He watched the eyes of the apprentice before him carefully, his blade raised, his body poised. The two of them circled each other in a secluded corner of the training yard. Rend took it upon himself to offer his services every now and then. One who had taken up his offer, was a lad called Guy (Pronounced like the french, "Gi").
Guy's arms were bird-like, and his reflexes had been poor at best. That was the way Rend had found him, but the boy was definitely improving under Rend's discerning eye.
A strike from the young one, an sharper parry by Rend, and a matching smile on his face.
"Your eyes betray you Guy, focus on mine. Block the rest out." He spoke calmly, his years of experience flowing through him letting every move become instinctive. Guy stepped forward bringing his sword through the air above his head.
Rend, yet again, deftly stood to the side and blocked the blow, speaking, instructing as he did so.
"Speed is your ally, use it! Not strength. Not yet!" He pushed against the boy and he toppled backwards, his balance shot. But Rend could see the look in the lad's eyes, he was enjoying it, and Rend knew him to be getting better with every passing day.
"Again." Rend said with a smile, "Give me your worst."
And now it was Guy's turn to smile, his tanned skin parting slightly about his lips as he opened his mouth in a smile, his white teeth shining through like lightning pillars,
"Whatever you say..."
Rend caught on all too quickly to the lad's intentions, raising his blade with beast-like reflexes as he darted to his left, his blade catching the most of the boy's attack. And suddenly Rend was fuelled with rage and anger. He gripped his blade tightly and launched himself at his student, engaging him with the blade, and a heartbeat later swept his feet out from under him deftly. He disarmed Guy with a flick of his wrist and pointed his own blade to the boy's neck. Guy, was not smiling any more. A single drop of sweat moved down his cheek.
"WHAT have I told you about magic!?" Rend's fury caused his very hands to shake, his eyes burned with an intense anger that clearly chilled the boy before him. Guy said nothing, and after a moment Rend straightened himself and moved to his side, kicking Guy's blade back to him.
"Never compensate your lack of blade skill with the devil's powers. It does not become you."
Guy said nothing as he stood, sheathing his blade. Rend turned his back.
"Today's session is over. I... I am sorry it ended this way. But you improve Guy." He listened as Guy moved away, not really caring whether he had hurt the boy or not. It was the only way he would learn. Magic, was the tool of the cowardly.
Rend cast his eyes over the area, and frowned slightly as they fell upon a rather aged looking warrior, adorned in armour Rend found traditionally splendid. He started toward the man as he spoke, and stopped short of him.
"Begging your pardon sir," He spoke as one would address a vagrant, with contempt and no belief in actually wanting the man's pardon at all, "But there is no place in these walls for language such as that." Rend set his face sternly and watched the man before him. Retired? Exiled? Disgruntled? Militia? He was uncertain, but cared not. Regardless of who he was, he had no right to speak in such a manner.
"Is there... something I might help you with?"