Libo advanced, pushing forward with the shield, to take advantage of his superior weight and strength. Gaius again leaped to the right, and struck with his sword towards the knee, but this time Libo parried.
They danced around for several minutes, Gaius now opting to use his superior fitness and mobility. Libo, however, ignored this, and taunted him for being afraid to get on with it.
"Old windbag!" Gaius retorted.
Libo gave a flicker of a smile, charged forward, then dived to his left to get a clear sight of Gaius' right, but Gaius anticipated and drove his shield into Libo's body, at the same time thrusting his sword down at Libo's knee. Libo parried, but was not quite quick enough, and again he swore. When he thrust forward again, Gaius simply retreated, then, noting the slight limp, waited until the weight was coming onto that knee then he leaped forward, sword arm raised. He knew the shield would raise, and the thrust come around; he leaped to his left, advanced a pace, and as Libo struck, he swung his shield across to block it and brought his sword around inside his shield to thrust viciously up into the base of Libo's now exposed ribs.
Libo swore, nodded at Gaius, and threw his wooden sword over to the heap of equipment. "Good strike!" he grunted. "Even under the leather, I'll have a bruise to show for that! You've learned all I can teach, young Gaius. Come and have some wine."
"Thank you so much. Perhaps you can tell me whom I should go to next."
"You're wrong!" Libo said flatly, and slapped him on the shoulder. "I'm stopping because you've had enough."
"But. ."
"Gaius," Libo said softly. "Listen to me, and just for once, stop arguing. I've taught you all I can about technique. The rest you've got to do yourself. First, you did well then and I was trying. But that was practice. Can you do it when it counts?"
There was a silence, and as Libo's eyes bored into him, Gaius replied, "I believe so. I suppose I can't be sure until. ."
"You can," Libo smiled. "You've been trained by the best. In battle, the enemy is within as much as opposite you. You kill or wound before they kill or wound you. Don't stop and think!"
"Do you tell everyone that?" Gaius asked curiously.
Libo laughed. "No, I don't, and anyway, I don't teach all that many. I've taught you because even though your father's not exactly popular, he's been good to me and my family."
"He likes you."
"I know," Libo replied. "The second reason is you're a thinker. No, don't apologize! Most of the time it's good, but don't overdo it in combat. In every combat there are a number of tiny openings. You make some; the opponent's carelessness makes some. Being a left-hander will give you more than most would get, and being unusually tall will give you some more, so take advantage of them."
"I try."
"Yes, I know. In practice. Why did you keep bashing away at my knee. I can hardly walk on it."
"I'm sorry, I. ."
"Don't be! That was combat. Now, why?"
"The first blow just happened. After that I thought I could slow you down and. ."
"Good!" Libo said, and poured more wine into Gaius' cup. "Drink up! If you want to get soldiers on your side, you've got to drink with them! Now, Gaius, the first blow didn't just happen. That was one of those moments when I was slightly off balance and you made me pay. That's what I mean by taking advantage of a moment. Then you decided I had a weakness and you went to exploit it. That's good. Now, explain your end-game."
"Well," Gaius said slowly, "I started off trying to keep you off my left side, and when I succeeded I kept closing in on the right with my shield until I could get you on the weaker knee, then I feinted to distract you and went left so. ."
"Well constructed," Libo nodded. "That's your strength, so build on it. Now, another weakness! You called me an old windbag."
"Well, yes, I suppose. ."
"I barely heard it!" Libo snorted. "Remember the value of taunts in battle. If you make your opponent mad, you make him careless. Try to fight on your terms, not his."
"I'll try to practice," Gaius smiled and took a good swallow of wine.
"Another thing, you're not very strong yet. That's a matter of age, and exercise. Try to strengthen yourself, but if you get into a fight, try to keep at a distance and keep moving. Don't let yourself get boxed in. Use your reach, and your movement."
"I am spending some time doing the strengthening exercises you gave me," Gaius said, "but I'm not planning on getting into any more fights than I can help."
"Good," Libo smiled, then the smile went. "Now, I've taught you to kill, because either you kill them or they kill you. Kill if need be without a moment's hesitation, but never kill for the sake of killing. Do you understand?"
"I've already promised," Gaius said simply.
"That I believe you is why I taught you," Libo smiled. "This will be the last time we meet, I think, and I must give you some more advice."
"The last time? But. ."
"Your family leaves tomorrow for Capreae?"
"The Princeps has required that we attend. ." The boy paused.
"I know," Libo nodded. "Your stub of the Claudian gens has not been one of the favourite ones. Senatorial rank, and on the wrong side of every major issue."
"I know," Gaius smiled wryly. "Leaving aside such matters as our position on the Gracchus issue, and opposing the dictatorial powers of Sulla, we opposed Crassus' campaign against the Parthians. ."
"Correctly! That was a disaster."
"True, but we opposed it before it was a disaster. Then one of us fought with Gnaeus Pompeius at Pharsalus. ."
"A lot of Romans thought a lot of Pompeius."
"But not the other Claudians when they united with the Julians!"
"Trying to make up by supporting Antony was not exactly the brightest move either," Libo grinned.
"Nor was maintaining a low profile later," the boy agreed, "although keeping our mouths shut about a return of the Republic when Tiberius offered to decline the position of Princeps was probably a step in the right direction."
"It was not," Libo snorted. "Unlike Augustus, Tiberius the soldier didn't bullshit! I think he'd have supported a return to the Republic."
"Not now," Gaius shrugged.
"Probably not," Libo agreed, "but that's outside our concern. Now, listen to me. When you see Tiberius, stand up straight, look him in the eye, tell the truth, and don't be ashamed. Be respectful, don't be a smart-arse, and don't be intimidated." Libo paused, and Gaius remained silent. "Good! Don't let your mouth run away with you. If Tiberius wants to hear your opinion, he'll ask. Otherwise, keep your mouth shut, and whatever happens, don't show fear. The Tiberius I knew was never happier than with soldiers. Even if you're not one, look like you could be one. Do you understand?"
"Yes."
"If the worst comes to the worst, and only then, tell Tiberius I'm calling in a debt."
"What do you mean?" He coughed as, in his surprise, wine went the wrong way.
"I once saved Tiberius' life," Libo said. "He promised me he would grant me whatever I wanted. I never got around to asking, so in an emergency, and only then, try that. Understand?"
"Thank you."
"Now, suppose you get to a legion. Because your family's of senatorial class, you'll start as Tribunus Laticlavius." He turned to the boy and growled, "Think you deserve it?"