|
|
|
|
|
|
I am writing to you tired after a full day of training. I am pleased beyond words! When I left Trinsic you congratulated me on finishing my training, and I replied that my training would only begin when I encountered true battle. I was half-right. Battle teaches many things such as steadfastness and confidence, but I have discovered that when it comes to technique, it is best learned from a master. So I went to Serpent's Hold to see what their teachers could impart.
It is a place that rings with the clang of weapons and the yells of training. There is no farming or hunting in the area, and since the populace is mostly soldiers looking for new techniques, the only familiar faces from one visit to the next belong to those who provide services. I need very little in the way of equipment, but there is a fine market there for nearly everything that I could imagine. Unfortunately, my first day I made a bad impression on the locals. I offered to teach some basic battle magic spells to someone in exchange for pointers in the use of the war hammer. I have always been clumsy with hammers. Apparently magic is considered "cheating," and I earned myself a reputation as a sneak among the soldiers. It took three alley brawls before I regained a name for myself. It's ridiculous, but that's the way this city works. While Trinsic, Jhelom and Serpent's Hold are valiant political allies in a grander scheme, there tend to be jealous rivalries that surface primarily in taverns. They are a proud group, these men who train at Serpent's Hold, and I have twice heard the tale of the silver serpent which saved Lord British' life - serpents represent prowess and courage in battle. The warriors here have a strong sense of duty to the realm, their own brand of chivalry, and a sense of discipline based on duty to king, country and commanding officer. All of this is admirable. To my mind, what makes Serpent's Hold an entirely different place than Trinsic is its approach to birth days. Each man celebrates the anniversary of his own birth with his friends or family, and it is considered something like a tiny holiday. The next time I return to Trinsic, I shall endeavor to discover the day I was born. If I am lucky, someone will give me a free war hammer lesson. Your friend, Garreth |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |