Thread: Squire's Secret (Benny and Gunner)

Friderick's bewilderingly calm retort brought only more color to Jacqueline's face. The fact he was suddenly so calm after charging her down and having a practice sword lobbed at him made her shame double. It was an indignant reaction but, alas, a powerful one. One she needed to learn to rein in sooner rather than later. Screeching at him like some shrewish fishwife was bound to raise questions. Questions Friderick was quick to mock with. A boy might feel even more shame at possibly being mistaken for a girl. For Jacqueline it set a worrying stone to her stomach. She needed to take better care to not do such things. Still she was furious he charged as he did. Beneath that quickly dying fire of anger lay a quieter, smoldering pile of...something. She still wasn't clear what but thinking of that prissy, fancy lady and Friderick's reactions to her made the smoldering pile hotter. Jacqueline remained tight lipped with the lecture except for a simple aye sir at his warning. The training continued. This time she was prepared, tightening her muscles to absorb the blows. She was quick to learn to tilt the shield some at the point of impact. It made the sudden jarring crash easier on the body and glanced the lance away from face and body. Some hits she took well, remaining on her feet. Others it was right back into the mud, tunic and breeches utterly caked, even mud in the foxy crop of red hair. She was aware of others watching but hardly cared. It was good training for the both of them. After the initial anger and subsequent sullen silence she found herself actually enjoying the training. Strange as it was this was why she risked so much. Not for pomp, parade, accolades but for the joy of a fight. She couldn't wait for when Friderick deemed her ready to switch places. Maybe she'd get to knock him on his rear a few times. With each hit her arms and back grew weary, shoulders tight. It was with a grateful sigh she relaxed the shield when Friderick called the training over. Holding the shield was only getting marginally easier and she was able to hold longer but each session was longer and longer, not a day passed without hellfire in her muscles. Jacqueline gathered up shield and the two wooden swords and followed Friderick into the camp. Separated by knights and squires she headed to the circle she belonged in. It had taken some time but she was passingly friendly with a few of them. Fabien and his little crowd not so much. Rather than a singular circle there were basically two camps of squires. Fabien and his idiots then the rest. Sir Friderick works you hard, huh Jacque? A squire with ebony hair and dark eyes asked. I'm here to learn, Jacqueline said with a shrug and a groan. I don't see you training much James. The dark haired boy also shrugged as he ripped off a hank of bread to dip into his stew. Sir Wilfred wishes to be rested for the tournament. Who am I to demand training when he needs to be fresh to compete. Sir Friderick might not do so well if he does not give himself rest. Jacqueline blinked some but scowled a little, Sir Friderick will fair just fine. James raised an eyebrow before chuckling, well pardon me then. The restful hour passed somehow both slowly and far too quickly. While her muscles had time to ease in their aching it only made them harder to move. She kept rolling her shoulders to loosen them, get blood flowing again. Sword alone she was better suited to, her movements quick and sudden. With the shield she was greatly slowed and being a little slip of a thing easy enough to overpower if she didn't manage to outmaneuver. Still she would do her best with the shield. Movements far slowed by its weight she at least didn't hesitate to begin a fight. Not entirely confident with the use of a shield she moved to ram his shield with her own and skirt to the side with a swing of the sword. Of course he shield hitting his might be akin to a small pony trying to ram into the side of a draft horse and nip its side.