The Grey Tower

The sun was high in the sky, although no longer quite at the peak. It was a warm day out, the sun pouring down in bunches but it was nullified by a light breeze. The few clouds up in the sky were scattered and provided little shade for the few people currently in the yard. Everyone that had any sense was waiting for a cooler time or had been here earlier. It was strangely silent, in comparison to the raucous sounds that generally came from the place. A large man stood out in the sun, his hair carefully groomed today, falling down to just below his shoulder blades in a tight ponytail. A wooden sword was clasped in his right hand, a frown covering his face.

Seayn took a deep breath, feeling smothered in the high collared black coat that he wore. His breathing was slow but labored and loud, not a relaxed and calm sound. The young Saldaean was used to being able to remove layers of clothing if the weather required it. But he wanted to make a good impression here and he had been repeatedly told about the importance of appearance for a young Soldier or Novice, so he was attempting to stay costumed for this... position? Job? He wasn't exactly sure what to think of it as. He reached up, wiping sweat from the side of his face. He had always been a heavy perspirator.

The Soldier held up his scavenged weapon. It was barely more than a stick honestly. He didn't know how to use the damn thing, that was certain. Seayn did know that the pointy side was meant to go in the other person though. He wished it had more heft though. He was a big man, shouldn't that be reflected in the weapon he wielded? He let out an exasperated sigh, picking up the twig and whipping it to the left and right, a whistling sound created by the movement. Seayn needed someone to teach him but he had more than enough other tasks at the moment. He snorted in disgust, tossing the wooden blade to the side.

The Saldaean half way out of the yard before he turned slightly, a heavy feeling in the pit of his stomach. That attitude wouldn't get him anywhere. Wasn't going to be more dangerous than a simple sword could make him any how? He trudged back, feet dragging as he picked up the stick. He'd return the thing to its rightful place and then find something productive to do with his time. Seayn thought, the sword barely gripped in his right hand while he moved back to the edge of the Yard.

Kaira leaned against the outer wall of the armory and crossed her arms. The jutting roof formed a barrier to the sun that beat down on the packed earth of the Warder Yards. Her hair was plaited in a single, loose braid down her back. She was only twelve, but she had been here longer than most of the training Drin and some of the Ji'val. Familiarity was just one of the blessings of being Tower-born. For most of those years, of course, she had hardly been able to properly wield a weapon. But since her first lesson with her father three years ago, she had spent many hours here watching or practicing with the Drin and had begun developing some skill with the sword.

She tilted her head back against the wall and narrowed her eyes at an approaching student. A soldier, by the looks of his black coat. A newcomer, since she didn't recognize him. He was tall and well-built, but had clearly no idea how to hold a sword.

When he flung the sword to the ground, she stifled a gasp. Throwing any weapon, especially in temper, was against the rules. There were a great many rules for weapon trainees; nearly as many as there were for young channelers. And while Kaira was not one to tattle on others, she was the daughter of the Gaidin Captain, and he had instilled in her a certain respect for rules even if she thought some of them were silly.

At least the soldier redeemed himself a little bit when he picked up the stick. His feet dragged on the dirt. Kaira grimaced. Then she called out, her voice carrying across the grounds.

"Hey, soldier!"

She waited until he looked up before gesturing with a hand for him to come closer.

"Pick up those feet! And what's with that frown? Is something bothering you today?"

Seayn snapped to attention, trying to remember the proper way to address an Aes SedaI or Ashaman. His brown eyes darted about, looking for the voice of authority barking nearby, scanning left then right yet all he saw was a young girl with a braid in her hair. The flustered Soldier approached, an attempt at a comforting smile on his face as he drew near her. "A little young to be yelling at an adult, don't you think?" He bit his lip, looking as if he was debating talking to the girl about his problems.

