The Tourney at Ashford

Tomas is prepping some targets.

The young solider was a bit worse for wear when he arrived to the promised practice with Tomas. Being stabbed and losing blood tended to do that to you, and that wasn't even counting the bruises he had earned in the fight the day before. Derrick was conspicuously armored, his scalemail creaking as he walked towards the younger man, giving a nod of greeting as he came close. "Evening Mister Tomas." He offered amicably.

"Oh. Hey, Derrick." He looks the young man over. "Did you joust today?"

"Not quite* He offered after a moment. "There was a bit of a mess at the jousts this morning, I'm a bit glad you and your sister weren't there. It wasn't a very pretty sight."

Tomas looked concerned. "What happened?" While he's asking, he's setting up the final target before walking back to Derrick.

"Ah..." He trailed off a few moments before deciding not to spare any details. "During the Joust of Lord Baratheon and Lord Tyrell things went a bit poorly. Lord Baratheon was drunk, and well when he was jousting his lance dipped down. Caught the horse of Lord Tyrell in the throat. It killed the beast and sent Lord Tyrell tumbling from the horses back and onto his head where the horse fell on him. Seems the fall killed Lord Tyrell."

"If that wasn't bad enough, Lord Baratheon was in the mood for a fight, and he had some hired men with him. So a few of us had to go down and subdue them all. I got stabbed a couple times, and hit with a axe. But my armor took the worst of the damage. I got away with some stitches." He tapped a couple places on his chest, indicating where the wounds likely were.

Tomas considered what was said. He clearly understood some of the implications though he wasn't sure how to react. Part of him was angry, but he was mostly concerned what war would mean for his sister. Derrick was a servant of another house. After a few moments, Tomas simply says, "I am glad you are alright."

Tomas hesitates, then says, "Thank you for helping bring justice for the Reach."

"I wouldn't go so far to say I helped bring justice to you Lord, I just knocked some people around. Justice is in the hands of the other Lords and the Princes." He paused a few moments. "Still thanks."

The young solider dipped him head towards the targets. "Did you put those together yourself?"

"Well, you helped stopped him. That's what counts."

Tomas shakes his head. "No. I borrowed them from the castle. They didn't seem to mind as long as I patch them back up and return them."

A small smirk made it's way onto his lips. "I only got yelled at it for it a little too."

Continuing to look the targets over the young solider nodded. "That's good thinking then, did you want to get started practicing? Or did you want to chat a bit more? Not that we can't do both of course."

"I think we can do both. Do you want to shoot first?"

"Sure, if you don't mind." Derrick replied holding out his hand for the weapon. "Perhaps I should fire a few shots, then you can, and we can see how much our skill levels differ?"

It seemed like the best plan, at least to him.

Tomas nods. "That's actually what I was thinking." He stands behind Derrick because well, it was better than standing in front of him.

Accepting the bow and a few arrows Derrick took a stance, looking down the field at the targets. Archery wasn't his strong suit, but he had fired a bow more then a few times. He didn't try to rush his shots taking time with each one. He was a fair archer but not the best in the world, all four of his shots landing solidly in the targets.

((Derrick has a Markmanship of 3))

Tomas nods. "That's pretty good. The way you were talking, I was thinking you could barely hold a bow."

Tomas takes his bow. His arrows hit the targets slightly better than Derrick's.

((Marksmanship 3, Bows 1B))

"Well, in comparison to my skill with sword I still have a long ways to go. Especially if I ever plan to teach." His lips curled into a small frown. "At least that's my opinion on the matter. Your quite good though, considering you age."

"Been practicing a long time?" The older boy asked before moving to collect the arrows from the target.

"I like being out in the woods a lot. So, I tend do a lot of hunting. That's where most of my practice comes from. I don't think father would mind me practicing on the ranges, but..." Tomas closes his eyes and takes in the forest through his other senses. He opens his eyes and looks at Derrick. "There is nothing like being out here in the woods."

"Honestly... I don't particularly like." The guards lips curl into a faint smile. "Too many places for people to hide, Visibility is pretty poor as well, it's makes a guard's job more difficult."

"I mean they are pretty and all, but I guess I just look at them a bit different."

Tomas gives a small laugh. "That's part of the reason I like it. Hiding in the trees while stalking your prey. But I guess a hunter thinks differently than a guard."

"More then a little I'd imagine... I'm more occupied with protecting my charges most days, and hiding places don't make that any easier." Back in position he fired a few more shots at the targets before handing the bow over to Tomas.

"Anything in particular you like to hunt? Or just whatever you can find?"