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Mira completed her last stretch and smoothly stood up straight. She started for her shelter, throwing her own mischievous grin over her shoulder, "You'll have to win first, Declan." She made quick work of her shelter, tying everything in a tight bundle that she would lash to her saddle once her steed was ready. She grabbed all the stones that they had used and carried them back to their places at the river.

Once all of her things were packed, sans her being-washed dishes, Mira moved over to her horse and got everything ready to go. She would be glad when they were on the road. She was thrumming with energy for the approaching match. It has been a long time since she had an opponent that would challenge her and she was looking forward to it.

While Declan packed his things, she gathered water for them both. His share, she left by his dishes, picking up her own and moving back to her steed. Once everything was packed and tied down, she took a last look around the campsite for anything they missed.

Not seeing anything left, Mira swung up into her saddle and looked over at Declan, "You ready? The road calls."

Declan Fraser
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Declan stretched his back and rolled his neck when he and Mira finally came to their agreed upon halt at mid-day. Slipping free from his saddle he could not help but smile slightly, recalling an old conversation.

"Can you be a workaholic if you really enjoy what you do? I am always down to deal with bandits."
”Hey workaholic! I’m ready to go unless you have any leftover biscuts?” He called out while leading his horse over to a shaded area with plenty of grass for his traveling companion to munch on. Pausing for a moment, Declan undid the buckles that kept his saddle and gear tied down and gently set it aside.
Retrieving his weapons of choice for the spar, Declan began to tie down the scabbard of his blade and double checked the sheath that covered the bit of his axe to ensure that it was secure. If they were sparring, they were going to do it proper and minimize the risk of one of them getting seriously injured. Bruises and cuts were part and parcel but a broken limb or serious slash would not do anyone any good. That is except their enemies.
”Ferrum Ferro Exacuitur”, or “Iron Sharpens Iron” was an age old adage that Lord Sharpe had beaten into his head a long time ago when he was a dumb kid. But now he could certainly see what he meant by it.
”You don’t improve by destroying your allies.” Declan muttered to himself as he approached Mira weapons in hand before offering them over for inspection. Another old habit that was second nature. If she had any adjustments that she wanted made he would see them done.
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Declan and Mira faced each other with a measured distance between the two. Declan lightly resting his scabbarded blade’s tip on the ground with one hand on the grip. He gave a quick bow while Mira flourished her blade with the ease of an experienced combatant and duelist to test its balance before she brought her shield up into a practiced guard, ready to ward off any blow and close off her partners lines of attack. The two paused for but a moment and then at an unseen but agreed upon signal sprang into action.

Mira began to circle and then close in while Declan opted to remain stationary watching his opponent with a calculating gaze. Hoping to strike the first blow and test her opponents’ reactions, Mira gathered her feet and sprang forward, the tip of her blade snaking out from behind her guard. Declan responded by kicking the tip of his weapon up with his boot. The simple motion added a surprising amount of momentum to the parry that turned Mira’s thrust aside. With both hands now on his weapon and his partners thrust checked, the smiling adventurer allowed for the blade to arc around his body to create space and lash out with a follow up blow, hoping to conserve his opening moves momentum and force his opponent back.

Not one to be caught off guard when her attack was parried and intrigued by her partners unorthodox start, Mira quickly retreated out of range as Declan’s sword whistled through the air in front of her. Eyeing her partner, she watched as he rhythmically kept his blade moving for a few moments before bringing it to rest in a more traditional guard at waist level, ready to slash again. Declan had reach, power and devastating offense while she had speed, a superior defense and countering ability with her shield.

Declan’s long blade now began to sing as he advanced toward Mira with a series of slashes and cuts. His attacks we punctuated with the occasional thrust in order to maintain distance. Mira in turn parried or avoided his swings constantly watching for an opportunity to land a counter blow. Her moment came when an overhand strike from Declan was brought down onto her shield and sword in an effort to overpower her defense and land a telling blow for this spar. It was a calculated risk that could pay off, and did in a sense, as it torqued her sword free from her grip but brought his own blade close to the ground. Mira capitalized on this momentary lapse in Declan’s guard by stepping on his blade to pin it down and closed the gap. One of her daggers easily slipping free of its sheath with a quiet hiss of leather and steel. A faint gust of wind tickled her ear as she gently tapped the tip of her blade against the chest and neck of Declan but frowned when she noticed that he had a clenched fist next to her ear and temple.

A draw by tournament rules. Death or severe injury in their shared line of work.

Mira couldn’t say that she would particularly enjoy the concussion that Declan’s punch would have inflicted. Content to leave it at that the two separated with respectful nods and reset. Gathering up their respective weapons before facing each other once more. Both combatants new that a double touch would not do and silently vowed to bring their absolute best in the bouts to come.

"Iron sharpens iron..."

"...But it is in the fire of battle that the strongest steel is forged"

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Declan and Mira continued to clash again and again, each bout of their little match lasting longer than the last as both fighters began to take their measure of their opponent.

Both demonstrated great skill at arms and in ingenuity by developing methods to counter their opponents strengths.

Mira neutralized Declan's superior reach by blitzing forward immediately at the start of one bout trapping her foe's blade in the press. Declan's knuckles were met by the hardened steel and leather flat of Mira's blade while the tip of her danced close to his eye. The bout ended in her favor.

Declan confounded Mira's defense by switching tactics mid-fight. letting go of his great sword mid swig with one hand to draw forth his axe, which was promptly used as a hook to lever Mira's shield away. the blow that ended the bout in Declan's favor came swiftly after with the poll being brought to tap on Mira's armored chest. By this time both fighters knew of each others strength and the blow would have crushed armor and ribs alike.

Mira once again deployed her daggers to great effect, tracing silver though the air and through gaps in Declan's defense.

Declan's axe, after its initial use was brought out and allowed to play. The large man wielded it expertly. The haft and blade seemed to come alive and cleave the air itself in viscous arc's, always seeking and breaking through all but the most staunch defenses.

On and on it went between the two with neither side truly dominating the fight until the two finally by unspoken agreement came to a halt. Both fighters breathing deeply and sweating profusely.

Meeting each others gazes the two warriors, approached each other and clasped forearms in a warriors shake before stepping away to gather their equipment.

the spar was over... but the journey had just begun



"It is said that one can learn all there is to know about someone by crossing blades with them"

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