Sir Godfrey’s First Lesson

A knight teaches a village boy swordplay, patience, and the meaning of strength.

The clearing behind the old mill became Jared’s world for an hour each morning. The grass was flattened from boots and practice, and the river nearby whispered reminders to keep breathing. Sir Godfrey Rowland stood across from him, relaxed, sword resting easily in his grip.

“Balance first,” the knight said. “A blade is only as honest as the one who holds it.”

Jared wrapped his fingers around the wooden handle of the practice sword. It was scarred and smooth from use, heavier than it looked. His arms ached already, but he refused to loosen his grip. Sir Godfrey stepped closer, adjusting Jared’s stance with a gentle tap of his boot.

“Feet shoulder width. Straight line from shoulder to wrist,” he instructed. “You fight along that line. Break it, and you break yourself.”

They began slow. Cuts through the air, parries that rang dull and hollow. Jared missed more than he struck, but Sir Godfrey never scolded. When Jared stumbled, the knight caught the blade before it fell.

“Everyone knows a trick or two,” Sir Godfrey said, demonstrating a sudden feint that made Jared yelp and backstep. “But tricks fail if you don’t understand why they work.”

Jared tried again, copying the movement, failing twice, then finding it, the moment when the blade flowed instead of fought him. Sweat ran into his eyes. His shoulders burned. He grinned anyway.

Between drills, Sir Godfrey spoke of patience, of choosing when not to strike. “A sword isn’t about taking,” he said. “It’s about protecting the space you stand in.”

When the lesson ended, Jared’s hands shook as he lowered the blade. Sir Godfrey nodded, approval silent, but clear.

Walking home, Jared replayed every movement in his mind. He had no armor, no title, no certainty. But he had a lesson earned.

Word Count: 298
Written for: "Daily Flash Fiction Challenge" 
Prompt: Write a story that includes the words: handle, trick, line
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