[Training] For the hammer and the ring.

Are

Early mornings where the best time for a cobbler to engage a fierce wooden enemy, one that had seen more defeats than even the worst warrior. Still he stood there, battered, broken, but never beaten, forever stoic in the face of spear, shield, and axe. The first light of dawn broke through the light cover of clouds in the east as Are prepared for yet another one-sided sparring session. Tugging at the straps on his ever growing collection of armor pieces.

'Train like you fight', the advice had seemed sensible enough, and who was Are to question it. He thought as he took a few tentative swings with his ill-balanced hatchet, making sure he wouldn't suddenly shed leather with a mighty swing.

'Fight to your strengths', another good nugget of wisdom, one heeded almost religiously as the warrior lounged and let a quick flick bounce off the "head" of the pell. A nice, solid blow properly shielded and delivered just like a hundred times before, but not good enough. Training not to get it right, but to train 'til he couldn't get it wrong.

Allowing his opponent a short respite, Are got out of his helmet and peered at the settlement a stone's throw away. Where the day's first light meant movement from a slowly waking populace, but his eyes weren't searching for any old craftsman. No, he was anxiously awaiting one Eli, maybe a while to simmer down would make for looser soil where friendship could take root. Or at least some kind of understanding and an opportunity to turn a new leaf.