The Grey Tower

The Soldier's assessment this time was exactly what Murdock expected, because he knew that he had done his job correctly. He just gave a nod of his head, "this sort of Healing is a little more rudimentary as it takes strength from the person being Healed. It can be a little uncomfortable for them if they don't hold the Power, if it's a serious injury. Something to bear in mind with a patient. It does mean that using these weaves, an injury too severe may make them too weak to withstand these weaves. You could kill them by Healing them." A fascinating prospect.

"Let's move on to the next patient."

Their next subject was a Novice by the name of Cassy, who by the frown on her face and the fold of her arms, suggested she was going to be difficult.

"Good morning," Murdock said politely. "Soldier Shadow and I are going to take a look at you today, to see if we can Heal whatever ails you. Permission to take a look?"

"Fine," the Novice said, exasperated already.

Murdock Delved first this time, finding that she had some trouble with her arm. She had them folded because her wrist was sprained, not just because she was grumpy. "That must be rather painful. Soldier, take a Delve and see what you can find."

With that done, Murdock once more weaved Spirit, Fire and Earth together. "Keep a close look Soldier, after this you will be Healing me." Murdock gently rested his hands on Cassy's arm, and the slight swelling went down. The pain thus removed, the Novice flexed her arm and nodded her head.

"Thank you," Cassy said, though she didn't sound so grateful. Perhaps that was just her normal tone.

"It's what I'm here for," Murdock replied. "Soldier, let's head back to the office. If it goes well, Healing me, I can supervise you with some minor injuries out here as well." He gestured back to the office, grabbing his stick and making his way back at a hobble. He no longer held Saidin, but Giselle followed along in his mind, and his dark eyes strayed to his side where he imagined her walking next to him. "Any questions?"

Shadow nodded and created the weave. He gave it a brief check before releasing it onto the Novice. He didn't know her and from the tone of her voice he didn't want to either. As the weave settled onto her he felt the pain in her wrist.

"She's injured her wrist. My guess would be a sprain or a small break but its hard to tell" Shadow said. "Most likely doing something stupid" he muttered under his breath.

He watched at the Dedicated began to create the healing weave. This time he tried to remember were parts of the weave should go before the Dedicated made them so that he could check that he knew the weave correctly. He did. He seemed to have been able to remember the weave almost perfectly.

"No questions sir" Shadow said as they walked away back to the office. All he hoped for now was that the weave when as well as he hoped it would and that he didn't accidently cause the Dedicated to lose and arm or something equally important. That would not be good for him or the Dedicated. Well he would find out how he was at healing in a moment or so.

Back to the office they went, and Murdock was glad to sit down. Light, when did he become so old? He wasn’t really in the grand scheme of things, but he sure felt it. The man eased back into his seat and rested his forearm on the table so Shadow could get a look at the small cut that was still present on his arm, no longer bleeding but definitely there. It stung a little, but with the hubbub of Healing earlier, it was easily forgotten about until other distractions were out of the way.

“Now then, let’s put those observations of yours to the test. This is a very minor cut so if you get the weave wrong to Heal me, it won’t be the end of the Grey Tower as we know it. But the weaves themselves, as you saw, were quite basic and not all that difficult when you get the hang of them. Fire and Earth are, as you probably know, easier for men to use.” He nodded down to his arm, “give it a try.”

Murdock seized Saidin once more, just so he could get a better handle on the situation at hand. He wasn’t expecting it to go terribly wrong but if for some reason his arm turned green, at least he would handle it better with the power running through him. And admittedly, he was curious to see what the Soldier could possibly do to fluff up the Healing weave, so he could replicate it some other time...

But the weave was fine. More than fine, really. Murdock was pleased to see his cut closing up, and he took a cloth to wipe the drying blood away with satisfaction. Not even a scar! “Well done, those weaves worked perfectly,” he told the Soldier, after releasing Saidin. "If you can do that with some of the simple injuries in the Infirmary then that would be great. So let's head back out there and I'll supervise as you Delve and Heal some of the uncomfortable patients." Uncomfortable because they were experiencing discomfort, rather than because of being Healed.

