From the Ashes (Attn: Riahana)

[Sunny]

Dax scrubbed his face with his hands, warm water rolling down his forearms to drip on the floor. He reached blindly for a towel, blotting most of the water away then scrubbing the cloth vigorously over his hair. He let his hand drop and met his own eyes in the brass mirror above his wash stand. Rather amused, he found himself thinking that those who had known him at the Grey Tower might not recognize him at all.

A clean shaven man with bright blue eyes and neatly trimmed black hair stared at him in that mirror. Water dripped down his bare torso, and he scrubbed at it absently, examining himself with a critical eye. He had thought he kept himself in shape before -a swordsman had to- but six and a half months of working with Malina had had an effect. Full curves and clear hollows outlined every muscle in his body, now, and when he moved it was with the visible control of a man fully aware of his own capabilities.

Beneath that pleasant surface, uncertainty still roiled, of course. The man who had usurped his bond with Katrie still sat in his mind, quiet and almost forgotten until those times he issued that implaccable summons to return, as he chose at that moment to do. I can't come back yet, Dax thought irritably. He could only wait for Riahana to declare him fit. At least his new bondmate had not chosen to demand obedience; the Tairen knew with unhappy certainty what would have happened in that case. And....none of that mattered at all next to the looming question: what happened to Katrie? He had no way to ask that would not raise uncomfortable questions, and thus had no option but to fret alone.

Now that he had matched Malina and proven himself stable to Oniko, he and the Gaidar taught the Drin together. He had forgotten the fierce pride he had taken in each of his students as a Ji'alantin; now that their success mirrored his own, that feeling had magnified. He worked with each of them separately as well, tutoring them on the things that got missed in group classes until each one finally got it right. The Tower would be sending a new batch of Drin'far'ji to replace his current students later that day; Dax looked forward to meeting them.

In the mean time- there was work to be done. With a sigh, the Gaidin reached for his shirt, pulling it over his head and tucking it into his breeches with care. His sword belt and cloak followed, and then the warrior took his leave of his chambers. He strode the corridor like a cat on the prowl, falling into the ko'di, and thus Cat Crosses the Courtyard, as naturally as breathing.

He did not make it far. A servant intercepted him in the halls, bowing formal greeting. Dax arched an eyebrow. "Oniko Gaidin desires your presence in the main courtyard, Dakson Gaidin" the man said. Dax nodded his understanding; after the servant had departed, he turned on his heel and worked his way back through the halls to the courtyard. Why would Oniko need me there? He pushed the door open and stepped out.

Across from him stood the Mistress of Arms. Dax felt excitement stir outside the Void, but kept his face impassive as he bowed. "Good afternoon, Riahana," he said. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

---

OOC: You can add bystanders, switch locations, whatevs. \o/ let's get this show on the road!

[Roan]

In the nearly seven months since Riahana exiled Dax to the Citadel, she had visited nearly once a month, though not once did she advertise her presence. Whether he knew of her visits was unknown to Ria, though it would not matter to her one way or another. She was more focused on talking with Malina and Oniko to check on Dax's progress. She wasn't entirely sure what she was looking for with regards to whether he was ready to return to the Tower, though she suspected the moment would present itself once he was no longer quite so off-kilter.

There was no 'one' moment, but a series of them suggested perhaps Dax found center once again. The first was when Malina admitted he'd bested her. The woman was one of the best in the Yards when it came to unarmed combat, and it had been the smaller Saldaen who suggested she try working with Dax unarmed after seeing him just about throw a tantrum as he tossed his blade aside one day. Ria knew the man could apply himself to learn a new skill. . .she taught him with the blade, after all.

