[for @zuri ]

On any given day, a pair of soldiers sparring was not an uncommon sight in the military wing. As long as the sky was light - or as light as it ever got, with its perpetual layer of clouds - the clang of metal on metal echoed off the stone walls and packed earth grounds, and the same held true for one of the side training yards that sat separate from the primary training grounds. Tucked away in the back corner of the yard, where he was out of sight and hopefully out of mind from any roaming Lieutenants who might want to ruin an otherwise pleasant day, Berengar Stormcrest faced off against his friend, Duncan Bayle. Swords and shields raised, they circled each other in what was ostensibly a serious match; however, a closer look would reveal a grin on Ber’s face matched only by that on his friend’s.

It was the middle of the afternoon, and the officers were busy doing paperwork or whatever else they did with their time. The yard belonged to the soldiers, so after a while, serious workouts had a tendency to turn a little more fun.

With an altogether unnecessarily fancy flourish, Ber disarmed Duncan and stepped back as his friend’s sword fell to the ground. Expecting his friend to pick it up and restart the bout, he was wholly unprepared for the other soldier to toss his shield to the side and rush him, shouting out a challenge for unarmed combat. Reacting on little more than instinct, Ber blocked Duncan’s charge with his shield and never one to back down from a fight, readily agreed to the terms. Setting aside his own sword and shield, he grinned at his sparring partner and began the match once more by tackling his friend and trying to grapple him.