Rose's Epitah

I wrote this up for an rpg character that I was part of for a only a few posts before the rpg forum died. This was written for my character's background. Rose's Epitah Part 01 The loud smacks reverberated off the canyon walls, as each time a single word was harshly spoken, "Balance." smack. "Form." smack. "Open." Smack, a quick hit to his ribcage for his opening in his guard. "Footing." smack, the wooden sword's blow stung after it had struck the back of his knee tripping the youth. The young boy landed hard on his backside, his hands trying to rub out some of the soreness. Smack, a hit to the top of his head, "Stand." Keric realized he was laying there to long; but realized just too late as his master's sword jabbed him hard into his stomach, "Dead." Keric stood up, his head hanging low with shame that he'd been training under her for nearly a year, and had shown no signs of improvement. He could not believe that nearly a year had gone by; it felt as though the chance encounter between his master and himself had been only yesterday. It was almost as a whim that she had called him over to her and decided to take him under wing as her pupil. Each night he dreaded the waking from this dream, as if with the coming dawn he would find himself starving and dirty in some alley with his exposed parts being nibbled on by rats. His silvery black bangs covered his eyes as he had continued to stand there under her scrutiny, his hands tightly clenching his practice sword. It hurt inside him that he knew he was such a disappointment to her. Her hand came down and gently tousled his hair, "You shall make a fine swordsman, Keric. You merely need to take your practice more seriously. Remember that in a real fight your opponents will never give you pause. That is why you must hone the basics so that they are second nature to you." The eleven year old boy looked up at her and smiled. "I shall continue to give it my all. I'll make you proud of me yet, Master." She informed him, "It is time for meditation. Then today we have a long journey ahead of us." "We are leaving the Slums?" Keric inquired. "Where are we going, Master?" A bitterness seemed to enter her voice, "You will learn soon enough, Keric. Now go meditate." He bowed his head, "Yes Master." He looked back at her in unease before making his way a little deeper into the woods. There was something wrong with Master Varr but he couldn't bring himself to inquire about it. He didn't feel it was his place to intrude. For what felt like hours he sat calming his mind. He had often enjoyed meditation; but with his knee bruised it was like an agony to remain seated so long and not having it tended. As his mind calmed he was well aware of his surrounding, as a former pickpocket it was something easily picked up if you intended to survive as a thief. The birds and insects sang and the wind caressed at him when gentle breezes blew through the grasses. Even the sway of the trees had their own distinct noises. Her long golden hair had been pulled back and held in place with expensive looking hair ornaments. He had never seen his master look so enchanting though she wore no make up and still donned her armor. Before him stood a figure that was both an attractive woman of court and yet a warrior as well, a contradiction to the minds of many. She spoke in a voice that sounded stronger then her eyes looked, "It is time to go."

Rose's Epitaph Part 02 Most of the journey had been spent in constant training with very few words spoken between them, though this silence had not been awkward; but a mutual one spent in reflections and thoughts. The Slums had soon laid a week's travel by foot behind them as they came upon the secluded mansion nestled between the Shiverspine Mountains and the forest that nearly surrounded the distant kingdom of Varelea. This large dwelling that stood overlooking the forest from the shelf of the Shiverspine's foothills was partially surrounded in a semicircle by a low white wall around the jutting shelf of rock. He felt her hand grip his shoulders as she knelt down to his eye level, "I have often told you how the Varr Family are renowned warriors, but are not nobility, correct?" Keric had merely shook his head 'yes'. "Good. But there is more you must know. Because of this renown the Varr often find service within the noble houses throughout Ilya. This is one such house of nobility that is connected with the Varr Family." He petulantly inquired, "But why? Why are we here, Master?' his upper lip quivered a little as fear stole into his eyes, "No Master….you aren't leaving me here by myself are you?" The blow of the hilt of the practice sword hit him hard on the top of his head as she scowled at him, "Keric?! Don't be stupid. You will be my pupil until the day you have surpassed me…which given your current results will be many years away yet." Keric rubbed at his sore head as he looked from his master to the gate. On the gate hung a well painted sign with words that Keric could just barely read as the "The Homely Retree…." He did not know what a retree was; though as