Stabbing 101, Introduction to Fighting With Blades Significantly Smaller Than Your Opponent's

[Clepto]

Gavin surveyed the class in front of him. Such a meager lot, but I guess it can't be helped. As a Dedicated, it fell upon him to teach a class on occasion. He understood why they had to do it, but that made it no less humiliating. Gavin was particularly unenthusiastic about the topic. He had been allowed to choose what to teach, so long as it wasn't currently being taught by someone else, but he didn't feel qualified to teach anything else.

 

He fixed his icy blue gaze on each member of the class in turn. Most of the class were predictably Soldiers, but there were a few Dedicated as well. He seized the Power and amplified his voice slightly, to carry over the din of the Black Tower. "You all know what I am to teach you today, but I want to know your thoughts before we begin." He picked a Soldier out of the line at random. "You," he pointed, "What is your opinion of the humble knife?"

 

The Soldier screwed his face up in thought, but did not answer. "It's not a trick question, Solider," Gavin said. Pointing at the Soldier's neighbor, he said, "You, what are your thoughts on a knife?" This Soldier answered immediately. "They're great for use as a tool to shave with or cut your meat, but worthless in a fight." Gavin smiled.

 

With blinding speed, he had a knife in his hand, and threw it at the Soldier, then immediately grabbed it with a flow of Air. The knife stopped mid-flight, an inch from the Soldier's eye. "You were half right, Soldier." Gavin pulled the knife back along the weave into his hand, then addressed the rest of the class. "As I said, this Soldier, who would now be dead at my feet in a fight, was half right. Knives are excellent tools. As with any tool, it has proper and improper uses. And as with any tool, it can be brutally effective if used properly."

 

One of the students raised a hand, "Dedicated Mortisane, why fight with a knife when you can fight with a sword?" Many of the other students were nodding, wanting to know the same thing.

 

"That is a good question," Gavin replied. "The main answer is, don't. If you have a choice. But you may not always have a choice. What happens if you are caught unarmed? Or if your opponent disarms you? Or what if you are in a place where swords are forbidden, like in the presence of most royalty? A knife is a tool, and most people carry one. As such, they are permitted in places where swords and other weapons are not. They are easy to carry, and easy to conceal. Most opponents will underestimate a foe wielding a knife. I am not going to teach you how to fight a Myrdraal with a knife. You will lose, even if you kill it. I am not going to teach you how to kill a Trolloc with a knife. They are too big, and usually too numerous to chance getting that close. I am not going to teach you how to throw a knife accurately. You probably don't have the talent, and I don't have a lifetime in which to teach you. I AM going to teach you how to use one for those times when no other option is available. We are weapons for the Lord Dragon. We are tools, crafted for his use, in any way he can. All of you carry knives with which to eat, shave, and perform other small tasks. Those are also tools, and you WILL learn to use them."

 

Diatribe over, Gavin gestured to the table laid out behind him. "I have laid out an array of knives from my own collection. They vary in size and weight, but all of them are razor sharp. You WILL respect them, and you WILL be careful of them, or you will get to explain to the Asha'man in the infirmary why your disobeying my instructions resulted in the loss of a finger. Now, come to the table, and choose a knife. Not all knives feel the same way in your hand, so be picky. Like picking a sword, you must pick the one that feels right."

 

Gavin watched with wry amusement as the class sorted through his myriad knives.