20 — Lorelai's Sidearm

After his abrupt rest day and rather pleasant chat with Agatha, he kept training with Lorelai for the rest of the third week.

It was utterly awful. She didn't let up on him one bit. At least he's more used to take a beating now, which might be useful later.

He arrives for the beginning of the fourth and final week of training. And the training grounds look different. The big stone steps are littered with simple chairs, except for some in the center, which are puffy, comfortable armchairs. Some sort of festival flags with the von Styria banner, the minimalistic white lion, are also hung up there. It seems a lot cleaner than before, too, and the banged-up training dummies are nowhere to be found.

Lorelai's sitting there waiting for him, her trusty longsword inside a sheath on her hip as she's holding another weapon. This one looks...exactly like Pult's sword. Long, thin steel blade and a definite two-hander. She notices him arrive, waving at him.

"Joezand!" Lorelai says. "Today's the last change in our training regiment. Aren't you excited?"

"So you're not going to tell me what's all this?" Joezand says, gesturing to their surroundings. "What happened to this place?"

"They're preparing for the duel, duh." Lorelai says. "The royal family is going to watch it, as well as a few notable nobles, merchants and craftsmen."

"Is... that so? I didn't know that it'd be seen by that many people. What if I get performance anxiety?"

"Ahh, you'll do fine. This is a pretty big event. One of the strongest knights in the kingdom fighting a prince? Thaddius thinks that his son achieving such a glory needs to be seen by all."

"I see." He murmurs. He already didn't like Thaddius for... well, everything. But now there's an added pressure on top of already facing an almost unbeatable opponent. Great. "What's the last change you were talking about?"

"Here, catch." She takes a small pouch and throws it at him. He opens it to find... a dagger? Although it doesn't look like a typical one. It looks similar to his rapier, being thin and having a big hand-guard, but it's a lot shorter. Inside the pouch there is also a sheath for it.

"I already have a range disadvantage." Joezand says. "If I use this dinky little thing instead of my rapier, I'm never winning."

"Are you stupid?" Lorelai asks. "This is for your off-hand."

"Wouldn't a shield be better for that, though?"

"Tsk. You're so fussy. Though to shop for, huh?" Lorelai grumbles. "A shield is not very honorable in a duel. Besides, in close quarters, this could also be used offensively."

"I'll have more luck throwing this dagger to get first blood." Joezand says. "He's taller and uses a way longer sword. There's absolutely no way I get into close quarters with Pult."

"Yes, you will. Because that's what we're going to be training for this week." She takes the thin, long sword. "This is called a Montante. It's the same type of sword that Pult uses. I'm not as proficient in it as he is, but it'll be good practice for you."

"That's fine, but I don't know how to even start forming a strategy to beat him." Joezand says.

"Well, the hard part is getting close. You have to neutralize his range." Lorelai explains. "That's the big advantage he has over you. Once you two are close your weapons will be way more effective. Not to mention how much faster you are than him. All that muscle he's built up slowed him down considerably."

"I understand. Still, actually closing in on him seems difficult."

"Less complaining and more training." Lorelai says, readying the montante. "I'll try to direct you, but I don't fight in the same way as Pult, so you'll have to wing it when the time comes."

"Great. Very reassuring." Joezand says as he puts up his rapier and dagger. "Let's go."

They get closer. Lorelai's holding out the sword in front of her, and his rapier can't even reach her hands at its maximum range. He tries to step foward diagonally to thrust, but he's lightly tapped on the top of his head by the montante.

"Again." Lorelai orders.

They walk back to the starting position. He tries to wait until she does something so he can parry with the dagger and close in with the rapier, but... She just keeps on walking foward with the sword pointed at him. She knows she's not in danger, so she doesn't need to risk making a mistake. If this keeps up, he'll just be backed into a wall. He tries instead to attack her blade with the rapier, once again trying to lunge foward to strike—

But before his rapier gets close to her, she's able to move the montante and nick his shoulder.

"Are you starting to realize something?" Lorelai asks.

"There's no easy win here." Joezand replies. "I can't just displace the sword or avoid it and win instantly. I need to slowly gain more ground and play both offense and defense until I'm close enough."

"That's right. Now try applying that." Lorelai says. "Again."

They get in position once again, Lorelai's core is strong. He has to make the first move to try and close in, so hits her blade with his rapier to displace it. He's able to close the distance slightly, as she's forced to attack him. He parries with the dagger and gets closer still, trying to strike her forearm, but she's able to get it out of the way before his blow. He tries one last thrust towards her chest, but she's able to hit his undefended arm.

"Once you get closer," Lorelai says. "You need to keep applying the pressure. Otherwise, he'll be able to step back and you're back at the start with your huge disadvantage. But that doesn't mean you stay undefended, or else you'll just lose. If you feel compromised in your position, it's best to step back a bit and give some ground for safety. It's very push and pull."

"I see. I waste less energy than him, too, so a longer fight benefits me." Joezand muses. "Alright, let's try it again."

They ready their weapons once more.

— — —

The days passed, and the sun rose and set while Joezand kept trying to invade Lorelai's position with the rapier and deliver a blow.

This was the only thing on his mind. He stopped going to the library, and his interactions with the other members of the palace were short. The fourth week was only heavy training and nothing else, as they were ready to finish up on the final day.

"Once more." Joezand said. "I need to hit you. Just once."

"I said we're finishing up early. You need to rest. Tomorrow is the big day."

"Let me try, please."

"Alright." Lorelai readies the montante again. "Last chance, though. You princes need your beauty sleep."

He takes a deep breath.

He hits both his rapier and dagger against the montante, displacing it with enough force so he can get close. She tries to counter-attack, and he steps back so he can parry with the dagger. He aims his rapier at her hand, and she retracts it so that the thrust misses. But that makes her pull the montante back, lowering her range, so he's able to step foward again. She tries cutting at his side, but he parries with the rapier. He's able to step closer again, while Lorelai tries to retreat. But he won't let her. He throws the dagger at her face, and she deflects it with the sword, which gives him enough time to trust towards her arm again, grazing one of her fingers.

He stops after seeing the red liquid coating her training gauntlet. Lorelai puts her sword down in defeat.

He can't believe it.

He did it.

"You're awful." Lorelai grumbled. "That could've killed me, you know."

"Oh, please. I know it wouldn't." Joezand says. "And... I think that's the strategy?"

"What? What do you mean?"

"I'll fight to kill." Joezand explains. "If I hesitate or try only to give a small cut to draw the first blood... I'll never win this. I need to take every chance I can get."

"Hm." Lorelai raises her eyebrow. "I bet he won't fight to kill you, though. He'd rather see you put in your place."

"I know." Joezand sighs. "I don't want to kill him either, I barely know the guy. Wanting to kill him just because he dislikes me is a bit excessive, especially because his reasons are legitimate."

"Then... you won't fight to kill? Make up your mind."

"I will. It's not about desire, it's about intent." Joezand says. "I know he won't allow himself to get killed. He'll do like you did right now, and deflect any lethal shot. Which will allow me to deliver a small cut somewhere to win the duel."

"Well, you certainly could've phrased that differently. I was starting to think the curse of von Styria was affecting you more than we originally thought."

"You're way too imaginative." Joezand says.

"Hey, I'm an avid reader. I read enough about little bloodthirsty psychopaths to be on edge about anything." Lorelai chuckles. "Go now, rest for a bit. You need to conserve your strength for tomorrow."

"Alright." He says, stretching his arms. "Good night, Lorelai."

He leaves the training grounds, going back to his room.