As I moved up to him, Max addressed his students. "We've a treat for you today. Sir Hallorhan here graduated from my care a number of years ago, and I;m sure that he can show you laggards the proper way of moving across an uneven and uncertain surface." Saying this, he looked me in the eye with a wicked grin and a challenge in his eye.
"Well since you're getting into your dotage, I thought you might need some help," I said, meeting his grin with one of my own. A sharp intake of breath came from a couple of the assembled students at my audacity.
Ignoring this, I strode over to the racks along the wall which held the equipment racks. I pulled on a chest protector and selected a heavy waster - I tend to favour one that's about twice as heavy as my regular blade so when I do use my sword, it feels light in comparison. However I was facing a master of dirty tricks and I had no illusions that I knew all of them - so I chose a practice blade that was close to my regular blade's length and weight.
Of course my advantage was that I had picked up a few tricks of my own over the years. Maybe he wouldn't know them all.
Moving back onto the uneven section of floor, I faced Max who was facing me
♦