he looked back at his master he doubted her answering his questions. She was hesitating before the gate as even Keric himself now did. For a moment he caught the look of shame, pride and regret all as one emotion and not individual ones in her eyes. In a subdued voice he asked, "Are you all right, Master?" She shook her head and her eyes returned to their clarity, "This place just brings back bad memories for me is all." "Then let's go somewhere else?" Keric suggested energetically. Her body grew firm as her hand reached for the gate's latch as Keric appeared crestfallen when his master's hand pulled the gate open, "No. You will have a proper swordsman's education, or you will never grow." The two strode through the wooden gate and into the flagstone path leading into the opulently decorated yard. Keric's small hand had reached out to grasp his master's only to find it swatted aside. After that he quickly fell behind his master, following her as though he were her tail rather then continuing to walk at her side, as though trying to hide in her shadow. Once he had fallen behind her his body had become more rigid and erect as he walked, trying to hide his fears of being in this strange new place. Quickly closing the distance they came to a great black marble arch covered with blue, white and yellow flowers twining about it. Within this archway two figures stood, a young boy only a little older looking then Keric and an elderly figure in an expensive cut, dark red silken doublet and pants with dark brown boots. As they drew within hearing distance the elderly figure threw wide his arms in greeting, "Welcome to The Homely Retreat. I hope that you shall not find our hospitality wanting." His master had been about to bow her head as Keric gave out a yelp as he found a hard kick from his master sending him to his knees, his head bowing at the young boy. His master then knelt down upon one knee her eyes staring directly and purposefully into those of the old man as she told him, "We are honored by the gracious hospitality displayed by House Barand." "I trust you must be tired from your long travail. With these formalities out of the way please take the chance to refresh yourselves in the quarters we have provided for you. The boy, Mal'kite, shall guide you to your room." the elderly man remarked. Keric raised his head slightly to see that the boy, Mal'kite, had been staring at him. Feeling too self conscious Keric turned his head away from Mal'kite. After his master had risen up from her kneeling he followed suit. "We are honored to be given a chance to refresh ourselves and thank you once more for this most kind gesture." The elderly figure pushed Mal'kite forward with the back of his hand, "Go on, boy, guide them." His master crisply walked behind the gangly boy, Mal'kite, as he lead them down the corridors. Keric once more had taken his position at the rear, behind his master. They walked for a good hour before arriving at the alcove of room, complete with a garden that divided it from the main part of the house. Keric had never seen such a beautiful garden before that was simple yet beautiful, unlike the opulent yard that surrounded the front of the house known as The Homely Retreat. Mal'kite opened the door and gave a formal bow towards them as his right arm swung inward to his chest, "Welcome to your quarters." The Varr swordswoman wasted little time and entered into the room beyond as Keric numbly stood, his eyes everywhere, taking in every minute detail of the garden. He had not heard Mal'kite speak and then heard the loud cough before the boy spoke again, "My name is Mal'kite Barand. My grandfather is the man who is so kindly putting you up so the least you could do is answer my question." Keric found himself looking away from him, unable to meet another's gaze that was not his master and feeling very nervous as his voice coldly asked, "What question?" Mal'kite sniffed, biting down on his anger, "Your name?" This was an odd question to Keric, the only person to have ever asked for his name before had been his master, Rose Varr. Keric fell silent in thought. Before Rose he had been called several names such as: "Stop thief!", "You little rat!", "You little bastard!" and by the truly articulate, "You little rat bastard!". It had been his master that had given him the name of Keric Varr, he had a name no doubt before that but he did not remember it after having spent so much of his life as an insignificant speck on the streets of the Artur Kingdom. Mal'kite crossed his arms angrily at the silence, "Don't be so stuck up and rude. It's not a hard question! What's your name?" Keric's chin dug into his chest as he looked at the ground still unable to meet those angry eyes and his voice came out trembled and muffled into his chest, "Keric." Mal'kite snapped, "What? Carrot? Don't play dumb with me! What idiot parent names their kid Carrot." His master had come out and stood behind Keric. Her hands gently gripped Keric's shoulder as she said, "Don't be silly, young lord. His name is Keric. Keric Varr, and he is my most recent pupil."