There were many openings as Hadama floated calmly, holding his trident at the ready but not in an obvious position of offense or defense. Relaxed and comfortable with his weapon, he watched Kaiden's eyes, waiting for the light of decision to fill them before the mershark charged.
They were younger and had an impressive sprint, but Hadama had something that mahi mahi didn't.
He had a weapon of his own.
He pulled the haft of the trident back and twisted it a quarter turn so the narrow edge cut through the water in a short arc as he maneuvered it at the last moment to point down towards the incoming mer, then thrust straight down to meet Kaiden as they rose up. The mershark's spear would tickle the King's stomach in a light scratch, but the younger man with the shorter reach might find the sparkling tines of starlight tickling his throat. Not even enough to draw blood; Hadama's familiarity with his own weapon was formidable, and he held back his thrust to avoid any potential lethality.
But he hoped that Kaiden had gotten the point.
A good thrust, he rumbled. But reckless when my reach is longer. Withdrawing his trident, he reached out to tap the flat of the spear's blade. Again. But remember the counterthrust.
He swam back a little ways to put them back at a good distance for their weapons and set his weapon again; this time holding a more obvious defensive posture now that Kaiden had proved their ability to stab properly with the weapon.
They were younger and had an impressive sprint, but Hadama had something that mahi mahi didn't.
He had a weapon of his own.
He pulled the haft of the trident back and twisted it a quarter turn so the narrow edge cut through the water in a short arc as he maneuvered it at the last moment to point down towards the incoming mer, then thrust straight down to meet Kaiden as they rose up. The mershark's spear would tickle the King's stomach in a light scratch, but the younger man with the shorter reach might find the sparkling tines of starlight tickling his throat. Not even enough to draw blood; Hadama's familiarity with his own weapon was formidable, and he held back his thrust to avoid any potential lethality.
But he hoped that Kaiden had gotten the point.
A good thrust, he rumbled. But reckless when my reach is longer. Withdrawing his trident, he reached out to tap the flat of the spear's blade. Again. But remember the counterthrust.
He swam back a little ways to put them back at a good distance for their weapons and set his weapon again; this time holding a more obvious defensive posture now that Kaiden had proved their ability to stab properly with the weapon.