Malina spoke of his progress each time Ria visited. This alone, though, was not enough to sway her. Oniko also spoke of Dax growing in character and taking on more responsibilities around the Citadel. He seemed to relish greeting the new Drin' who were sent through for their initiation to the Borderlands, and the far-flung Tower Outpost. While this certainly did much to impress Ria, it wasn't this eagerness that swayed her. Both his improvement with unarmed, and his dedication to the warders-to-be who came to the Citadel went a long way, but it was how some of the Drin' spoke of Dax that sealed it for Riahana.

The man's flash was tempered, and in its place, quiet confidence. While standing at the top of one of the walls, watching Dax train a cadre of Drin', she noticed three other Drin watching. Each one of them spoke, and while their words were different, they each said something along the lines of, "He is the embodiment of being a Gaidin or Gaidar. His quiet grace and self assurance. . .that is what we hope to have one day." In her mind, he was ready. If he matched Ria round for round, then he would prove himself truly ready to return.

The Mistress of Arms had her thumbs looped behind her sword belt, her hands resting casually as she watched him approach. The swagger that was so characteristic of Dax when she first started training him was replaced by self assurance. The swagger was not necessary when you had confidence in your abilities. He likely knew why she was here, and asked out of politeness.

Ria gave a slight bow of her head to him, "Dakson Torellion Gaidin, I have heard a number of things about you these past months, and seen a few things for myself. Do you think yourself worthy to return to the Tower?" They were currently the only two in the courtyard, which was just as well. There were plenty who knew why Daks was sent to the Citadel, but it was never something Riahana made public, as her intention was never to humiliate him. . .it would serve no purpose.

[Sunny]

Riahana bowed her head to him. Dax's eyes widened, the shock of it reverberated through his body and into the ground. "Dakson Torellion Gaidin, I have heard a number of things about you these past months, and seen a few things for myself. Do you think yourself worthy to return to the Tower?"

For six months he had thought that his response to those words would be a resounding yes. Now that he faced the Mistress of Arms across the courtyard, blue eyes on blue eyes, he found the word did not come as easily as he had expected. He stood in silence with his hand resting on his sword hilt, chewing on the inside of his lip as he thought -truly thought- about Riahana's question.

What had she seen and heard about him? When? If she had visited, she had been stealthy indeed, and the men and women who shared the Citadel with him remarkably close-mouthed. Did Malina know? Of course Malina knew. The insufferable Saldaean knew everything. He needed to know what happened to Katrie, he needed to know who held his bond. He wanted to be as far from the Blight as possible, and hoped to never lay eyes on a Trolloc again. None of those things meant he was worthy of being a trusted member of the Tower, however.

What did that even mean? Dax of the Maule had been worth less than nothing, a scrawny boy with no father and no skills. Dax the sellsword had been worth the minimum his employers could get away with paying him, and sometimes not even that. Dax the Tower Trainee had shirked his chores and bullied his peers. Dax the Gaidin....Light, even with the bond tearing him to shreds, he should have held it together better. He felt a flush of shame, remembering the blurry afternoon when Ravak had tried to kill him. His mind reeled, remembering instance after instance of poor behavior, each buffeting against the ko'di with painful force.

How could he think himself worthy?

Other memories washed over the first. The look Ninya had given him before they parted ways after his test. The gold-and-crimson light that had wrapped around him through the bond when Katrie realized he had rescued her. Riahana giving him a second chance against all odds. Malina's surprise when he had bested her. Oniko, who had finally allowed him to lead a patrol the week before. His students, who looked to him for the same guidance he had once received from Riahana.

People he respected. People who seemed to respect him. If he wasn't worthy to return to the Tower, he would be spitting in their faces. The man he had been wouldn't have cared. Perhaps it is most telling of all that I do.

He squared his shoulders and lifted his chin, meeting Riahana's eyes. "Yes," he said, voice steady, "I believe I am worthy, and it would be my honor to prove it, Riahana Gaidar." He bowed again, hand on heart. It was up to her, now.

