Tablets of the Heart

Mudrick Mudrick panted, concentrating on the fight at hand. He was sword-to-sword against a man of great skill. He was older than Mudrick with short white hair and a beard. They both had the same armor and helmets on, reflecting off the sunlight. This type of helmet was made of a gray metal with a small crest that was coming from the top. It covered all the head except for the eyes, nose and mouth, giving protection while allowing the user to see and breath well. The opening in front of the face looked like a T. The old man’s skill was shown in his stance, the way he calmly held his sword, and how smoothly he fought. They pulled apart, and the man brought his sword down. Mudrick blocked it with his shield and retaliated. Onward they fought, circling around each other, blocking, swiping. Mudrick focused on his movements, trying to move efficiently and precisely. There were times when the old man seemed to gain the upper hand, but Mudrick would always spring back. After a few minutes a bell clanged, and the two fighters immediately stopped. “The training’s over,” the older man, Mudrick’s teacher, said. Mudrick lowered his sword and shield. In a flash of golden light his weapons and armor disappeared, leaving behind a light brown shirt and pants, a black belt, and a green cloak. The teacher’s armor disappeared in a similar fashion, revealing a white robe with wide sleeves and simple golden hemming on its edges. “Why,” the old man smiled, “you did really well today. Your form was top notch.” “Thank you, Gallum,” Mudrick said sheepishly. They were in a training ring, a wooden platform elevated a few feet from the ground. It had a wooden fence surrounding most of the enclosure, except its entrance, so no one could fall off. Each corner of the fence had a thick post with a torch on top, but they were not lit at the moment since it was early afternoon.