"The Wasps and the Books are supposed to be written down in the Chronicle he's making for us, so all Loreseekers can read of them," he said lightly, hiding the inward frown at hearing that Sam had not been keeping up with his guild duties. "As for the meeting with Safrin... that was Amalia's doing, not mine," he admitted, rueful humility mixed with fondness for one of his founding Loreseekers who was becoming one of his dearer friends. "We're still trying to sort through all that we learned that day. The goddess was generous, and we have a number of new books that need to be catalogued and annotated..." he hesitated, then gave a little shrug of one shoulder as his eyes refocused on Maea's pale features. "But I did not realize you were so close with Ludo, either," he finished with a brow arched in question, remembering a cloak of spooky rags topped with a white mask that had draped itself over Maea's shoulders at the Battle of the Spire.
"Ah, trapping! That's good to know," the bard grinned, pleased at her unexpected talent. "Having someone who knows their way around traps might come in handy when we start mapping the underground..." he paused, humor slipping into more sober lines. "Or exploring the inside of the Spire. Though I'd definitely want you to have some sort of spectacles before that." Harder to recognize the trigger for a trap she couldn't see, after all, and he had no intention of endangering one of his loreseekers when precautions could be taken to minimize the risk.
He was a little surprised at her avid hunger for the blade, but as he tilted his head and watched her measuringly he remembered the loss of her family during Long Night. How helpless that could feel, arriving to find oneself too late to help... knowing that even if you had been earlier, you lacked the power to have changed the outcome. He nodded his head slowly, accepting her request and settling his hand on the pommel of his sword thoughtfully.
Drawing it from its scabbard in one smooth pull he placed it on the table and motioned her over. "First, we'll start with vocabulary," he said, smiling at his student as he gestured to the blade. "The haft is the pommel, handle, basket, and quillons - the cross guard, here, for catching and binding your opponent's blade," he explained. "The basket protects your own hand from being sniped - from your opponent trying to jam their sword into your hand or fingers to force you to let go, while the pommel counterweights the blade so it balances efficiently in your hand. If you pursue a sword of your own, we'll have to experiment to find a pommel of the right weight for your own strength and balance." His own was likely too heavy for the much smaller woman, balanced as it was for his own specific arm length and comfort.
He moved his hand to point at the broadest width of the blade, nearest to the quillions and gestured to about half its length. "This is the 'strong' part of the blade. The widest, thickest part, and the part you will do most of your blocking and parrying with because there is less flex in this part of the steel." He shifted to the half of the blade that ended in its razor sharp point. "And this is the 'weak' part of the blade. Though you will do your feinting and thrusting with this part it is more fragile and likely to bend or break if you attempt to block or guard with it. The overlap between the two is the 'middle' and like its name it holds properties of both." He looked to his friend and raised a brow to see what she thought of the lesson so far. "Is this making sense, or do you have any questions yet?"
"Ah, trapping! That's good to know," the bard grinned, pleased at her unexpected talent. "Having someone who knows their way around traps might come in handy when we start mapping the underground..." he paused, humor slipping into more sober lines. "Or exploring the inside of the Spire. Though I'd definitely want you to have some sort of spectacles before that." Harder to recognize the trigger for a trap she couldn't see, after all, and he had no intention of endangering one of his loreseekers when precautions could be taken to minimize the risk.
He was a little surprised at her avid hunger for the blade, but as he tilted his head and watched her measuringly he remembered the loss of her family during Long Night. How helpless that could feel, arriving to find oneself too late to help... knowing that even if you had been earlier, you lacked the power to have changed the outcome. He nodded his head slowly, accepting her request and settling his hand on the pommel of his sword thoughtfully.
Drawing it from its scabbard in one smooth pull he placed it on the table and motioned her over. "First, we'll start with vocabulary," he said, smiling at his student as he gestured to the blade. "The haft is the pommel, handle, basket, and quillons - the cross guard, here, for catching and binding your opponent's blade," he explained. "The basket protects your own hand from being sniped - from your opponent trying to jam their sword into your hand or fingers to force you to let go, while the pommel counterweights the blade so it balances efficiently in your hand. If you pursue a sword of your own, we'll have to experiment to find a pommel of the right weight for your own strength and balance." His own was likely too heavy for the much smaller woman, balanced as it was for his own specific arm length and comfort.
He moved his hand to point at the broadest width of the blade, nearest to the quillions and gestured to about half its length. "This is the 'strong' part of the blade. The widest, thickest part, and the part you will do most of your blocking and parrying with because there is less flex in this part of the steel." He shifted to the half of the blade that ended in its razor sharp point. "And this is the 'weak' part of the blade. Though you will do your feinting and thrusting with this part it is more fragile and likely to bend or break if you attempt to block or guard with it. The overlap between the two is the 'middle' and like its name it holds properties of both." He looked to his friend and raised a brow to see what she thought of the lesson so far. "Is this making sense, or do you have any questions yet?"