[Roan]

With the Void settled over her like a second skin, Riahana gave little away in her expression. With a simple tilt of her head, she said two words, "Follow me," turned on her heel and walked along a pathway that lead from the courtyard. Before long, the pair came to the Citadel's own training yards. Oniko and Malina stood on either side of one of the sparring areas, and each held a practice sword and belt. Crossing the sparring area, Ria came to stand in front of Oniko. She removed her sword belt and wrapped the extra leather around the hilt of her sword, handing it to Oniko for him to look after while she took care of business with Dax.

Knowing that Dax had worked closely with Malina on unarmed, and how much it seemed to help him, Ria thought it best to let him have her stand in his corner. The Gaidar said a great many good things about Dax, and his unarmed abilities, and the Mistress of Arms wondered if he would be at all rusty with the blade. Ultimately, it wasn't his fighting skills she was interested in, but his overall demeanor. Both the Gaidin and Mistress of Arms were considered experts with the blade, and Malina considered Dax an expert at unarmed combat. It was not his combat abilities that were in question, but his character and focus, in a sense.

Oniko didn't take his eyes off of Ria's as she buckled the belt to the practice sword around her hip. The man smirked, and then looked around, "I think you two are going to have an audience."

It was at this point Ria looked around and saw a crowd gathering in the training yard. She resisted the urge to frown, though she was not looking to put on a show. Part of her hated that it had come down to this with Dax, but from the reports she'd gotten, and what she'd seen, time at the Citadel had done Dax some good.

The Mistress of Arms didn't reply to the Quartermaster's comment, but instead turned around to face her Dax. Malina stepped around him after he turned to face Ria. Standing between them, Malina looked from Ria to Dax, "Ready?" When both nodded, she raised a hand, and let it fall as she shouted, "Begin!"

From Unfolding the Fan to The Swallow Glides to the Branch to The Swallow Takes Fligh , Riahana unsheathed her sword, her blade settled into a diagonal position in front of her as the point was tilted towards Dax as she closed distance. Her hands started at waist level, on the hilt of the sword, though she didn't even hesitate before executing a diagonal slash towards Dax, using the slash to give her room then to give a quick thrust towards his torso.

Unlike most spars, with this one, Ria didn't wait to see how Dax would open combat, but rather she launched an aggressive salvo on him. She wanted to see how he would respond, and she intended on giving him no quarter, as she expected none from him.

[Sunny]

Malina stood at ease as Dax prepared for the spar, one hand on her hip, and her face nearly expressionless. She looked as if she had taken some time to prepare before this meeting, and had changed her clothes since the last time he saw her. "You knew why I came here all along," Dax commented as he removed his fancloak and sword belt. She took his cloak and blade before responding, setting them on the bench and then bringing him the practice blade he would be using.

"Yes," she said, eyes traveling past him to where Riahana stood. "She told me about you. I watched for a bit and stepped in once I had ascertained your worth." Their eyes met as he buckled the belt at his waist, and her next words shocked him to his core. "You exceeded my expectations." Dax flushed, bowing his head before turning to face Riahana.

As Malina strode past him, her fist landed against his shoulder with a solid thump. "DOn't disappoint me," she hissed. Then she took her spot in the center of the yard. "Ready?" Dax rolled his shoulders, allowing the ko'di to fall around him in its deadly stillness, then nodded. "Begin!"

He and Riahana drew at the same time, but where Dax took his time cross the space between, the Gaidar wasted no time on pleasantries. She closed the distance quickly, but he saw the tell-tale twitch in her shoulders that betrayed her next move. He met her slash with an upward cut, then brought his sword upright in Willow Embracing the Breeze to block her thrust at his chest.

As their wooden blades crashed, he stepped to the side and his body twisted, his full weight going into shoving her weapon away. The point of his blade dipped, then swept up in in a half circle. The Wind Blows Over the Wall ended in a sharp horizontal slash at chest height.

