Since the prince requested it, the man with the somewhat messy hair didn't hesitate for too long, nodding in agreement.
As Viserys had said, it would always be useful in the future.
The current situation wasn't too good. He had once taught Rhaegar, and now he was teaching Viserys. Both brothers of House Targaryen should call him teacher, which was something to be proud of.
However, this was just a rest stop during their journey, and there wasn't much he could teach.
But the most basic things wouldn't change, whether for knights fighting on horseback or soldiers battling on foot.
The middle-aged instructor hesitated for a moment, then drew his sword from his waist.
Clang—
The gleaming blade was somewhat dazzling, and the sound of the sword being drawn was crisp, attracting many resting soldiers, including the gaze of Queen Rhaella, who was tidying her clothes in the carriage. Rhaenys also leaned against the carriage window, looking at the silver-haired boy under the tree not far away.
"Viserys."
"Ser William is already tired, you shouldn't disturb him."
Queen Rhaella, seated in the carriage, frowned slightly, then spoke softly, a hint of worry in her voice.
In her pale purple eyes, she saw Viserys, unsteady, holding up the heavy longsword.
She was more concerned about Viserys getting hurt.
Actually, the sword wasn't very heavy, but it still required a lot of stamina to wield it with ease. For a boy of seven, just past the age to begin knightly training, it was still a bit of a struggle.
And this was the foundation of knightly training.
"It's alright, Your Majesty."
The disheveled middle-aged man heard Queen Rhaella's words, turned his head, and bowed slightly before speaking.
"It's just a toy, Your Grace. Every boy eventually picks it up."
Many of the soldiers sitting on the stones or leaning against the trees around them chuckled at this.
"That's right, Your Grace."
As guards within the Red Keep, they all knew Queen Rhaella was a kind and gentle person. Without her interventions, who knew how many people her husband would have burned.
Ser William Darry had also been the Red Keep's master-at-arms for many years. Even her eldest son, Rhaegar, had been trained by him. Queen Rhaella hesitated for a moment, but in the end, she chose to remain silent.
She trusted that Ser William would show restraint and wouldn't let Viserys get hurt.
And he wasn't wrong. In this era, a boy was destined to pick up this "toy" and bravely protect his loved ones.
Then.
The middle-aged instructor lowered his head and looked at the boy who was struggling to hold the longsword, his smile softening slightly.
"Your Grace, at your age, you should be practicing with a wooden sword."
"But these are special times, so we must use my sword."
As the instructor of the Red Keep, Ser William Darry's skills were superb, and he had taught many excellent warriors and knights. This was also the reason why Viserys had taken the initiative to seek his guidance.
No one was more suitable to teach him self-defense than Ser William Darry.
Viserys nodded at Ser William's words, and at the same time, he was trying hard to control the sword, preventing it from falling to the ground.
The middle-aged instructor saw all of Viserys's actions, and he nodded with some satisfaction.
The Seven above.
Viserys wasn't any less arrogant than his elder brother, at least in terms of attitude.
Then he continued, drawing a longsword from the waist of another soldier sitting beside him.
"Regardless of whether it's a spear, lance, or sword, these weapons all have one best and simplest, yet most useful technique."
The middle-aged instructor looked at Viserys calmly, then thrust his longsword straight out.
Due to the force, the thrust of the sword even carried the sound of breaking wind.
"Learn to use the pointed end to stab your enemy." Fast, accurate, and ruthless.
Seize the opportunity and a single strike can pierce the enemy's throat.
The middle-aged instructor finished his demonstration, handing his sword to a soldier beside him before turning to Viserys.
"Did you get that, child?"
Viserys nodded slightly.
"Easy, is it?"
The instructor followed up with the question.
He understood these young ones. When they first started training, they were all impatient, wanting to be the top dog and invincible in just a few days.
However, the truth was that they needed years, even a decade or more, of diligent training to become excellent knights.
Take the simple 'thrust', for example. He was still practicing it repeatedly, striving for the ultimate in speed, accuracy, and ruthlessness, rather than many intricate and complex moves that would dazzle the eye.
Those were useless, other than being ornamental.
However, Viserys, holding his sword, heard Ser William's question and hesitated slightly before shaking his head.
He wasn't a child anymore. This kind of question was obviously a trap. Of course, he wouldn't be foolish enough to jump into it and get lectured for no reason. So, Viserys spoke.
"Not simple."
"Then you are wrong."
Ser William blurted it out, then swallowed the rest of his words. He hadn't expected Viserys to go off-script, and it choked him.
"I'm wrong?"
Viserys tilted his head, a little puzzled.
"No, you're right."
Ser William, patting his chest to catch his breath, spoke with a touch of annoyance.
Not far away, Rhaenys peered out from the carriage window and saw the scene. Her lovely eyes curved into crescents, and she couldn't help but giggle.
She thought Viserys was definitely doing it on purpose.
Then, she saw the disheveled middle-aged man pat Viserys on the shoulder, telling him to practice the straight thrust a few times to build up his wrist strength. Right now, Viserys was struggling a bit to lift the sword, and he was wobbling around.
Afterward, Ser William pulled up his trousers and headed towards the edge of the woods nearby, wanting to relieve himself. Because there were ladies present, he needed to go a bit further.
And at this moment.
The middle-aged instructor's peripheral vision seemed to catch the startled flight of a large flock of birds in the direction they had come.
"Hmm?"
The man paused, standing in place, a bad premonition suddenly rising in his heart.
At the same time.
He also felt the ground tremble slightly, and the sound of galloping hooves gradually grew louder.
Boom, boom, boom—
From far away to near, gradually amplifying, like rumbling thunder.
More soldiers resting on the ground reacted as well, picking up their weapons one after another.
"Enemy attack!!!"
The soldier on watch on the nearby hill also shouted loudly.