Sword Dance - Part 2 (for full disclaimers see part 0) *************************************************************************** An expectant hush fell on the auditorium as Methos slowly centred himself ready to perform the kata. Bowing to the audience, he flipped the sword from salute to ready and started the first section of the practice. The first stage was the piece that had given the routine its name of 'dance'. All practice katas had a dance-like quality to them, but this one was more so somehow. He drew the sword left, letting his body weight follow. Punch forward hilt first, rotate, draw back, right foot step forward, lunge point first, each move flowing naturally into the next with the deliberate rhythm of a pavane. Left foot across, withdraw, pivot, right foot across, slash down to the right, slice up to the left. One, two, three, four - move in time to the count. Draw the sword to the right, body weight follow, punch forward hilt first, rotate, draw back, left foot step forward, lunge point first. One, two, three, four - the rhythm was soothing, allowing his muscles to ease into the heavy sword work before the three trials. Right foot across, withdraw, pivot, left foot across, slash down to the left, slice up to the right. Holding the last position for a moment, he prepared for the next stage - the trials. Then, with a primal yell, he started the second section. He stepped forward on his right foot and brought the sword down in a glittering arc, nicking the apple stalk as it came through. Before the stalk could hit the floor, he stepped with his left foot and brought the sword over in a brutal over head cut, slicing through the second apple, before withdrawing and taking a step back. One trial left now. He stepped forward and across with his left leg, stabbing forward then slashing up to the left before bringing the sword over for two lightning fast downward blows, quartering the mushroom. As he withdrew from the last downward cut, he stepped back again and returned the sword to the ready position. He held that for a second, then reversed the blade and bowed in salute. Methos held the salute for a couple of seconds, then relaxed and looked up at the audience who broke into a round of applause. Smiling, Methos turned to the table and picked up a polishing cloth to clean off the blade. As he wiped it down, and the applause died away, he said, "Where are my three judges?" The three students who had inspected the set up returned to the stage and started to examine the stools and their contents. "What's the verdict?" MacLeod asked. "There's not a mark on any of the stools," announced Phil in awed tones. "The apple isn't quite halved," admitted Sandy, "but it's pretty close." "The other apple's intact," said Michael, "and missing its stalk - although I can't find that." "What about the mushroom?" MacLeod asked. "Perfect quarters," said Phil. "Overall verdict - out of ten?" Methos asked, having finished cleaning his sword. The three students looked at each other. "Ten," they answered in unison. This prompted another round of applause. Methos smiled again. The three students returned to their seats, while Methos came to the front of the stage. "Does anyone have any questions?" A few hands raised. "Jamie?" prompted MacLeod, selecting one of the raised hands. "How often would something like that be done?" Jamie asked. "Good question," said Methos. "It would depend. Partly on the individual, and partly on circumstances. Practice in general would be a daily thing for many people, but a practice routine as complex as the Sword Dance would be performed only in the run up to a tournament, or to prove a point. There are records that show certain groups - many of them connected to the German university of Heidleburg - used this particular kata, or one very similar, as a test to show how good a swordsman a new inductee was right up until the turn of the century." "Aaron?" MacLeod picked another question. "What other practices would there be?" Methos smiled. "Basic drills, mock battles, sparring - much as you have today in the modern sport of fencing. Except that in the 1400s and 1500s the drills were nowhere near as stylised as they have become now." MacLeod looked around the room. "Tina?" "How easy is it to use a broadsword?" Methos' smile turned into a grin. "Like I said at the start, it's such a heavy weapon you don't need to know any more skills than how to use it as a club and you can use it as a weapon. So from that angle, every single person in this room now, knows how to use a two handed broadsword. However, to use it as a sword rather than a club, that takes a little longer. Probably between six months and a year, realistically, for you to learn all the basics and have them down. After that, it's a matter of practice. Any more questions?" No further hands were raised. Methos glanced at MacLeod. "In that case," MacLeod said, "that's the end of class for today. Thank you to Mr Pierson for coming along today. Remember, Friday's class will be in here also - so come straight here." With the class dismissed, the students slowly started filing out of the auditorium. Methos turned back to the table and started to pack away the two swords. "That was awesome!" exclaimed one of the departing students. "Mr MacLeod said it was possible," reminded another. "But I didn't believe it." Methos smirked. **Job done.** As he turned to clear away the remains of the three trials, he was aware of MacLeod approaching. "There - that wasn't so bad," MacLeod began in a condescending tone of voice. "MacLeod, there is still *plenty* of time for me to take your head before Friday morning." "Awe c'mon - you enjoyed it." Methos rounded on MacLeod. "Yes, it was enjoyable to do that routine in front of a proper audience again. Sue me." MacLeod chuckled. "I can assure you though," Methos continued, smiling, "it didn't beat the feeling of performing it for Guinevere." Then, before MacLeod could say anything more, Methos picked up his belongings and headed for the door.