[Roan]

There was often a give and take in spars, and they often looked like a dance. Most spars Ria participated in were to train others on the forms, which forced a rhythm of strike, parry, strike, parry . . . to allow those she was training to feel the forms and execute them. Today, though, was no ordinary spar, and she was not restricted to a more educational rhythm. She knew her opponent would not allow himself to be restricted to such structure at the best of times, and certainly not today. He had to prove himself to her, and she expected him to go all out to do so, thus today would likely prove to be one of her more challenging spars in quite some time.

Both Gaidar and Gaidin moved with grace as one went from attack to defense, parry to strike. Riahana countered Dax's slash with Black Pebbles on Snow to first parry his slash with the flat of her blade, then down-cut with force towards his ribs. He was slightly taller than her, and likely stronger, but strength was not all that mattered to win a sword fight. With each move, she positioned herself inside his guard, but the Mistress of Arms did not relent her attack.

Moving from one form to another was smooth and fluid for Riahana, as she took advantage of moving inside Dax’s guard, and executed a modified version of The Wolf Lunges. Instead of bringing the hilt of her sword upwards to land the pommel in his gut, Ria did a more lateral strike with the pommel of her sword, hoping for the same effect, but found her efforts blocked and quickly retreated to the defensive guard stance The Leaf Floating on the Breeze. The blade moved up and down, her grip relaxed as she waited for his reaction.

[Sunny]

Dax watched Riahana with a critical eye. He had spent far too much time in the Yards not to appreciate her skill with a blade. His strength and height gave him an advantage, but her speed and years of structured practice countered that. Their blades clashed, each of them giving ground by turn, or circling to find an opening. I have to get back to the Tower. The thought floated outside the Void, a beacon to guide him rather than the distraction it might otherwise have been.

He parried The Wolf Lunges with the flat of his blade, and Riahana took a step back to settle into a defensive stance. Dax shrugged his shoulders and tilted his head to the side in that moment of respite, a show of ease that he did not feel. He took a step forward and bent his knees, his weight resting on his back foot as he settled into the Ox Lowers Its Horns. He raised the hilt of his sword to nearly eye level, staring down the length of the weapon at the Mistress of Arms.

When he moved it was with lightning speed, the point of the practice sword lashing at a downward angle. The Falcon Swoops was a simplifed version of a more complex form, but it worked for his purposes. Ria stepped back and parried, then made an overhand strike, followed by a series of rapid slashes. Dax stepped back, and back, parrying each blow, searching for an opening. Light, she's fast.


OOC: Sorry for the long delay. It has been a hectic couple of weeks for me. <3

[Roan]

As the pair settled into the heart and heat of the spar, Riahana observed her opponent as she continued slashing at him, aiming for his wrists in a slightly modified version of Rain on the Wind. She knew full well Malina had taken him under her wing, and while it was Malina's choice to mentor him, Ria was more than pleased with the bit of news.

Dax was not the Mistress of Arms' star pupil, and there were some who wondered why she invested what time in him that she did. When it came down to it, all she did was give him a chance, and it was something she would do for anyone who came to join the ranks of the Yards. To be fair, every single Drin' who ever signed the books and donned the grey had just that. . .a chance. It was up to each individual to prove themselves worthy, and in some ways, they had to prove it to themselves more so than the Warder Council.

The man before her freely signed the books. She didn't know the history that drove him to that decision, and, ultimately, didn't care. What mattered to her was how he applied himself. Initially dismissive of sword forms when he first trained with Riahana, by the end of their first session, he began to understand why forms were important. That she gave him the freedom to incorporate them into his style? The Mistress of Arms learned early on that one's fighting style was as unique as the person. Who was she to say one way was better than another?

Dax had changed since their first session. Riahana saw it when he stood across from her prior to the spar. With each and every parry of her blade, he showed something that she'd only gotten a hint of so long ago when she first started working with him.

Determination.

Not that Dax wasn't determined before, but there was something beneath the surface. . .a hunger that sharpened his focus, and Ria wondered what she ripped him from when she escorted him to the Citadel six months prior.

