The Crowned Stag
A Session in the Yard
Bryton Badics
(December 287)
WHACK!!!! Hitting the ground again he heard from behind him, "You are dead again Young Lord. You must move quicker then that if you hope to be a knight like your father. Now get back on your feet and lets do it again." Doing as he is told Bryton returns to his place with his wooden sword. From head to toe he is covered in armor and padding to make sure he would not be hurt by his instructors wooden sword. He also wore it he was told to grow accustomed to the weight of the armor. If he was only built like his father this wouldn’t be a problem. Sadly he and his sister both took after their mother more. They were slim, golden haired and fair to look upon where their father was a full two heads taller then every other man in Moonsgrey with arms larger then some men’s legs.
“Now take your position Young Lord.”
“Why do you call me that Durran?” Durran had been his father’s father Master-at-Arms and now he was his fathers. The man was not the brightest man, but he was a good warrior. He tought his father and he promised to teach him to be just as good. As Bryton held his sword out in front of him with two hands, Durran made circles around him. He never struck him while he was doing this, he said he wanted to inspect his posture and stance. Byrton still expected the man to hit him from behind though. Then again he hit him enough without cheating to even bother having to do that.
Feeling a tug on his right leg it was moved back a little bit. He had such trouble with the two-handed stances. He was better with sword and shield or the bow. Sadly that was the two days before and today it was the two-handed sword training
As Durran made a few more improvements to his stance, lowering his right elbow and a slight twist of his left wrist, he could hear robes brushing against the cobblestones behind him. Some how Maester Eustace always showed up after the second time he was bested by Durran. He could not figure out how he always knew, but when he was bested quickly or even when he did well the man always showed up then. Sometimes he would sit to his side and talk other times behind him and last time he was in another room as he yelled out his questions. While he listened and answered he was forced to fight Durran the entire time.
While Durran was making his way over to his position he heard his first question, “Who was King Robert’s best friend?”
“That was Lord Eddard Stark of Winterfell, Lord of the North, Warden of the North. House Stark’s sigil is a grey dire wolf racing across a field of white and their words are ‘Winter is Coming’.” Each time he had to say a person’s name he was forced to do that and it was now becoming simplier.
“That is correct, now what happened to Lord Stark and what was the cause of the Rebellion?”
Before Bryton could answer Durran was upon him and they were locked in a back and forth. Durran had caught him unawares yesterday with that, but he would not fall for the same trick twice. “He was executed by the King last year for treason. The King arrested him for failure to save his wife the Lord Stark‘s sister, Lyanna.”
“Correct again. Now who fought on each side during the Collapse of the North?”
“The North was aided by Prince Doran Martell of Sunspear, Prince of Dorne, Warden of the South. House Martell’s sigil is…” it was then that Durran started to come at him stronger and faster. He was able to keep up though. “The spear and sun on orange, and their words are ‘Unbound, Unbent, Unbroken’. He was also aided by Lord Walder Frey of the Crossing. House Frey’s sigil is two blue towers united by a bridge on silver-grey, and their words are… their words are… their words.”
He couldn’t think of it. Oh no that means and as he feared he heard the Maester call out, “Durran.” And with that suddenly the man’s blade was a blur. All he knew was that his sword was gone, his leg hurt and he was on the ground again. “Tomorrow you will tell me their words, Bryton. Now back to your place and tell me who fought with the King.”
Rising to his feet Bryton found his sword in Durran’s hand who handed it back to him. “King Robert Baratheon, the First of His Name, King of the Andals, the Rhoyner and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm was aided by his brother Lord Renly Baratheon of Storm’s End, Lord of the Stormlands. House Baratheon’s sigil is a crowned black stag on a field of gold, and their words are ‘Ours is the Fury.” Returning to his starting position Durran made the circle of corrections again. “He was also aided by Lord Hoster Tully of Riverrun, Lord of the Riverlands. House Tully’s sigil is a silver trout leaping on a blue and red striped field, and their words are ‘Family, Duty, Honor.’ Though it appears that the words are false since Hoster Tully abandoned his daughter and grandchildren to the North’s Rebellion.”
“Durran.” With a smack to the back of his head Bryton could not believe he was caught unawares. Durran had never hit him when they were not practicing. “Do not judge what such a man does. And remember it is Lord Hoster Tully. Continue.”
“The last was
Lord Tywin Lannister of Casterly Rock, Lord of the Westlands, Warden of the West. House Lannister’s sigil is a golden lion on a field of crimson, and their words are ‘Hear me Roar!’” With his question answered, Durran was also finished and they returned to their practice. With wood striking wood Bryton waited for his next question.
It seemed like ages before he heard the question. “Tell me of Lord Walder Frey?”
“Lord Walder was a very old man who fought first in the North’s Rebellion and then when learning of Lord Eddard’s execution declared independence. Half of his family was captured while the Westland army marched north and he along with the rest were captured by the Lord of Rosby on the Kings way back. He eventually died in the Red Keep’s dungeon and King Robert claimed both the North as well as The Twins for himself.”
“Durran.” Byrton knew he said nothing wrong so why was he being called for another beating. He was so sidetracked by this that he did not at first realize that he had blocked Durran’s first four strikes. The man stopped his attacks and set the point of the sword on the ground. “Well done Bryton. Since you stopped the blows you will not receive them, however, for what you missed you simply said Lord of Rosby. Now that will be all for today. Go get cleaned up and prepare your things for tomorrow. You will be accompanying your family to Strongsong for a feast.”
Watching the Maester leave Bryton did not even hear Durran move up next to him. “You did really well today Young Lord. Your father will be proud to learn that you stopped the first four. He was eight when he was finally able to do that. You beat him by a full year. Next time though you will have to stop ten.”
“What’s after ten?”
“Eleven Young Lord. Best not tell the Maester you can’t count past ten.” Unable to help himself Bryton started laughing. “Fifty is after ten Young Lord. And then if you can stop the fifty you will have to disarm me before I stop coming after you to discipline you.”