OOC: I hope it's okay that I had Shadow Heal, but it was to move the thread along. Anything I need to edit, just let me know. Murdock will follow Shadow into the Infirmary and supervise some basic Healing, so write me some story!

Shadow walked back out into the infirmary and headed over to this first patient he saw who didn't look like he was dying, a man from the city who had come in the day before. He was known for exaggerating things which was why Shadow choose him. He doubted the injury would be that serious.

"Sir, if you don't mind. I'll see to your injuries" Shadow said politely as he walked up. The man looked him up and down. He looked like he was about to say something when he saw the Dedicated. In the end he just nodded.

Quickly Shadow Delved him, creating the web of spirit quickly. There really wasn't much wrong with him, just some nasty bruising on his stomach and back.

As soon as he was down he said "Nasty bruising but that's pretty much it. I'll heal you now"

As he finished he began to create the weave from healing. It took him less time to create that than it had the weave to Delve. It was just so easy and came so naturally to him. He wondered briefly if the more advanced weaves would feel like that but he dismissed it.

The weave he used consisted mainly of spirit but there was fire and earth in there as well. The sprit created the base layer but the fire and earth was woven neatly into it. It was part of the weave. The weave was, by the standards of healing, simple but that still made it one of the most complete weaves he had even done. Yet it had been one of his easiest. It came naturally to him and was easy to form the weaves.

He released the weave and the man shivered and lay back looking tired. "That's you healed."

Shadow turned to talk to the Dedicated "Was that okay Sir" He asked.

OOC Its fine, don't worry about it.

Murdock was content to be the passive observer here. Teaching was never about the teacher, it was about the student and what they could learn. He was passing on his skills, such as they were, and in time this would be another trainee who surpassed him. Murdock had no notions of talent or skill, knowing he was average in almost everything, and certainly not the best Healer. Seeing another trainee take to Healing like a duck to water was probably a humbling or aggravating experience to most people, but Murdock accepted his lot in life and knew that he was not a star meant to shine. If he was a buffer for some other stars to make them twinkle a little more on their way to greatness, then so be it.

He could only assume that the man with the bruises had been in some sort of fight, because youngsters could be so violent like that. He didn’t intervene as Shadow Healed him, watching the weaves settle in place and, when it was all over, he gave the Soldier a brief nod as he limped forwards. “Very good,” he told Shadow with a brief smile. He leaned down and Delved the patient himself to ensure that everything was in order, and to his satisfaction he found that it was. Murdock had expected this from seeing the weaves form, but it was prudent to make sure anyway.

To the man on the bed, one he knew for bigging up his ailments, Murdock said “the Grey Tower provides, but we are not a charity. Your conditions, such as they are, can be Healed before they even happen by being careful and telling less tall stories. Perhaps you should think about that the next time you try to brag.” The Dedicated was probably out of place saying that to a patient but honestly? There was a lesson to be learned here as well.

“In the Black Tower, they wouldn’t have Healed that,” he told Shadow as he hobbled away and looked for another patient for the Soldier to have a look at. “They would have told him to suck it up and deal with it. They did that for most injuries that weren’t serious, though they were gentler with the wives and children we had there.” It wasn’t often Murdock mentioned the Black Tower and he supposed he ought to not discuss the politics there too freely, as some of the Asha’man could well feel more inclined towards the murderers than he did. Murdock instead gestured to the Infirmary, “let’s have you look at another patient and then we’ll call it there. I’m sure you have other lessons you need to attend to.”

Shadow listened while the Dedicated spoke of the Black Tower. He didn't like the sound of it much. Healing he had decided was something which should be given to anyone who needed it.

