Illoryan 2

He raised his guard, stepping back away from his student after their last clash. Young Viserys was growing quickly, as he always had been, and his skill had at this point reaches a sort of equilibrium. He had grasped every concept of combat that Illoryan could teach him, stances, strikes, follow-throughs, how to deal with opponents of different shapes and sizes. Viserys could, if he deigned to open his mouth, easily recite every single one by memory, however, it had become more and more apparent over time that the boy lacked one critical thing.

Practice.

While he had the theory of swordfish ting memorized as well or perhaps even better than Illoryan himself, the boy's lean muscles had not been trained by years of combat. He still needed conscious thought for his movements, and he lacked the sort of killer instinct that a master possessed for telling true weakness apart from feint.

In short, like most boys his age, he was inexperienced.

Now, this would be no issue if the boy were his own disciple in truth. If he was teaching some young man off the street he would simply take him north to Meereen and have him fight in the blood-pits there until he was well and truly capable, but that wasn't really a possibility with how much lady Cherazza practically worshipped the ground her slave's feet touched.

It was all very odd to his sensibilities. Of such a relationship existed in Tyrosh it would be ruthlessly mocked, but Yunkai seemed to have different sensibilities about such things. Not that it was his business anyway, it only made training the boy a fair bit more difficult.

"I am afraid, Viserys, that you are reaching the limits of what I can actually teach you already."

The boy glanced at him with a raised eyebrow, meaning that he should elaborate.

"Your mind for theory is excellent, but you need experience, and that, I cannot provide."

The boy stared at him for a long moment, and then nodded, turning to leave, likely to find his mistress.

'Well, that was rather abrupt.' Illoryan though as the teen departed. But then, such things were common with the boy, he rarely if ever spoke, and when he did it was curt and to the point.

He returned with lady Cherazza a moment later, clinging to each other's sides like newlyweds as they always did. Illoryan bowed slightly as she entered with respect to her status.

"Viserys says that you can train him no longer?" She asked, staring at him quizzically.

"Not that I cannot train him precisely. No, I simply cannot teach him more than that. He has already learned and memorized the theory and techniques of what I have to teach." The swordmaster said, before going into a lengthier explanation of the situation.

"So you're saying that Viserys needs to fight more people than just you?" The young woman looked incredulous.

"Beasts too ideally, I found that they sharpened my blade considerably since they were often so much stronger than a man."

"You know that I do now want to see him hurt."

"A sword must be struck before it is forged my lady, as I have often said." While the girl's attachment for the boy was adorable, there was little that could be done to avoid him being injured in some capacity once he began to truly fight.

From the grimace on her face however, it seemed that she was still unwilling to accept the truth of the matter. A shame, as Viserys might yet become a warrior of great renown if he was only allowed to grow further past his current inexperience.

"I will… consider it. For now, continue his training. I could not stand it if he were injured badly."

"Very well my lady," Illoryan said though he knew it would be pointless.

As he drew up his practice sword once again, inviting Viserys to spar, he wondered how much longer he would stay in Yunkai if he was forced to continue with this pointless exercise.

Perhaps the time was drawing close to travel again, and there were rumors of a small war between the cities on Sothoryos…

He glanced at his earnest student, the only man he had ever, and perhaps would ever train in the art of the blade.

What did he have to offer the genius boy now? It would be rude to disappear in the night without at least giving a parting gift.

He had a good bit of coin stashed away, and even a well-made sword wouldn't hurt his purse too much. Besides, he might not even have to pay for it himself.

As he recalled certain contacts he had made in the free cities he smiled. Yes, it would take a few months, but the man ought to be able to make it to Yunkai by the end of the year. He owed Illoryan a favor anyhow.

As he knocked Viserys blade to the side and tapped him on the shoulder he smiled.

'Yes… a sword I think, should be enough.'