[Dawnstar] Welcome to the Family

((Some Music to set the scene!))

Kestrel stood nervously where she was told to wait. Paranoia had her glancing at every shadow, ready to jump away from it or defend herself at any moment. Maybe she was being paranoid...but she was in a den of killers, so she saw it as justified.

Despite her nervousness, Kestrel was far from regretting her choice. For two years she had been alone, with no one to count on. Now, she was part of something that referred to itself as a family. If she managed to impress them, she could always count on them.

She wouldn't be truly alone ever again.

Quietly, Kestrel waited for her teacher to come.

With Nightshade gone and off Sithis knows where, there were few in the brotherhood that were willing to train some new child. Most were unsurprised that it was the dunmer who recently failed a contract who brought her back, but they were still intrigued to learn that she had killed a few guards in Morthal. So those that weren't helping were certainly watching her, some casually leaning against a wall, others near the doorway, and one even dancing in the corner jabbering to himself.

K'Vera pushed through the crowd as though they were not there. Beside her was another initiate, who was idly twirling a wooden dagger. The initiate stood in the center of the room. "Get over here." the khajiit barked at the girl, all the amusement and silliness from the first time they met gone, replaced with a cold indifference. "And take this." She held up a second dagger for a moment, before tossing it in Kestrel's direction.

Kestrel was not surprised by K'Vera's sudden change in demeanor. For one thing, she had already had a few drinks in her when they had last talked, not to mention the other woman was probably at the tavern to relax. This was a different situation entirely, this was business.

This was teaching someone she no doubt saw as a child how to kill like an adult.

Kestrel didn't hesitate to follow K'Vera's order. Much to her relief, she caught the practice weapon as she approached, Good, the last thing I want to do is make a fool of myself in front of everyone...

Her face set in a grim determination, Kestrel held the dagger in a grip relaxed enough to change it at a moment's notice, but firm enough to keep hold of it should she use it to block or attack...

Well, she hoped anyways...

K'Vera glanced to the initiate, whos face was obscured by the brotherhood cowl. "The fight will last until one of you is knocked down. Do not hold back." she stated harshly. The initiate nodded and stepped forward.

"You may begin."

At these words, the initiate launched into action, rushing towards Kestrel, the dagger being swung powerfully.

Kestrel would bet all she had to her name that she couldn't match the initiate by fighting blade to blade.

That is, if she fought honorably. Let's see how you handle someone doing this...

Kestrel didn't move to block. She ducked out of the way, relying on their momentum preventing them from recovering in time to dodge the kick she aimed at their knee.

The trick worked well enough on bandits, hopefully it worked on an assassin too.

The initiate seemed to fall for the trick, and Kestrel's foot definitely unbalanced the man. But rather than fall flat on his face, his hands came up and caught him as he swung his legs up and one around, aiming for Kestrel's head.

He came quite close, but his foot missed and before long, he was back on his feet, holding his dagger up in a defensive stance now.

Kestrel's own defensive stance wasn't as refined as the initiate's, or of any proper form. It was the manner of someone who had seen many fights, but no proper training.

Kestrel eyed her opponent carefully. I think it's obvious that I'm outmatched here...

Was this some sort of test? Probably. They didn't want someone who would quit when set against impossible odds. If she couldn't complete a contract, she'd have to die trying.

If this person is going to beat me, I'm going to lose fighting! Kestrel charged, at first it seemed like she was going for a blow to the stomach, but at the last possible moment (for her skill level anyways) she tried to trip her opponent while adjusting the target of her blow.

Namely below the belt, man or woman, a hit there would hurt.

Rather than try and block Kestrel's blow, however, the initiate had gone to the left side in a dodge, and he swung his dagger towards her throat. The trip had made him stumble though, and the wooden edge smacked sharply into her shoulder. He quickly followed up the attack by turning on his heel and facing her, using his free hand to try and punch her in the side.

Kestrel braced herself and took the punch, the moment she felt contact, she grabbed his arm and held it as tightly as she could, making sure to grip skin and dig in with her fingernails. Dropping her practice dagger he grabbed his free arm with surprising speed.

Relying on the element of surprise to delay him muscling his way out of her grip, Kestrel jammed her knee into his groin.

With his arms trapped, the initiate had spent more time trying to free himself than noticing what she was trying to do. Her knee connected sharply, and the initiate just squeaked in pain. Several of the spectators either laughed in amusement or squirmed in sympathy. One even winced.

He crumpled to his knees, arms trying to go to his groin as if it would help negate the pain. K'Vera snorted, and muttered under her breath about armouring weak points.

Kestrel let go of his arms, pushing him at the same time. She didn't waste a moment grabbing one of the practice daggers and looking at K'Vera and then back at her opponent.

If anyone in the crowd was surprised, Kestrel was likely more surprised than they were. By the Divines and the Princes...did that actually work?

The initiate merely whimpered on the ground. K'Vera looked towards Kestrel, then back at the downed assassin-to-be. "Get up. That was pathetic." She hissed as the initiate shakily obeyed. He stumbled off as the khajiit walked over, taking the dagger from Kestrel and replacing it with a bow. She then gestured towards a target, at the farthest end of the room. "Lets see how you are with a bow."

Kestrel grinned and didn't even properly aim. She simply lifted the bow and let the arrow fly.

The first one hit the center of the target. The second one hit just outside of the bull's eye zone, third halfway between the edge and the center.

Gritting her jaw in slight frustration, she managed to make the fourth embed itself right next to the first arrow. However, the fifth hit the edge.

"How's that?"

While a few looked impressed by the two bulls eyes, K'Vera's face was blank. She looked towards the young recruit, then gestured. "Step back, close to the door, and shoot five more times."

Several people frowned, but they moved away, either into the room or leaving.

Kestrel did as she was told, this time, when she raised the bow, she took a few moments to aim before each shot.

The first shot hit the border of the bull's eye and the zone around it. The second one a few inches away from the first. The third was halfway from the edge, the fourth finally landed squarely in the bull's eye zone. The fifth and final arrow bounced off of the first one.

Kestrel frowned, clearly not satisfied with herself.

K'Vera, however, seemed satisfied. "That's good enough. She'll fit in with the brotherhood." She turned to look at the spectators now, and raised her hands. "Go on! You all have your jobs to do. No tearing apart a newbie this time around."

There were exaggerated sounds of disappointment, but people started to file out. The khajiit merely laughed, then turned to look towards Kestrel. "Good job, child. You will do well in the Brotherhood."

Kestrel smiled. "Thank you. I'm grateful for the chance."

Instead of just killing me for following you... She added mentally.

"Don't thank me yet. You'll have to keep this up if you want to survive." K'Vera replied as she pat the girl on the head. The cat then turned on her heel and started to leave as well, pausing just at the door.

"You'd best keep practising. I do not think Travis will take his defeat lightly."

Kestrel nodded solemnly. "I will m'am."

And sleep with a dagger under my pillow and a bowl of dirt next to me for good measure...