Choose Your Weapon! [[Open!]]

[Chris]

Nathaniel Carridus It was raining hard in Hama Valon. At the Grey Tower, Nathaniel Carridus stood under the canopy beneath the weapons shed, looking out at the falling water from the dank skies. He couldn’t help the slight smirk that came to his lips at the sight of it, so cold and uninviting to a man who was used to warmer climes, but at the same time he was ready as well.

Ready for what? As he looked at the people around him, Nate realised none of them were really ready for much of anything. They were all young men and women eager to learn how to wield a weapon without killing themselves, but when it came down to it none of them really knew what they were looking for. Light, even now Nate wasn’t sure what he was supposed to do. The idea of using a sword to stab someone seemed unsavoury to say the least, but he had sworn to protect his brother and even if he wasn’t around, that was what Nate would endeavour to do.

But first, he had to prove himself to these Gaidin.

A shout from one of the man and Nate trotted out into the rain, which wasted no time in coating his new uniform. Grey really wasn’t his colour and Nate rather wished he had something a bit more fashionable, especially when he was told off for not buttoning it up properly. Light! He was never going to have any fun at this rate, it was almost like being in a prison. A prison he entered through choice, he had to remind himself.

“Drin! Today we are going to go through some basic fitness exercises, then look at a few different weapons you may want to try!” The man who spoke was a large, heavyset Gaidin with a no-nonsense tone. It made Nate want to stand up even straighter than his peers, as a dozen or so of them stood in a line before this intimidating man. “Some of you may opt for the sword! Others, the axe or the bow or maybe your bare hands. I want you to have a think about what sort of fighter you want to be, as you do a lap of the yards. When you get back here, run back the other way. Hop to it!” The man clapped his hands and the group of grey-clad trainees moved like startled geese in a huddle around the training yards.

Dear Light, Nate thought as the heavy breathing set in, I’ve not even picked out a weapon yet and I’m going to die. The yards weren’t small, and he had to run back yet. Burn it all, this was Reuben’s fault!

“Keep it going!” the Gaidin bellowed as they ran, “get the blood pumping, the heart beating! The fitter you are, the better a Warder you will be to your channeller! The better a guard you will be! The easier you and defend yourself without rest!”

I can do this! Nate thought. It was just like being at home and trailblazing through the streets with Tristan and Reuben, wasn’t it? He managed that in bare feet, in the blazing sun. This, wearing fitted boots and running in a cold rain, this was nothing. Hah! He was going to run faster, and show this man how it was done!...

... that was the idea anyway, until a painful stitch made him twinge and put a hand to his side. Already? he lamented as he struggled to maintain his pace. I’ve got some serious training to do. This would get easier over time. Nate would become a better runner and show these guys how it was done. Gritting his teeth, Nate pushed on stubbornly, refusing to let people who were clearly less fit than he was, beat him in this race. Oh, yes, this wasn't a warmup any more. This was a race, and one he was determined to do well in. Eventually, he would win even the small girl tearing her way ahead at the front. I've got my eye on you, he thought, wiping rain from them. Not today, but one day, he would be the leader of this little pack.