The Grey Tower

Jain stayed on the ground and kept staring at the Aiel woman. She might be a better fighter than he was without his sword but he wouldn't be intimidated by her either. The man in black walked over to them from where he had been standing and handed a cloth to Dax before addressing Jain.

"From what I saw, you two share no love of one another. The force of your blows didn't look like sparring. It looked like revenge. I would venture to say unsanctioned fighting carries a harsher punishment than ruined skirts. What issue do the two of you have anyway?"

Jain tore his eyes away from the stoic faced Aiel to look at the man. "I don't have any particular issue with Dax. A few days ago he approached me for a sword spar and I was free so I agreed. It was a good workout for both of us and I came out as the victor because I disarmed him. As I am sure you saw, I was just sitting here when he attacked me. He told me he wanted a fight with no rules and while I was ready to draw my sword, I thought better of it. We agreed to the fist fight and from what it seems, neither of us had the advantage. Anyway what's the point of a spar if you hold your blows? Outside the Tower, enemies won't go easy on you or even give you any warning. Sparring should be full speed and full strength all the time. You'd never learn anything if it wasn't. As for it being an unsanctioned fight, it may not be the best idea for us to fight in the Tower Gardens but from what the Gaidin have told me, the only unsanctioned fights between members of the Warder Yards are duels to the death or deliberately trying to main your opponent. So what we were doing wasn't wrong, just maybe not as well thought out as it should have been."

Ubriel had found this bush the second month she had been at the Tower. From outside it's branches, it was an unassuming hedge with little more than green leaves to it's glory. But underneath those branches, they sheltered an open area of ground just big enough to embrace a slight woman like herself. The ground was soft and loamy with fallen and decaying leaves, smelling of fresh earthy nature. On one side, the branches leaned out low to brush their tips against the water of the surface of the pool near the waterfall. Under that drooping place, the bank dipped far down and created a cradling seat so that dangling legs bared to the knee could be submerged and one could take a dozing nap if one so desired.

Ubriel had been of such a desire having managed to clear all of the papers from her desk that morning and made it all the way into the gardens without anyone stopping her, asking her for a lesson, a tip, a shoulder to cry on, permission to seek revenge...

And now she lay in her under-the-bush cradle, twisted to one side to peep between branch and grass and watch as two of her recent enlistments attempted to rattle one another's teeth. She was still trying to decide how much of the Mother Wolf she wanted to be known for playing to her errant Pups. Listening and hearing them rationalizing that it was okay as long as they didn't INTEND to hurt each other permanently, Ubriel thought perhaps it should be reiterated at the next set of dormitory announcements that all sparring of any kind was to be conducted in the Warder Training Yard where it could be supervised and the resources of equipment and emergency medical help was always immediately available.

They do seem to be under control now. And those two do have something to teach each other. It won't serve any purpose for me to pop up now and give them each a time out. I think though... She rolled back onto her back, satisfied that the situation was under control and if it wasn't, she was still only a bush cradle away.

Eirinn was still getting over the shock of seeing her new acquaintance cut off the fabric of her own dress, but her mouth swung open like a fencegate when she saw Sinead move. She had never, ever seen a woman move in such a way, instantly ending the fight. It was impressive enough to render Eirinn speechless as the conversation with the two brawlers ensued.

She came to herself, realizing she had been gawking like a mooncalf when Kieran had the sense to step in with a clean cloth. She managed to pull herself together enough to close her mouth and step over casually to the others, trying to pretend that she hadn't been so surprised after all.

It seemed like a silly reason for a fight, as it was explained, but if being around her brother and his friends had taught her anything, it was that she simply did not understand boys, and men either. They were rather frustrating enigmas prone to be incredibly stubborn and unpredictable.

"I am glad everyone is unhurt.", she managed with a shy smile.

Her eyes fell to Sinead's dress, and her bare legs sticking out of the tatters. Eirinn did not know all the rules here yet, but it was possible the men were right about that. "Oh no! Sinead, your dress! It wouldn't be fair for you to get into trouble. You were only trying to help. Maybe we can find you another dress
somewhere...or maybe there's a spare in my room...if I could ever find it again..." she began casting her eyes all around, wondering in which direction help could be found and what could be done to save Sinead from the trouble that seemed to be awaiting her.