AINO
The pressure dissipated, and Aino was allowed to return to her feet. Humbled, reminded of what it meant to be a master of a craft and shown how much further she had yet to climb and eager to resume the journey. The praise was accepted for what it was, but it was the offer for another round that made her leap. "I can do this all day!" she grinned - then amended, somewhat deflated, "is what I'd like to say. But one more round I can manage."
Any lingering observers might as well not exist to her. Her friends and former collegues knew why she was there, and why she was not going to stay. If there was curiosity about her spar with the demoted outlander, any questions would no doubt be saved for the next night off at the Kraai.
Rolling the ache from her shoulders, Aino resumed her stance, limber and ready. "Your turn to start," she offered; it was the winner's prerogative to get the first blow, after all.
Any lingering observers might as well not exist to her. Her friends and former collegues knew why she was there, and why she was not going to stay. If there was curiosity about her spar with the demoted outlander, any questions would no doubt be saved for the next night off at the Kraai.
Rolling the ache from her shoulders, Aino resumed her stance, limber and ready. "Your turn to start," she offered; it was the winner's prerogative to get the first blow, after all.
For the good times that we share,
and the bad times that we'll have
and the bad times that we'll have
