"Don't be," he wheezed reassuringly. Or maybe not reassuringly? But either way he offered a flicker of an apologetic smile as his own strike came in and caught her off-guard. He managed to control his sympathetic wince - his own fresh bruise was throbbing like a bitch, even if he'd been careful to keep his return cut light - and gave an approving nod as she danced nimbly back. "Just 'cause you've stuck someone doesn't mean they'll stop movin'. If they're used t'fightin' an' takin' hits, they'll take advantage o' how close y'had t'come t'hit 'em even while they're bleedin'."
It wasn't that he was taking it easy on her. If anything he was starting her out with a harder set of lessons out of respect for the experience she already had.
And she repaid his faith in her a moment later, though he didn't realize it at first. Her knife left her hand and Tal let out a strangled squawk of dismay, drawing breath to berate her for letting go of her weapon--
In the next moment the knife was arrowing towards his own hand, perfectly under control thanks to her telekinesis, and he realized what her plan was too late to do anything about it. The dull blade hit his wrist, and though the shock wasn't enough to make him lose his grip he dropped his training dagger anyways. IF the knife had been sharpened it would have done a lot more damage, and he rolled with the pretense that it was a 'live' blade.
But now neither of them had a weapon in hand, and Tal scowled in concentration as he launched himself at Alys in a physical tackle, attempting to knock her down onto the rug-softened floor.
It wasn't that he was taking it easy on her. If anything he was starting her out with a harder set of lessons out of respect for the experience she already had.
And she repaid his faith in her a moment later, though he didn't realize it at first. Her knife left her hand and Tal let out a strangled squawk of dismay, drawing breath to berate her for letting go of her weapon--
In the next moment the knife was arrowing towards his own hand, perfectly under control thanks to her telekinesis, and he realized what her plan was too late to do anything about it. The dull blade hit his wrist, and though the shock wasn't enough to make him lose his grip he dropped his training dagger anyways. IF the knife had been sharpened it would have done a lot more damage, and he rolled with the pretense that it was a 'live' blade.
But now neither of them had a weapon in hand, and Tal scowled in concentration as he launched himself at Alys in a physical tackle, attempting to knock her down onto the rug-softened floor.
