Sparing Match (E’mon)

[shawncameron]

S’hon looked the same as every other day, long black coat flowing just a foot off the ground covering a tight black sleeves shirt and black slacks held up with a black leather belt his black boots clicking with every step and his long black hair dangling in the loose ponytail down his back. Just looking at him in such a dark color made the other residents of the Weyr hot, though that would change the moment they made eye contact as a rush of cold from his ice blue eyes made them shiver.

It was rumored amongst the brats that knew off him that he wore the coat and all of the black to keep warm since all of that Ice made him so cold inside. This was not true of cores but S’hon was not going to correct them, such ridiculous rumors kept people a good distance away from him and he liked that though today he was not avoiding everyone but going to meet someone, one of the few men S’hon didn’t mind being around for too long.

S’hon entered the sparing ring, large broad sword strapped securely and comfortably on his back, as he didn’t even bother to remove his coat… if he needed too it would happen in the match such loose fabric could be worked to his advantage and S’hon always took every advantage he could get. He ran one hand through his hair moving just that side out of his eye letting the rest fall in sheets over his already blind eye as he waited. A small barely noticeable smile graced his face as he crossed his arms almost impatiently, though it was all sarcastic humor to him, “aren’t you ready yet E’mon?”

[E]

“A rider must know when to wait for the most opportune time to react. Know when it comes, be ready for it, and not miss it.” E’mion said simply as he removed his long-sleeved white shirt. Underneath he wore a white tank that fit snug against his hardened body. The end was tucked neatly into his brown slacks and his own brown belt held his shelth on the left side. Tucked behind his back was a second blade, a hunting knife the size of his forearm with a nice curve.

Turning back to the man, he slowly drew his sword lightly rotating his wrist to let it swing around him and loosening up for the upcoming duel. After moving to the sword to the other hand to rotate a few times, he put it back to his right and crouched down now ready.

“So… Any wagers on the winner today?” he asked in a low voice waiting for the man’s first move. While not as reserved as S’hon, E’mion had his own difficulties getting along with people. In truth, he only let his guard down around the three men he trusted most; S’hon, L’nuo and R’lan all wingriders of his.

[shawncameron]

S’hon’s smile became a little more apparent as he brought his chin down and smirked outright, “good advice… but you sound like my teacher.” He watched the man move he was seasoned S’hon liked that E’mon was always a challenge so at the mention of a bet he just tilted his head slightly looking at the man more fully with his good eye, “hmph.” But he was smiling and Mazbeth was resting easy in his weyr, it was times like these S’hon seemed more like his old self though the ice would never come completely down.

He did not take a fighting stance even put his right hand in his pocket, waiting… but E’mon would not make the fist move, normally S’hon could wait for hours but for some strange reason he was not in the mood today this was a sparing match after all, not a fight against someone he had every intention of hurting, then he would never make the first move.

S’hon came in like a blizzard, quick stepping and drawing his sword in one fluent motion bringing it down with all of his speed and considerable strength towards E’mon’s right shoulder. S’hon was one of the rare left handed swordsmen though he had a nasty habit of turning ambidextrous in a fight.

[E]

Watching the man’s head tilt upwards toward him once again, a rare smile on his face, E’mion could not help but return the smile and tense at the same time. So rarely such a smile was upon this particular man’s face, when it was it always seemed to catch the wingleader off guard even though he knew for a fact he was on of the few people who have ever seen it. Perhaps one day… One day he would see it enough to grow use to it. He liked the smile on the mans face.

The wait seemed to last forever as S’hon stood, hand in his pocket almost teasing him to make the first move. Last time they spared, however, it had been E’mion to break the stillness, he was not about to do so twice. Especially when it had been S’hon who had caught him off guard with a winning blow.

When that horribly long wait ended, it was almost as if it had been suddenly turned to fast forward as S’hon came at him in a flood of movement. So quick and fluid did S’hon move that had E’mion not been use to the man’s fighting he would have instantly hesitated and lost in the first swing. As it was, E’mion side-stepped in time, bringing up his own sword to deflect the blow enough to give him the needed time to move. S’hon was fast, and what made it harder was that he was left handed. That block shook his arm as he had to raise it at a bad angle to be effective. Damn the man.

Quickly spinning to continue his momentum, E’mion dropped into a crouch letting his sword fly parallel maybe a foot above it. His hope was to free up space between them once again my forcing S’hon back. It seemed that during most fights E’mion was always mere inches from the ground. Being shorter than most riders, the quick man had found it easier to move beneath them than equal to them, finding the rare advantages of being shorter, stronger and lighter on his feet during a fight. While the difference between him and S’hon were mere inches, E’mion still liked the strategy.

