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Dogberry · **08-19-2014, 11:00 AM**

What if... Dogberry was a better father?

The boy swung his practice sword at Dogberry's leg like a botanist chopping at a tree, but he could not bring him down.

"Good shot," Dogberry said. To the boy it seemed like he never felt pain. "But your blows are weak. Put your hip into it. Stop swinging at me, swing through me."

Dogberry stepped back and readied his spear at the boy. The boy put his guard up, shield in and to his chest, sword up and ready. They touched their weapons together as a sign of respect. Seeing the boy like this made Dogberry swell up with pride. Quickly he struck at the outside edge of the boy's shield, and the shield opened outward like a barn door. With a slight movement of Dogberry's hands, the other end of the spear came quickly toward the boy, but was parried away by his sword. The boy took the opportunity to close with Dogberry, which forced him to choke up on his spear. The boy kicked at the spear, and Dogberry's left hand came loose from it. Before he could react, Dogberry found the edge of the boy's shield pressed against his right shoulder. He tried to swing at the boy, but was only connecting with his shield. The sword connected repeatedly with his right side and thigh, and the boy's forward momentum soon pushed Dogberry backward. He dropped the spear and flailed with his arm as he lost his balance and went town. He looked up at the boy, his own son, to find him pointing a sword at his face, smirking.

"Good!" Dogberry said, and the boy let down his guard. "You fought smart, that was excellent. But..." The boy groaned, but Dogberry talked over him. "BUT you need more strength training."

"Dad!" The boy protested. "That's like all I ever do!"

"Such hyperbole," Dogberry said. "I need you to go to the well and bring us four buckets of water. The Old Man is making a stew, so we need more than usual. Then I want you to go help him cut up some popotos, carrots and onions. Then you're free to do whatever the hells it is you during the day. And after dinner we're going to read." The boy shot him a look of complaint.

"More math..." The boy muttered.

"I was planning on reading you an adventure story, one about a mad captain on a quest for revenge against the sea itself," he said. "But if you'd prefer math..."

"No!" The boy shouted, and Dogberry laughed.

"Good," Dogberry said. "Now I think that's enough roughhousing for today, don't you think?"

"Yes, sir!" The boy nodded, still panting from the fight. "Tomorrow can I try archery?"

"Archery?" Dogberry looked perplexed. "I don't know much about archery. Why d'you wanna learn archery?"

"Nellemond said Roegadyn can't do archery," The boy said, sounding angry. "I want to prove him wrong."

"Then prove him wrong we will," Dogberry said. "I'll see if I can't get a friend of mine to help us. Now c'mon, Rhutshald, let's go home. I have to get back to the carpenter's guild." He put his hand on his son's shoulder and walked back toward Gridania. It wasn't Dogberry's favorite place in the world, but it was the perfect place to raise a child.