Aelfheim – page 33
Sparring and a bath.
Hans noticed that the area outside the hall was a sizable community of mostly wattle and daub buildings. Elf women abounded, many stopping in their tasks to look at him. He glanced the direction of the sound of metal on metal to see a well muscled, and bare breasted, blacksmith at work. She looked back at him for a moment, before she casually crossed an arm across her chest and reached for a cloth. Turning her back to him, she tied it into a halter top, then returned to work.
Tiek's job was made difficult as a throng began gathering between them and their destination. There wasn't a elf in the bunch that topped his chin. Some of the bolder ones reached out to touch him as they passed.
A voice rang out, "Hold, Lord Madison."
It sounded like Gni. Hans turned, in time catch a wooden sword from the air. The throng evaporated.
"I am Za, captain of My Lady's guard. I would see what kind of warrior you are."
The warrior confronting him, Za, wore much the same armor he had noted before. In getting a closer look, and in better light, Hans could see that the linked, overlapping plates of the skirt were attached to a slightly oversize felt layer. This armor would be whisper quiet. She had no helm with her, but her blond hair was cut short so that none would extend beyond a helm if she had one on.
"I don't understand."
She smiled broadly, teeth bare. A feral grin if Hans had ever seen one.
"Surely you appreciate a bath all the more after some exercise. Would you like a shield?"
Hans made a few practice swings before gripping the sword in both hands. He set his feet wide and brought the tip up in challenge. "No, this will do."
Za nodded in satisfaction, or at least her grin became less toothy. "Let us begin, then."
Za stepped into range and swung her sword at his side. Hans easily deflected it. As she was off balance, he made a swing from his right. It glanced off her shield. She tried another blow, but Hans was again able to easily block it.
Elves gathered about and cheered. Several ravens, led by one as big as the one back home, even seemed taken in by the spectacle.
Za seemed a little shaken. Hans was easily the more powerful of the two of them. Using both hands, he was able to move his weapon faster and strike harder as well. But he didn't have a shield, so he had to watch out for an attack coming at the same time that she was also blocking.
Figuring she wouldn't be used to an attack from the left, Hans struck from that side. She blocked it and set him back with a shield blow.
Za sounded impressed. "Very good. You have an interesting fighting style. It is not one I am familiar with."