03-20-2018, 08:34 PM
He had weathered bloody cage fights, unruly drunken brawls, and an undead scourge that nearly overthrew the nation; none of these struck as much anxiety into Hodden as learning to move with grace befitting his new station. Under the decks of the Atlas, a patient Manakete continued to offer meek guidance in steps, stance and salutes - the "basic" first tasks which her Taguel pupil still struggled with after a week of lessons. The material was known; after thirty minutes of practicing the same bow he could even cause Penelope's mouth to curl into a slight admiring grin. Yet uncertainty and self-doubt crept back in when he was not lost in routine.
One such lesson, where Hodden was to learn how to converse with foreign military officials, he mispronounced the neighboring "lord's" title before spiraling into a loop of unrecognizable apologies and stuttering. He cursed, removed the small stones from below his tongue (strength-training for his jaw, as was claimed) and threw them across the room. "Damn it all! We're fools, you and I - complete, wretched fools. You can't change your nature and I'm nothin' if not a plowin' bastard who ain't fit for this crowd."
One such lesson, where Hodden was to learn how to converse with foreign military officials, he mispronounced the neighboring "lord's" title before spiraling into a loop of unrecognizable apologies and stuttering. He cursed, removed the small stones from below his tongue (strength-training for his jaw, as was claimed) and threw them across the room. "Damn it all! We're fools, you and I - complete, wretched fools. You can't change your nature and I'm nothin' if not a plowin' bastard who ain't fit for this crowd."