The Witcher's Apprentice

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Chapter 5: Stand & Deliver

Returning to Fergus and Yoana's forge, Aegon and Geralt paid the two armourers the price agreed upon for the young prince's armour. As it would take the better part of an hour to make, Geralt decided this was a good time for Aegon to train in swordsmanship.

In the main courtyard of Crow's Perch, Geralt began drilling his apprentice in the witcher sword fighting styles. With some borrowed training swords, Geralt demonstrated to his apprentice some of the basic movements that a witcher used in sword fighting.

"Place your right foot behind you and your left foot facing towards your opponent," Geralt instructed his apprentice who followed along with the instructions. Nodding slightly at seeing the young prince demonstrating the proper stance, the witcher continued with the lesson. "Now, grip the hilt of your sword in both hands by your left hip like so." The witcher showed Aegon the stance and the young prince did the same. Seeing how Aegon was gripping his sword, Geralt corrected him firmly. "Don't put your hands together holding your sword. Keep a couple of inches between them," the White Wolf said.

"Alright." Aegon nodded in understanding and put about two or three inches worth of space between his hands on the hilt of his sword. "Like this?" he asked his teacher who nodded in satisfaction.

"Like that, yes. Now, for the basic movements of this guard, move your sword up horizontally at an angle." Geralt showed his pupil the movement, his training sword held just above his head at an angle. "This blocks a strike coming from above," Geralt explained to Aegon who nodded in understanding.

"Then twist your wrists at this angle while turning the edge of your sword to the opposite edge." Geralt demonstrated. Spinning his sword around, the opposing edge of his sword was in the dominant position.

"What does that kind of strike do?" came Aegon's question about the technique.

"It's a kind of counterattack. When you block an incoming strike from another person's, you can use this move to strike back at them while keeping up your defence," said Geralt. "I'll show you." Facing his apprentice, Geralt ordered him, "Strike at me from a high angle."

Shrugging, Aegon made a light strike towards his teacher. A sharp clang of steel was heard as Geralt blocked the swing and with a rapid turn of his wrists, the edge of his blade was placed against Aegon's neck.

"I see now," Aegon said in realisation, nodding his understanding of the tactic Geralt showed him. "So, it's a way of turning the tables on your opponent?" he asked.

Geralt nodded. "Mhm. There are a few others I can teach you." Geralt then demonstrated another technique to Aegon. "This is called the Boar's Tooth Defence; using the false edge of your sword, you do a rising cut to knock away an opponent's strike then with the true edge, you strike at the opening." Geralt his sword in a low stance, the pommel near his left hip. "Strike!" he ordered Aegon.

With a nod and his sword held in both hands, Aegon made a swing at Geralt who did as he describe the move. He knocked away Aegon's sword with the false edge of his. Aegon stumbled back a little at the force behind the parry, leaving himself exposed. Geralt then swung his sword downward with the true edge and stopped a hair's breadth away from his student's neck. "See how it works?" the White Wolf asked, moving his sword away from the young prince.

"Useful," Aegon commented. "Could I try it?" he requested.

"If you can," Geralt replied with a ghost of a smile. Smiling at the challenge, Aegon adopted a similar to what Geralt used to perform Boar's Tooth Defence. With a slow (for him) swing of his sword, Geralt allowed his apprentice to knock back his sword then strike. But Geralt shifted away suddenly from the blow and chambered a kick to the back of Aegon's left knee. With a squawk of surprise and pain, Aegon fell to his knee and felt the edge of his teacher's sword scrape the nape of his neck.

"You cheated?" the young prince asked looking at the Witcher accusingly.

"Observant of you," Geralt sarcastically replied moving his sword away and offered his free hand to Aegon who reluctantly clasped it in his own. Pulling his apprentice to his feet, Geralt then said to him, "Don't expect every opponent will be willing to fight fair. Your adversary will never be as noble as you."

"I was taught to fight honourably," Aegon said in a small voice.

"In a melee or tourney, yeah, rules are usually observed," Geralt agreed. "But when you're on an open battlefield fighting common soldiers or facing an assassin after your head, you can't afford to be honourable," he said sternly. "Most of the time, a common soldier or even a noble knight won't care about honour or even mercy in an actual battle. Push comes to shove, you do what you must to survive," he added.

"Have you ever done such things?" Aegon asked his mentor who had a contemplative look on his face. Realising what he had asked, Aegon muttered, "Right. Stupid question."

"It's not," Geralt refuted. "I've been asked much worse questions than what you just did," he said casually. Aegon nodded silently at this. Then Yoana's voice called out to them both.

"Oi! Geralt! The armour's ready!" Looking over at the forge, the two silver-haired men saw Yoana waving them over. Sheathing their swords, the pair walked over to the forge where they saw laid out on the table, Aegon's new witcher-style armour.

"Whaddya think, lad?" Fergus asked Aegon who gazed at his new armour with an open look of curiosity.

"It's… unique," the young prince finally said. "I've not seen armour like this before," he added as he ran his fingers along the leather and fabric of the gambeson. "What kind of leather is this?" he asked.

