Dwen stretched carefully, going through the same routine he did every day without fail. It hardly required thinking; it was the same as he'd been taught in his distant days as a knight.

When he finished, he reached for his sword and began one of a few of his usual sequences. These, Vermont pushed him on. These were always far more wild than any combat he'd seen.

But he never questioned that Vermont knew more than he'd ever let on. If Vermont needed him strong, he would be strong.

Dwen did not smile.

Instead, he moved, wild and ready, strong.