Once the Dedicated had finished talking he moved of towards another patient. This tine the patient he choose was a Novice. She didn't look to bad, just slightly pale. It was mostly likely she was slightly ill.

As Shadow approached he began to ready himself to Delve her. Once nearer he spoke quickly "I'll Delve you and find out what's wrong. Then I'll heal you if you want" The way he said it made it clear that he would heal her with she wanted it or not.

Quickly he created and released the Delving weave on her. Instantly he knew that he problem. "Slight hole in her stomach. How in the Light she got that I don't know." He said.

"I'm going to Heal you now" He said even as he prepared the weaves of Spirit, lacing them with fire and earth. He increased the strength of the weave channeling more of the power without really realising what he was doing. He briefly realised he was adapting to the level of the injury by increasing the strength, if not the complexity of his weave.

He released the weave over her. She jerked violent and then lay limb. Quickly he Delved her. Everything was fine, she was just tired and disorientated from the Healing.

"She fine, just tired from the healing." He said.

Once again Murdock took the passive role, standing back and letting Shadow find a Novice to Heal this time. She looked off colour and rather pale, but if it was something truly serious then she would have been seen to much sooner. The Grey Tower didn't tend to turn away those in need of Healing, but they did sometimes let someone experience a little discomfort if it taught them a lesson.

Without Delving the girl himself Murdock couldn't exactly explain how she came to have a hole in her stomach of all things. A tear, even a small one, would have massive implications for her wellbeing if not seen to in its beginning stages. Sometimes these things happened, the Dedicated supposed, and one didn't inspect them too closely. He did Delve the girl after the Healing though, just to double check that she was Healed and simply resting. Satisfied that this was the case, Murdock was happy to let her rest. "The more serious an injury, the more it takes from the patient to be Healed. She'll be rather hungry when she wakes up." The Dedicated straightened up. "Let's walk and talk." He had the rounds to make, just to see if anyone needed anything, and he may as well do it at the same time as talking to the Soldier. So off he went, at a slow pace. His stick clunked against the floor with a soft thud on every step, at least until he paused to look at a patient's notes or give them a quick Delve to make sure they were alright.

"You've done well this morning Shadow, I think you would make a fine Healer if that was what you were interested in, as you seem to have a knack for it. Some Asha'man could only Heal injuries that light, and that's after years of training. Some people, like us, have more of an aptitude for it." He gave the Soldier a look, "there's more to Healing a person than simply Delving and using Saidin. A knowledge of herbcraft is important so you know what to look for in case they have taken something already, or been administered something against their knowledge. Plus, you have to care. The Yellow Ajah is about helping people, whether they are particularly talented Healers or not." Though rare was the person who became a Yellow and couldn't Heal at least reasonably well. Personally Murdock wasn't quite so gung ho about Healing people as many of the Yellows would be but then, he was no Yellow and might well never be. Who knew? Murdock couldn't see further than the following morning, never mind plan for year ahead. Until he was back with his daughters this would probably remain the case indefinitely.

An Aes Sedai walked past on her way through the Infirmary, her yellow shawl swishing as she did so. Murdock snapped into a sharp salute for the woman, who inclined her head and went on her way. Murdock hadn't seen her around these parts before, and she lacked the ageless look so maybe she was newly Raised? When she was gone Murdock turned to the Soldier, "I think this is the end of my lesson for today, I don't want to tire you out when you have a day of other lessons and chores ahead. I'm always around if you have any questions - and I daresay I'll be around if you require more lessons on advanced Healing in future. I'll be reporting to Asha'man Soti in any case, so we could well see more of one another soon." Great, more teaching. Murdock had his own lessons to attend to, at least he was supposed to. He didn't complain too much though, he had to do his part. "Light shine on you Soldier, you're dismissed."

Shadow listened to the Dedicated as he talked, following him around the room. Once he had finished he saluted the Dedicated before turning away and leaving.

OOC Thank you.