[shawncameron]

S’hon expected the guard and was glad it had come in time; this fight would be no fun if E’mon was thrown off so easily. But the Wingleader knew S’hons stile well, just as S’hon new his and so when the attack came to drive him back he let it work but only for a moment, using the backward step to propel himself forward again coming at a sweeping angle from the ground up.

S’hon fought fast, he knew his weakness in his only having one eye and so every move was amid to finish. Though with someone as skilled as E’mon he would be a fool to think it would end that way. He had also began to notice E’mons tendency to come from below and as S’hon preferred to fight on even footing he was going to try and bring the man up rather then beat him down as some would do.

[E]

Rather than dodging the blow that came up from the ground in a strong sweep, E’mion twisted his left foot behind him and brought his own sword down to meet the one coming up at him. If no tricks were involved, the bronze rider planned on pulling his opponents sword up into a lock between them rather than below him.

[shawncameron]

S’hon was a little surprised as metal hit metal, he had been expecting a dodge but that did not slow him as he finally took his right hand out of its pocket to grab the handle and adding to his already considerable strength. He had no intention of locking blades with E’mon something told him he had some trick up his sleeve if that happened.

Pulling his sword quickly away from the lock S’hon came right back in keeping the handle at his center line as he used both hands to swing the broadsword one way and then the other as quick enough to make the air whistle as he aimed not for E’mon but for his sword sending the shock waves from the multiple hard impacts to vibrate into the mans arms. Before with one strong move he passed the sword fully into his right hand slashing across horizontally taking the point of the sword from his left to his right, aiming at E’mons belly.

[E]

E’mion only smirked as the man was smart enough to not lock blades with him. As it was, E’mion had to bring a second hand to his sword as well when it soon became apparent that S’hon planned on beating it to quickly tire him. With the movement so quick, however, E’mion did not have much time to react until S’hon pulled back for a horizontal swing at his stomach.

Rather than jumping back, the bronze rider knew close quarters were harder for an opponent to use a sword so skillfully. Ducking, he rolled beneath the sword just as it swept air past his bare neck. It had been a close call. Now, however, he was positioned on S’hon’s bad side; the side he was blind on. Bringing up a swing of his own from a crouched position, E’mion aimed for the now exposed right side.

[shawncameron]

where did he go? S’hon stiffened, his right side… moving as quickly as he could S’hon turned in a full circle, switching his sword back to his left hand with the blade held down rather then up. He breathed a little easier when the sound of metal on metal rang through the air again signaling his parry had worked, just in time.

His sword now pointing to the ground S’hon brought his right hand back to the pommel and using his left on the handle as a leaver he brought the tip back up trying to drive E’mon away and up. S’hon was a skilled fighter in close courters but he wanted this to be a sword fight not a fist, or in his case a grappling fight.

[E]

E'mion couldn't help but smile as S'hon had barely blocked his attack on the right. He did block it however, and that was how he knew S'hon, even with his disadvantage, was a worthy man to fight.

Finding his sword spun upwards, E'mion waisted no time in attacking again before S'hon had time, keeping him on the defensive. Rather than stepping away, he took another step to the right as he brought his sword down from its raised position in an arc toward S'hon's gut from the left.

[shawncameron]

S’hons planed offense was foiled as E’mon came straight back in forcing him to block again. At this rate he would be hard pressed to get another move in, this was proved as E’mon stepped again to the right, this time followed by S’hon as he turned his body with the mans step. His sword was back in his left hand so when the attack came from that side S’hon quickly drove the other mans sword point down.

Finally finding an opening for his own offence S’hon took it. Stepping to the right and in he pivoted quickly not only bringing his sword away from E’mons and toward his right shoulder but brining his coat up to block the wingleaders line of sight. Just as Just as E’mon had used his partial blindness against him S’hon was going to take full advantage of his flowing coat.

[E]

E'mion wanted to curse as the man switched hands once again making it harder for him to follow where he would need to block from. Sure, E'mion practiced his sword with both arms, but he was not as nimble with them as S'hon was proving to be. Seeing the cloak sweep up, E'mion was almost too slow in jumping backwards as he wondered why the man would wear so much clothes while sparing. The last thing E'mion liked about sparing with his wingsecond was that blasted cloak and how it hid the man?s movements.

[shawncameron]

E’mon had jumped back just in time, barely missing S’hons sword tip. It sliced cleanly though his sparing coat cutting a big chunk out of it. S’hon too jumped back when he realized that his attack hand not hit. A small smile graced his face again; this was going to be fun.

He had worked up a good sweat and now that his coat had a huge cut in it there was no need to keep in on. Keeping his eye on E’mon S’hon shrugged off one side of the coat and then switching hands again shrugged off the other before putting his sword back in his left hand. Tossing the torn garment to the side S’hon made a show of cracking his neck before gesturing with his right hand that it was E’mon’s turn to attack.