Pio watched the crew trying their 'blades'. She let them play for a while, and then began to pair them up - an experienced fighter with a novice. Daisy she took for her own pupil.
Lining each pair up, she took them through their beginning paces - some short comments on grips and stances, and then a basic defensive lesson on parrying.
They worked hard for a good hour, until the lesson had almost become an automatic response. Then she told them to put up their 'swords' and come to dinner.
'That was good work, Daisy', she said to the hobbit lass, who had managed to get only a few small bruises when her blade failed to turn Pio's. 'It will be a great advantage to have someone like you at our side, should we need to defend ourselves.'
Daisy beamed, and followed her down to the galley.
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Eldest, that’s what I am . . . I knew the dark under the stars when it was fearless - before the Dark Lord came from Outside.
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