Sounds like fun?

Ivan absently rubbed his thumb against the pommel of the sword hanging at his left hip as he strode down the hall. The events in the throne room had shaken him more then had cared to admit to his younger brother. Despite a well known belief in his own invincibility, he knew that any quest outside of Phel’s borders would be perilous, and then there was his brother to consider. If there was any way at all, he would make sure Davin stayed.

As the knight rounded the corner, he suddenly stopped, moments from crashing into another soldier who had been walking at a much greater speed, unfortunately the other man’s reflexes were not as swift as his own, and the pair crashed into each other and then onto the floor.

“Oww,” remarked Ivan laconically as he brushed himself off and got up. Offering the fallen knight a hand, he blinked twice when he realized who had just crashed into him.

“Revis, where were you off to in such a hurry?”

Revis smiled ruefully before grasping Ivan’s offered arm. Heaving upright, he also dusted himself off before answering. “To get you actually, the men want to see you.”

Ivan sighed, he had been afraid of this. “I was just on me way.”

The journey to the Raven’s barracks was uneventful and silent as Ivan was too lost in his own thoughts of what the new few weeks and months would bring. They crossed the courtyard without incident, however at the entrance Ivan grimaced slightly, put on his helmet and drew the sword at his right hip. Weapon at the ready, he surveyed the terrain. His preparations complete, he sank into a battle stance and waited.

Revis just grinned, happy that his Captain hadn’t lost his wits yet. With a wide sweep, he smashed his mailed fist into the front door.

All around then, men dressed in mail armor with the insignia of the Raven began to appear, from the inside of the barracks, around the courtyard and even dropping down from the roof. It was a rather noisy assembly.

“I hear you guys wanted to see me,” stated Ivan as he eyed his men. “I guess it’s that time of the year again.”

“Indeed.”

From the center of the barracks another Guard stepped out, this one an older grizzled veteran with a silver hilted katana at his right side and a badge on his left shoulder indicating his rank: Vice Captain.

“Good morning to you too Sephis” said Ivan as he nodded to his second in command. “Shall we begin?”

For a brief moment in time there was no movement nor sound save the whisper of the wind. Then suddenly, with no pre arranged signal, the Guards attacked.

From all around they came, charging straight at Ivan, who stood his ground firmly. Like a shining silver wave, they drew their swords and crashed directly into their commander. The ring of steel on steel echoed.

For a moment, the fate of Ivan Swiftblade was unknown, yet after several moments, a small but ever widening circle began to appear, with the Captain in the middle.

His blade moved faster then the eye could see; a true reflection of the name which he had been given on his 18th birthday, 3 years before. It barely had time to catch the light as he skillfully held back ten other Guards who had surrounded him. Spinning and whirling, his blade merely an extension of his body, he parried every stroke and attack. Any that ventured too close were immediately dispatched, but just as quickly two more would appear.

Then Sephis was there, his silver katana drawn and weaving like a serpent. His style of fighting was different then the other guards, trained as they were to fight as a unit, and they backed away, leaving a cleared space for the pair to battle.

“Every year it’s the same thing isn’t it?” remarked Ivan, eyes following the movements of his opponent’s blade. “It ends up just being you and me.”

Sephis grinned. “Maybe this year you shall survive young Captain.”

“Let’s hope so.”

Ivan attacked first, without warning, his blade sweeping low and then high in a series of complicated side cuts. Sephis simply dodged back, then swept in with his katana over his head to protect him against the attacks, but also in preparation for his own offense.

Ivan had seen his Vice Captain use this move many times, and waited for the inevitable thrust at the end. When it came, he side stepped and spun with blinding speed, trying to cut at Sephis’ now unprotected side. His blade met only air.

“Ahh crud.” He managed to say before the blade of the katana caught him squarely in the back. It hurt, a lot.

Seconds later, he could dimly hear Revis reading out the conclusion of the ceremony.

“According to the rules of the Raven, the Guards win! The score is Captain 0, Guards 3.” The Guards burst into cheers, large grins on all their faces.

Sephis walked around to face Ivan, his silver practice katana already back in its scabbard, before offering a hand. “Better luck next year kid, if you survive that is.”

Ivan grasped the hand offered and pulled himself up, feeling perhaps his collision with Revis has been a sign of things to come. “I know I know, you’re going to tell me that I was too fancy right? That this spinning stuff they teach in fencing doesn’t really work?”

Sephis laughed, a deep booming sound, as he clapped an arm around his Captain’s shoulders. “Actually I was going to tell you not to use the same move as you always do. It’s getting to easy to predict.”

The Guards gathered around their officers and headed inside where Ivan’s birthday lunch was laid out. Tankards of beer and cups of cider sat on a table, and each of the 100 elite warriors grasped one as they went by.

Revis handed one to Ivan before calling out to the gathered men.

“Brothers! Today, thanks to Sephis, we have won yet another victory over our Captain!”

The crowd cheered in good natured fun, and Ivan grinned.

“But as you may know,” the standard bearer continued ” Ivan Swiftblade sets off on a quest with his brother, to bring about the salvation of Phel”

The cheering was different, quieter yet more heartfelt.

“I know that we wish to go with him. Yet he has made it very clear, our duty is to protect the King and to protect the city. Therefore, since we can not be with him in body, may we all be with him in Spirit! To Ivan!”

“To IVAN!”

The Guards toasted their captain, but after drinking began to stamp their feet as Ivan raised his eyebrow to look at Revis. A mischievous grin was playing around his childhood friend’s face as he turned to look behind the young Captain. Ivan spun around, ducking even as he did so, just in case.

Sephis grinned, but bowed once Ivan stood back up. “May your spirit never grow weary,” he intoned, “may your arm never grow weak. May you always have friends to guard your back. May you always have the means to defend those closest to you.”

With those words, he pulled a cloth wrapped bundle from behind his back.

“We will always be at your command Ivan, whenever you need us.”
Ivan took the gift, already knowing what it must contain. Pulling the string, he let the cloth fall. Inside lay a sword. The hilt was wide and silver, a spotless matt finish which led to a grip of dark brown leather. The pommel was a deep blue sapphire, one that matched the color of the scabbard.

With one smooth motion Ivan drew the blade, marveling at its balance and feel. The edge gleamed with the light caught from the windows. He thrust it into the air and the Guards erupted into cheers and applause. He stood there for a moment, for a touch of dramatic effect, before slipping the blade back into its sheath. After several moments the noise dropped.

“My gratitude to you all.” Ivan said, nodding as he caught the eyes of many that he knew personally. “This is a mighty gift. I shall wield it with strength and honor.” Ivan paused, looking for perhaps the last time at the gathering of his men.

“But for now, let us not think of departures and farewells, drink, eat! I have but precious hours until the tedium of a formal dinner with King!”

The Guards laughed, and began to disperse.

Ivan sighed but once, before joining in with the party.