[Bryn-gwlad] A warrior's riddle

[Sir Lyonel Oliver Grace]

Salut cozyns,

As a few folks have pointed out to me, I did not share the answer to this 
riddle with anyone outside of the chivalric practice field.

The short answer:

As the traveling samurai admitted, he already knows how to strike a killing 
blow. A proper sword stroke is a proper sword stroke.

For a more elaborate version, corner me at next PiP.

lo vostre per vos servir,
Meser Lyonel
_________________________________
Micel yfel deth se unwritere.
		--AElfric of York




>From: "Sir Lyonel Oliver Grace" <sirlyonel at hotmail.com>
>Reply-To: Barony of Bryn Gwlad <bryn-gwlad at lists.ansteorra.org>
>To: bryn-gwlad at lists.ansteorra.org
>Subject: [Bryn-gwlad] A warrior's riddle
>Date: Mon, 24 Jul 2006 22:45:15 +0000
>
>Salut cozyns,
>
>I have a riddle for you to contemplate in preparation for tomorrow's
>practice. This is not a koan--it has a clear, rational answer. And, no, the
>answer has nothing to do with humility, modesty, or confidence.
>
>A traveling samurai came upon a small throng of locals gathered to watch 
>and
>gamble upon the fortunes two warriors about to engage in a duel. A diligent
>student of technique, the traveler stopped to watch the bout, hoping to see
>what factors would decide the outcome. When the two men closed, the elder 
>of
>the pair ducked under his opponent's sword and struck a single fatal blow.
>The bout lasted less than two seconds, but what astonished the traveling
>samurai was the astonishing shape of the winning stroke. The young 
>swordsman
>had never seen a swordstroke--much less an effective stroke--from so odd a
>position and in so odd an angle.
>
>Once the throng had dissolved, the body of the defeated had been removed,
>and the victor's well-wishers had departed, the young samurai ran up to the
>elder and threw himself at the other's feet. "Sensei, much have I traveled
>and many battles have I fought, but never before have I seen such mastery
>concentrated in a single sword stroke. Please, sensei, take me as your
>pupil. Teach me your way with the sword."
>
>The older samurai looked over the prostrate youth carefully and said, "You
>carry the swords of a gentleman, and I see that you have a warrior's scars
>upon your hands. You say that you have fought. Have you killed with a 
>stroke
>of the sword?"
>
>"Yes, sensei."
>
>"And if the need arose, could you do so again?"
>
>"Yes, sensei."
>
>"Then there is nothing that I can teach you."
>
>
>
>lo vostre per vos servir,
>Meser Lyonel
>_________________________________
>Micel yfel deth se unwritere.
>		--AElfric of York
>
>
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