Post by Deleted on Oct 26, 2022 21:13:28 GMT -5
[ For @bex ]
Most mornings Warren got up before dawn to train in the courtyard before carrying out his duties. He appreciated the peace and quiet and the time to himself but occasionally - rather, very rarely - he would find the courtyard occupied by soldiers running their drills. It was usually the older soldiers, who were a little more disciplined and wanted to get their training out of the way before their shifts, so that after their shifts the remainder of the day would be theirs. On such an occasion, Warren preferred not to disturb them. Too often his presence made the soldiers weary, overly-careful, if it didn't make them leave entirely. He knew if he walked into the courtyard, even to keep to himself, they wouldn't be nearly as at ease. So on this particular morning, he decided to take his exercises elsewhere.
There were some advantages to running on the beach. One being that the loose sand did make it more challenging. Another being that the sunrise was all the more visible from there, where it could hardly be seen from his estate or the palace courtyard. As it rose up from beneath the sea and disappeared among the sheet of clouds covering the Nevermeran sky, he stood still and took a few minutes to watch it. The Hiems air was crisp and cold, but thankfully it wasn't a breezy morning. The still air was much easier to stand when you weren't being pelted with loose sand. He couldn't quite remember the last time he'd enjoyed the sunrise, maybe eight or nine years, maybe before his wife had passed.
He didn't give the rising sun his attention for too long, though. Before it had settled he was on the run again. Laps. Push-ups. Sit-ups. He mimicked the motions of other exercises that he would usually do with the aid of the weights in the courtyard. When everything was done but his sword work, he sat down in the sand the plucked off his boots and socks. The sand was cold on his bare feet, but in a way, it was invigorating. He paused there to look over the ocean again. He wasn't sure when he'd have time to get back out to this spot, and before he knew it he'd be sent to off to Zulu Carr. Something heavy lingered over that thought, but he'd gotten his affairs in order.
Pushing himself back up, he pulled the sword he'd plunged into the soft sand and began the remainder of his exercises, swinging or striking it over and over in a series of commonly formed, fluid motions.