"Monster leather," Yoana told him. Aegon looked at the Skelligan woman in surprise.

"Monster leather? You mean leather made from the hide of a monster was used to make this?"

"Aye, strong yet flexible," Yoana replied. "Able to provide optimal protection while allowing a range of mobility," she said. "Armour is made like this for witchers," she added.

"What else can be made using parts from monsters?" Aegon then asked in curiosity.

"Plenty of things, lad," Fergus said. "Monster parts can be used to brew potions, weapons and armour. Very useful stuff it is."

"I see," Aegon muttered, nodding his head.

"Here, try it on, see if anything needs adjusting," Yoana told the young prince who took it with him behind a stall. A few moments later, Aegon stepped back, getting a feel for his new armour.

"How does it feel?" Geralt asked his apprentice who lifted and stretched his arms and legs experimentally.

"It's different," Aegon admitted as he felt the leather and fabric bend and stretch as he moved his arms and legs around. "But I think I like it," he then said with a small smile.

"Here's something else, too. On the house," Fergus said to him, handing over a scabbard.

"A scabbard? My sword already has one," Aegon replied as he looked at the offered sheath.

"This here is a special kind of scabbard, lad," Fergus told him. "Worn over the back, you can sheathe and draw your sword out quickly. Nearly all witchers use such sheathes for their blades," he said.

"I see. Thank you for the gift then," Aegon accepted the new sheathe, letting Yoana fit to his back. The opening of the sheath poked out from behind Aegon's right shoulder and with a slightly awkward movement, Aegon sheathed Blackfyre in its new home. "How do I look?" he then asked Geralt.

A small upturn was on Geralt's lips as he said, "You could almost pass for a witcher. Almost."

"What would I need to pass for a witcher like you?" Aegon asked jestingly.

"A few more scars for one," Geralt intoned dryly. "Something to dampen those pretty boy looks of yours," he said sarcastically. Aegon threw his hands up in a defensive gesture. Geralt then looked at Fergus and Yoana and said to them, "Thanks for the armour. I'm sure we'll be back sooner or later with more work for you both."

"Any time, White Wolf," Fergus said with a nod. "Anything else? I got a lotta work to do," he added.

"That's it for the moment," replied Geralt and the dwarf armourer nodded and resumed his work at the forge. Yoana stopped Geralt and Aegon for a moment.

"Witcher? You remember those tools I told you about?" she asked expectantly.

"Haven't forgotten," Geralt said knowingly. "When I get over to Skellige, I can have a look around for those special tools you mentioned," he promised.

"Thank ye, Witcher. You won't regret it," Yoana said with a nod of her head before resuming her job with other orders.

Walking away from the forge, Aegon asked Geralt, "What exactly are these tools you promised Lady Yoana to find?"

"Fergus is supposedly a master armourer," Geralt replied. "But in order to forge the kind of armour I would need, he needs a special set of tools which Yoana mentioned were in Skellige. Since I, or rather, you & I will be heading to Skellige in the near future, I can have a look around for those tools and bring them to Yoana," he explained.

"Must be a special set of tools, then," Aegon remarked.

"They'd have to be to forge master-crafted gear," Geralt said with a nod of his head. "But that can wait until we get to Skellige. Let's go after this contract in Honorton; gotta make back some money," he stated.

The two silver-haired warriors then found themselves heading out of Crow's Perch. Geralt led his mare Roach by the reins with Aegon walking beside him. As they crossed the bridge into the swampy neck that lay before them, a curious individual called out to them.

"Stand and deliver, sirs!"

The individual was a young man wearing a deep blue tunic, grey trousers and brown shoes. A simple steel sword hung by his left him as he crossed his arms over his chest, nodding at them.

"Well met, sirs," he greeted with a friendly smile. "I am Ronvid of Small Marsh, a wandering knight on a quest in the name of Fair Maid Bilberry! The most beautiful woman in the land!" he proclaimed proudly.

Aegon glanced at his mentor. "Is he being serious?"

"Seems like it," Geralt muttered dryly before addressing Ronvid. "And what reason have you stopped us for, good sir?" he asked tersely.

"To honour a promise I made. That I would fight and defeat a hundred knights throughout the land to prove my worth to Maid Bilberry," Ronvid replied proudly.

"I thought such a thing was only in stories," Aegon muttered wondering if this Ronvid fellow had lost his mental faculties.

"A noble vow," Geralt remarked sarcastically. "I don't envy you," he then said to Ronvid.

"Aye, but I mean to keep my word and prove my worth to Maid Bilberry," Ronvid said sincerely.

"There are other ways you can prove your worth to this Bilberry, you know?" Aegon pointed out.

Ronvid looked uncomfortable at that and replied, "P-Perhaps, but I would be known as craven if I did not prove my mettle against a hundred knights."

"And what is the point of stopping to tell us this?" Geralt asked although he had a feeling he knew what the answer was.