The man before her had gotten a touch on Malina, which was no small achievement. Watching him with a calculated coolness, the Mistress of Arms engaged her opponent's blade, then bound it briefly with hers before dipping the tip of hers under the hilt of his, and twisting. The Grapevine Twines was hard to counter, as the twisting motion pivoted the blade out of his hands. As the blade dropped, Ria followed through fluidly with a strong diagonal slash that started from her lower right and ended at the upper left, Low Wind Rising. If Dax was the least bit distracted, it would be a quick end to the battle.

The Mistress of Arms was not expecting a quick end to the spar.

[Sunny]

Dax remained on the defense, moving smoothly back and to the side with each move, for long minutes. His brows drew together, and he watched her critically, waiting for an opening that never came. He blocked and parried with a calm certainy that surprised him, the ko'di allowing his mind the time and concentration he needed to keep her from touching him. He stepped forward, thinking he had finally found an opening; instead, the Gaidar's blade twisted around his, and he realized too late he had fallen for the Grapevine Twines.

For the second time in a year, Dax felt his blade ripped from his hands, heard it hit the cobble stones nearby as he faced an armed opponent with only his hands. The first time he had seen death in Darrow's eyes; this time he saw only impassive curiosity and determination. He saw the muscles in Ria's shoulders shift as if in slow motion, heard Malina's hiss of vexation....and something changed.

Before his sword had even settled on the stone the former sellsword was moving, his feet shifting rapidly back, body arching to avoid the whistling wood that would have knocked him unconscious had it made a touch. The Gaidar shifted again, her blade slashing from left to right, and he simply dropped, rolling to his feet out of reach of her blade. He spun to face her, and found the Saldaean had already begun to cross the distance he had created.

The Tairen growled, the ko'di swirling in his mind, and dashed to her right side, body weaving like a viper to avoid her blade. He struck at her wrist with his right hand, grappling for a grip for a moment before breaking free and spinning out of her reach. What exactly do you want from me, Riahana? He thought, lip caught between his teeth as he faced the Gaidar once more.

[Roan]

Unarmed versus armed. One would think the person with the sword had the upper hand, but such assumptions had gotten any number of swordsmen and women disarmed and killed. Yes, there were advantages given to the one wielding the sword, but there were drawbacks, and the same went for the unarmed combatant. Riahana observed Dax with an emotional detachment she'd become known for when it came to sparring sessions.

Hearing the man before her growl as he swerved, and wove around her blade, the Gaidar wondered if his hold on his own emotions was beginning to slip. Had he asked her what she was after, or what she was looking for, Riahana would not have been able to put it to words, but she knew it would either present itself, or it wouldn't. Dakson Torellion Gaidin was a complex man with a backstory that Ria couldn't even begin to guess at, nor would she do him such dis-service.

The Mistress of Arms was not one to pass judgement on anyone, nor did she think herself so high and mighty that she had such right to. What she did do, though, was observe, and look beyond the bravado and ego so many in the Yards wore as if it was their fancloak. Dax had is own bravado and ego, and Ria would not cater to it, but she would push him to be more in her own way.

Beads of sweat trickled down Riahana's temples, but she paid them no mind as she struck downward at Dax's wrist, The Sapling Trembles, and followed it up with Arc of the Moon. Ria's blade moved lightning quick as she arced up towards his neck, but the Tairen's footwork was as good as hers. He dodged out of the way of the first strike, and wove out of reach of the second.

Undeterred, the Mistress of Arms pressed her attack as she went from guard stance to a diagonal slash starting behind her right shoulder, though when she got to about mid-torso, the blade curved into a more horizontal slash as she finished The Bore Rushes Down the Mountain. Footwork of Gaidin and Gaidar moved as if in time to some ghostly music only the two sparring could here. Any watching could see it was more a dance than a spar, but if any assumed that was all it was would be sorely mistaken.