***
Allan left the Temple a few hours later with a full belly, a new shirt, new leggings, new shoes, and a clean body. He’d had the chance to shave, but chose to only trim the small beard he had. His face might still be on a wanted poster in town.
Once back on the street, he pondered his actions the previous night. I was adequate during that fight, he noted, but I had to rely on magic. I got winded pretty fast, from both the fighting and the casting.
He’d learned to fight living on the streets. He and his sister had to if they were to stay alive. What they’d learned, though, was no so much how to win, but how to disable an opponent enough to get away.
That sort of fighting doesn’t really put a man down. It knocks him over long enough for you to run. If I’d have fought more men, or had to fight to escape, I might not have gotten away.
He looked at his body. I suppose I’m not quite built for fighting, either. Maybe I should learn a thing or two about fighting before I come back and try to help someone else.
It seemed to him that, aside from a guard or a mercenary, the best man to ask about fighting was a weapon-smith. Allan went to the nearest shop, but was told, “Beggars aren’t welcome.” The smiths at the next two shops told him they didn’t have time for boys and their questions.
The fourth shop was tucked away along a quiet street next to a large blacksmith shop. Inside the shop was a solitary smith. The man was tall, a head taller than Allan, with dark hair, dirty clothes, huge arms, and a patch over his left eye. He was hammering on the point of a spear.
“Yes, lad?” he asked. His voice was loud and raspy.
“I wonder if I might trouble you for a bit of your time,” Allan said.
“Time, lad?”
“Yes. I have some questions about learning to fight.”
“And you chose to ask me?” He stopped hammering. “Couldn’t ask a guard, could you?”
“Maybe not.”
“Fair enough. Lucky for you that I don’t need that much work.”
“You don’t? Why?”
“I own the blacksmith shop next door, and the stable next to it.”
“How did you do that?”
“By being good at one I do. This patch notwithstanding.”
“Oh.”
“So, what’s on your mind?”
“Well, sir, first, how does a man get the strength to wield a sword, or a spear?”
“The name’s Owen, young man.”
“Pleased to meet you, Master Owen. I’m Allan.”
Owen nodded. “Allan.” He stopped hammering again. “Practice, young Allan. You get good with a weapon by using it. You get strong by using it.”
Allan let out a laugh and shook his head. “Of course.”
“Well, you being a young man, and not the son of a nobleman or mercenary, it wouldn’t seem obvious till you gave it a moment’s thought.”
“No, I guess not.”
“Any reason why you want to know about fighting?”
“Just curious.”
“I see. Is that all you wished to ask?”
“What’s a good weapon for a young man like me to carry?”
“Depends on why you need a weapon.”
“To defend myself.”
“A dagger’s as good as anything.”
“Really? I thought it was just for poor folk and criminals.”
“It is. But a dagger is easy to hide. It’s also easy to get good at.” Owen waved his hammer at the wall, away from his anvil and forge. “See those swords? Pick one of them.”
Allan picked a sword at random. “Yes?”
“Stand there, and swing it around a bit.”
Allan did so for a few moments.
“Feel your arm getting tired, lad?”
“Yes, now that you mention it.” Allan put the sword back on the weapons rack.
“That’s the bad thing about any weapon bigger than a knife, lad. You use it long enough, and it’ll tire you out. That’s why it takes years to get good with a sword, or a spear, or something like that. A dagger, on the other hand, won’t tire you out as fast, so it’s easy to get good with it.”
“How do you get good with it?”
“Like anything. Practice.”
“I mean, what do you do with it, other than stab someone?”
“There’s your trouble right there, lad. Let’s say I come at you with this hammer, and you’ve got your dagger. I’m taller than you, so my reach is longer than yours, yes?”
“Yes.”
“I’m stronger than you, so my blows are going to hit you hard.”
“Sure.”
“But, if you dodge my first blow, and slash at my arm, you’ll take me down. Think about it an instant or two.”
Allan pictured the scene in his mind. He nodded once he saw what Owen meant. “Yes, I see what you mean.”
“That’s how you learn to use a dagger, lad. Learn to move, learn to slash, learn to block, and learn to thrust effectively. Thing is, it’s not a skill you can find a teacher for.”
“You have to learn on your own.”
“Right. If you do, you’ll be ahead of most men. Most of them that has a dagger never learns more than to stick into someone else. You learn to fight with it, and you’ll keep yourself alive. Most of the time.”
“What do you mean, most of the time, Master Owen?”
“A good weapon isn’t worth much without skill. A good man with a weapon won’t last long without armor.”
“Armor?” Allan nodded again. “Do folk like me wear armor?”
“They could, if they gave it much thought. I say armor, and you think of chest plates and leg guards and shields, yes?”
“Yes.”
“What about leather?”
“Leather armor?”
“Sure. Guards and mercenaries wear leather under their plates or mail. Reinforce the leather with a bit of padding, and you’re safe from glancing blows.”
Maybe magic can make leather even better protection. “What about the arms and legs?”
“Good boots will protect your lower legs. You can fashion arm guards out of leather to protect your wrists.” Owen looked Allan in the eyes. “You sure you’re only asking to protect yourself, lad?”
“Yes, sir, I am.”
“What are you protecting yourself from?”
“Danger. Shouldn’t every young man be worried enough to live to old age?”
Owen let out a gruff laugh. “I suppose. Is that the last of your questions?”
“For now, Master Owen. I may come back.”
“Come back to buy, and I’ll answer any question you have.”
“I’ll keep that in mind. Good day.”
“Good day to you, lad.”
Allan walked out of the shop. Well, I have the dagger, and I can get the hides to make leather. I’ll need to know about making boots and leather armor.
He looked up at the sky. It’s almost midday. Looks like I’ve found a way to spend the day. So long as I don’t attract any attention, I should learn what I need to know, and then I can return to the castle. Then what?
Then come back and be better at helping people.
THREE
The Defender: Elderwood Page 4