"You two shall be the first I face and defeat in battle!" Ronvid declared as he put a hand to his sword ready to draw it.

"Would you like to fight both of us at the same time?" Aegon asked the foolish knight dryly.

This stopped Ronvid who replied, "Erm, no. Just one at a time?" A slightly scared look was in his eyes as he said the words.

"I have no interest in fighting you, Ronvid of Small Marsh, even if it is to prove your worth to this Bilberry," Geralt said bluntly as he prepared to head off and get on with his day.

Ronvid looked incensed at this perceived dismissal of him and spoke. "You dare besmirch my fair lady's name?! I demand you apologise at once and declare Bilberry the fairest maid in the land! Or you shall face my steel!" He then drew his sword in a somewhat clumsy awkward manner. To both Aegon and Geralt's mild surprised, Ronvid's sword was simple but well-made steel and looked sharp enough to cut with. Although that did not mean Ronvid was skilled in its use given his awkward attempt to draw it out of it sheath.

"I meant no insult to your lady love, Ser Ronvid," Geralt said to the man, already getting annoyed at how this was playing out. "I simply do wish to waste my time fighting you," he added as patiently as he could.

"Hold for a moment, Ser Geralt," Aegon suddenly said. "Ser Ronvid's challenge is honourable enough. I shall duel him," he offered generously with a friendly smile.

Geralt smiled ever so slightly and shrugged his shoulders. "Knock yourself out, kid." The White Wolf stood off the side with Roach, leaning against the mare's flank to watch.

Aegon and Ronvid stood a few feet apart from each other. Aegon drew Blackfyre from its new scabbard over his shoulder, the rippling folds of Valyrian steel drinking in the light of the sun. Ronvid stared at the sword in awe, a look of envy in his pale eyes.

"Eyes on me, ser, not my blade," Aegon remarked sternly making Ronvid flinch a little before raising his own plainer looking sword in a ready stance. To Aegon's mild surprise, Ronvid's stance wasn't completely awkward showing he had a little training, although his footing was a little off and he held his sword in a two-handed grip, albeit a little too tightly.

Ronvid looked at Aegon with some nervousness in his eyes. A moment passed before the man gave a sharp yell, lunging forward with his sword aimed at Aegon's chest. Seeing the rash attack coming, Aegon easily sidestepped the lunge and lightly swung his sword at Ronvid's shoulder. The spell-forged blade easily cut through the linen and cloth and made a small nick into Ronvid's skin. Ronvid screamed in pain and dropped his sword, yelling, "I yield! No more!" He clutched the tiny cut with a whimper.

"Seriously?" Aegon muttered in disbelief at what had just happened. Geralt gave a dry chuckle at how hilariously easy it was to defeat Ronvid of Small Marsh. Even Roach seemed to whinny in amusement. Looking to his "fallen" opponent, Aegon asked him, "Are you alright? Do you want me to look at that cut?" The concern in his voice was genuine as he reached with a hand to Ronvid.

The wandering knight waved a hand dismissively at Aegon, standing up straighter as he clutched his "wound" with one hand. "You have beaten me fair, young ser. But I shall face you again!" he promised solemnly almost pompously.

"Do you want me to look at that cut?" Aegon offered to the man.

"Nay, it shall be a scar and reminder of what happened here," Ronvid declared as he picked up his sword. "Might I know your name, ser, so that I remember who I shall seek out the next time," he requested.

"Aegon. Aegon Targaryen," Aegon said tiredly having a feeling this wouldn't be the last he would see of Ronvid.

Ronvid nodded in acceptance. "Aegon Targaryen. I shall remember the name and when I find you next, you shall not defeat me!" he swore solemnly.

"I'll be waiting for you, then," Aegon said facetiously as Ronvid marched off down the road, presumably to train for the next time he would face the young prince. Aegon then looked at Geralt who had a slight smirk on his face. "What? You wouldn't face him," the purple-eyed lad pointed out.

"I might've, but you beat me to it," Geralt replied. "Seems like you've already made a rival of sorts," he quipped humorously.

"Oh, ha-ha," Aegon sarcastically muttered. "Let's just get to this next contract," he said in annoyed tone much to Geralt's amusement as they continued on their way to Honorton to pursue the next contract.

TO BE CONTINUED…

A/N: Another chapter of this is done and dusted! A bit of a short chapter with the introduction of Ronvid of Small Marsh and the beginning of a (one-sided) rivalry for Aegon and for those who did the Ronvid quest, it won't be the last we see of Ronvid. Although maybe instead of killing Ronvid in the final encounter, Aegon could perhaps teach and help Ronvid develop as a knight? It's something to think about.

And that's about all I have at the moment, so I'll see you all next time.

Before I forget, I've been made aware of a problem that's been happening with some of the stories I updated in the last few weeks, such as the new chapters not showing up. I don't know what is causing this problem, so if anyone else has been experiencing this problem as a writer or reader, let me know and we'll see if we can bring this up with the admins of the site.

Be kind to one another,

Angry lil' elf.