Earagain.

Whyndred threw a punch with her gloved hand, still holding onto the hilt. It went left and only struck the Elder lightly on his cheek. Her hands ached but she took another blow, parrying it with both daggers this time. The two were locked, straining against each other. Her opponent suddenly grabbed her hilts, dropped his sword and pushed Whyndred Against the wall. She tangled with him for a few seconds then gave up. Thoroughly frustrated, she said.

“Okay, Melkaryn! You Win.”

Melkaryn unhanded the daggers.

“You should of known I was going to pull that trick on you.” He said.

Whyndred flexed her chain mail clad hand, giving him a raised brow.

“A trick? That was just a tactical maneuver.”

Melkaryn's gray robe swished as he picked up his sword from the ground. Nodding to Whyndred, he asked.

“Ready?”

She took up her fighting stance, her daggers held ether side of her body.

“Ready.”

They went at it, their blades flashed in the sunlight, over looking the town they were in. It was not a big

one but it was not a small one ether. Whyndred had lived there all her life, trained by Melkaryn. He was like a father to her. She was trying to master the art of two dagger fighting but still was advised to use a sword in real combat. Whyndred ducked a swing and had just enough time to jump over a low swipe to her feet. The townspeople were independent, seldom trusting any 'outsiders' as they called them. On this afternoon, most of the people were in there homes, resting from the weeks toil. But all the younger ones were practicing there weapon arts. The choice of weapon depended on how old they were. All around Melkaryn and Whyndred little skirmishes were going on. Dust was wide spread, kicked up by there efforts. Wooden buildings rose ether sides of them in the town square. The structures were not taller then three story's. The pupil spun around, trying to land a more enforced punch to the elder's cheek with her armored hand. He swayed ever so slightly and it missed. To the right of them, a slightly more organized group then the rest, were being trained by a tall, serious man named Revdar. He was the leader of the town and in charge of its defenses. He held a sword in his hand and was demonstrating a swing to his trainees, with a poll. He stepped back to let one of them try. One girl carrying a long dagger (for lack of strength to use a sword) stepped up. She swung it from the left and it was driven deep into the wood. Revdar nodded at her.

“Well done, Eldereth.”

She tried to pull the blade out but she could not get it. He got it for her. Another tried but was distracted by Melkaryn and Whyndred. There fight had intensified greatly. The younger was getting quicker, not falling so easily to his 'maneuvers'. The elder was moving forward as the maiden was being pushed back. Suddenly she ducked then rolled to one side, kicking out at him. It did not knock him over as she had desired but he staggered back, giving her enough time to regain her balance without further assaults. A ring of people had gathered to watch. Whyndred, though only sixteen, was a renown fighter. All speculated why she was so good, but most attributed it pure determination. It was more amazing was that she was trying to reach a point where she could use two daggers in real sword play.

Melkaryn smiled as he looked around at the people then he looked back at Whyndred.

“Need a rest?”

Whyndred was breathing heavily but she shook her head.

“No, you?”

He didn't answer, but kept his amused smile up. They went at it, hammering away. The onlookers shouted out advise to them, (but mostly to Whyndred) as they watched with bated breath.

“Punch him in the face!”

“Show 'um the old one, two!”

(all these remarks made by the younger ones of course).

Some how, Whyndred dropped one of her daggers then got a hold of the blade of the sword, her hand protected from its keen edge by her chain mail glove. Melkaryn was quick, he grabbed the hilt of her dagger, again. They pushed against each other. Whyndred was starting to back down but then,

“Revdar!”

A dark head, slightly taller then the rest, was making his way through the crowd.

“Revdar, you are needed on the walls, now!”

The two fighters let off, sensing the urgently in the young mans voice. He walked over to Revdar.

“What's wrong, Hunden?” asked Revdar.

The two of them had a whispered conversation then the leader turned to the crowd.

“Listen to me. All of you on the guard, get any gear you don't have with you and go to the steps of the walls and wait. The rest of you go to your homes and stay there. Go now!”

All went to do as he had bid. All except Melkaryn. He grabbed Hunden's arm.

“Hunden, what is going on?”

The young man's face was grim.

“Raiders. A hole punch of them march towards our gates.”

Melkaryn nodded.

“You mean the Helderen people.”

Hunden started to walk away.

“Raiders, Helderen. They're both the same.”

Whyndred stepped onto the small room. It was where she lived. It was a two room house in a long row of houses. Her leather boots thumped against the wooden floor as she walked to the mantle above the fire place. On it lay sword in its sheath. Her sword. She brushed a stay wisp of her long blond hair from her face. Halfheartedly, she picked it up. Her daggers had sheaths on her back. The sword went on her belt. She walked to the door, grabbed her bow and quiver then shut it as she stepped out. She walked down the street. All the windows of the houses were shut tight. The walls were ramparts, circling the city. Many of the men and women were standing, waiting for summons to get on the walls. Whyndred ran up the ramparts. Hunden, Revdar and several others were standing on the Ramparts. Hunden seemed to be searching there fighters with his dark eyes. He whispered in a confidential tone to her.

“Whyn, Where is the elder?”

She looked around.

“He does not live here. He slips away at odd times, you should know that.”

“But I told him that they were coming.

The Raiders were coming, marching in tight ranks, all wearing leather armor.

Whyndred thought a second then answered.

“He would not leave us need. Perhaps he has gone to bring help.”

His hand clenched and unclenched around his hilt. He seemed to calm a bit.

“Let us hope that, for we will need it.”