Emirikol Part IV scene 6

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Having finally concluded his analysis of his estate records, Dietrich decides it is time to stretch his limbs as well as his mind and begins a search of the city to find fencing instruction. His focus, based on previous research, is on the boundary between the Ferrantio and Scournbul quarters, where he might find someone versed is the obscure 'canal' style that merges the university's one weapon spell and blade techniques with the deceptive and quick practicality of the bladesmen of the docks.

After an enjoyable enough stroll under a skate gray sky flecked with patches of cerulean blue Dietrich locates a very hopeful place - the omens are certainly correct, for a Ferrantino master's house was set not two buildings done from one dedicated to the teaching of the Canal style (falling in the shadow of that same massive construction), and across the street was a cabinet and coffin maker of obvious prosperity. The students of these schools, while they might have the hot tempers of youth, would not be those who are too theoretical in their studies.

Entering the Canal masters shop Dietrich inadvertently interrupted a private lesson in progress: the master, an aged human with a thin staff, was forcing a half elven woman to repeat the moves of a parry thrust again and again. When the lord von Eisenwald accidentally and audibly scuffed his shoe he saw the woman's head flinch to identify the sound, and flinched again himself as her break in concentration brought her a swat from the masters supple cane. "My grandfather did that to me more than once," Dietrich thought, hard pressed not to rub his own shoulder at the sympathetic pain.

The master set his pupil to practicing one of her feint thrusts in the mirror for a few moments while he moved to speak with the newcomer. Dietrich apologized for the interruption, was told that he was welcome and could be spared a few moments, and laid out his desire to expand his awareness from his own family style to those that bore similarities but would nonetheless expand his knowledge. The Master nodded at this and asked a few probing questions concerning the Von Eisnewald style. Eventually he suggested a quick practice duel between Dietrich and his current pupil, the lady Maria Choiseux, formerly of Ferrantino University, assuming that his lordship did not object to the use of non-lethal spellcasting?

"Not at all," he replied. "I am not a practitioner myself, but it is part of this style."

The duel was brief - the first to score 3 touches - and Dietrich was ultimately triumphant. While we are sure the master's notes recount all of the details of the match that journal is lost to us, and Dietrich's journals, normally, full of copious detail, mention only how his well practiced leaping charge was successful for one point, how he needed to work on feinting in quarte how he was once touched by Signora Choiseux's well proportioned hand in the delivery of an enchantment of muscle numbing cold and how the lady had shown good sense in binding back her long black hair lest it interfere with the vision of her keen amber eyes. While it would be out of character to suggest that Dietrich was distracted in battle, it is entirely possible that his personal note to seek out the Signora later might not be solely for the discussion of technique.

The master took great interest in Von Eisenwald's familial style and agreed to begin sparring with, teaching and learning from Dietrich in the future - such lessons would of course be private, either in his studio or at Dietrich's home, to protect the traditional secrecy applied to a family's fencing technique. This suited Dietrich well enough, and the nobleman returned home with an energetic step, well pleased with the events of his afternoon. 

To be continued