warrior hit Richard's left side, below his ribs. Richard lost his breath and Mazanlold stroke his right arm.

Richard fell to the ground. Isabella went to tend to him while Caoilainn said:
- "Don't think you could show some mercy from time to time?" - he did not even look at her:
- "Enemies show no mercy on the battlefield." - at the same time, Isabella whispered to Richard, who was back to himself:
- "Mazanlold is rough, but he is a great teacher. It will hurt, but this is the only way for you to make to the end of our journey." - Richard slowly stood up and got his stick again. He said:
- "Well, time to try again" - Mazanlold turned to him, laughing:
- "Already up?! Maybe you are better than I expected" - before he continued Isabella said:
- "Just be sure to teach before you hit him this time" - Mazanlold laughed again:
- "Sure m'lady!" - he went into his fighting stance. - "So, Richard, first lesson: in the battlefield your survival instinct must be at working at full potential. So, I will try to hit you and your objective is to defend my hits without losing your stance. I will start a bit slower" - Richard moved his thumb on his lip:
- "I am ready"
- "EN GARDE!" - Mazanlold started really slow this time, just to check that Richard understood what he had to do. When the he had defended against the most basic attacks, Mazanlold increased his strength and in three hits he was able to break Richard's stance. Then, two hits in, Mazanlold knocked him down again. - "Your defense is not only on your arms, but on your entire body, this is your only hope of defending against strong hits. Now get up and start again!" - Richard felt his body hurting, but stood up and went on.

Mazanlold and Richard continued sparring for the entire afternoon. This is actually inaccurate, as it was mostly a massacre, Mazanlold knocked him down over and over again and at times it seemed Richard was completely hopeless. But, Richard truly wanted to learn and got up every time. Isabella and Caoilainn watched the entire training, making faces whenever Richard was badly hit.

When the sun was close to setting, Richard was again in the ground but this time, Mazanlold came to him and stood his hand out. Richard grabbed it and Mazanlold pulled him up saying:
- "Well, you have been much more resilient than I expected, fledgling." - he smiled - "you do have potential. It is time to rest" - Richard sighed - "tomorrow morning, we begin again" - Richard almost fell to the ground again.

The four of them had a mostly silent and simple dinner served by Mazanlold. He gave Richard his guest room, insisting that his apprentice needed to stay close by during training. The two girls spent the night at the local inn. And Richard, slept like a log, hoping the next few days would be less hurtful and tiring.