The large man let out a heavy sigh, crouching to an image closer to her height, lathe held sideways against one knee. "I grew up in Saldaea, not very close to the Blight, as it were, but close enough. When I was young I always dreamed of fighting off trollocs and half men with one of these." He murmured as he brandished the weapon slightly, "Although I always imagined it a little more steely... but either way. Now I have a weapon that should make me worth a hundred regular men with channeling." He stood back up, uncomfortably looking around the mostly abandoned yard. "Yet here I am, unable to use a sword still, or Saidin, while I learn how to use a sponge better every day. "

Seayn exhaled slowly, trying to regain his composure. He pinched the bridge of his nose between the index finger and thumb of his left hand for a moment before releasing it and speaking once more. "That's what's the matter with me today. Who are you any way? A young Novice out of her dress?"

Kaira grinned and lifted her chin. "I am not a novice," she said. "My name is Kaira Darrow."

She watched his face for any sign of recognition. Her stare was searching and intense. When she saw nothing, she shrugged and decided to comment on his complaints. Although she attempted to speak kindly, it was clear that she had very little sympathy for his plight.

"What did you expect? To learn everything in a day? If this path was quick or easy, then the lessons would be less valuable. Here, would you like me to demonstrate some basics?"

She took the smallest wooden training lathe from its rack along the armory wall. The edges were worn and frayed; the hilt was rounded and smooth. She hefted it in her hand. Abruptly she spun around and lashed out. The point of her sword stopped before it struck the back of his knee.

Kaira laughed at the expression on his face.

"Hah! Surprised you, didn't I?" She stuck out her tongue playfully and shook her head. Then she winked.

"Let's go find a spot in the Yards," she said. "You need to learn to walk before you run. So?"

Seayn was rather confused by the intense scrutiny of the girl. Was he meant to recognize the name? She might have expected him to but the young man had no clue who she was. He shook His head, a rueful smile on his face for the condescending pipsqueak. "No, that's not it... I just expected more time learning and training than chores and repetitive classes that haven't helped me touch the One-HEY!" The Saldaean yelled and tried to twist his leg out of the way as the girl spun quickly, swinging a stick his knee.

Seayn inhaled deeply, wondering who exactly this child was. He caressed the hilt of his lathe with a finger, wondering what exactly the girl could teach him and who had taught Kaira in the first place. "M'name is Seayn. Seayn Cheade. It's, uh, nice to meet you, Kaira. You definitely surprised me there. "

The young man moved towards an open area in the Yards, farther away from the armory. He turned squatting a little into a more athletic position and held the wooden lathe before him awkwardly in both hands. "I'm ready to learn." He said, a determined look on his face, "Although I didn't expect it to be from a child." He muttered under his breath as an afterthought.

Kaira looked at him expressionlessly. Even if he didn't mean for her to hear that comment, she couldn't help the direction the wind blew. The light breeze carried his words to her ears.

"That was very rude," she said. "I am hardly a child."

Then she shrugged. After years of dealing with taunts and bullies, she had developed a thick skin. And she did not care for apologies, no matter how sincere. Actions spoke louder than words. She moved forward and used her lathe to prod his right foot back so that he stood in a guard stance. Then she reached out to adjust his grip on the hilt.

"Are you right or left handed?" she asked. She tilted her head to the side and examined his posture. "Relax, Seayn. You are too tense. Stand up straight! Now follow me."

Kaira demonstrated a high guard, bringing her blade up over her head so that it was nearly horizontal to the ground. Her left foot was forward.

"This is a high guard," she said. "Called the Lion on the Hill."

She stepped forward with her right leg, shifting into a reverse guard stance. As she moved, she brought the training sword down to her left hip and angled the blade across her body. It pointed at Seayn's mid-torso. "And this is a middle guard. The Swallow Glides to a Branch."

Finally, she dropped the point of the blade. "The Ox Lowers His Horns. A low guard," she said. "Now you try! Don't forget to move your feet between forms and stay balanced."

The young man arched an eyebrow, looking down at the girl as she spoke to him. He awkwardly moved into the first position, his gaze dropping to his feet, darting to her posture, trying to imitate it. "Many soldiers and warders would call me a kid, so I think it fits you as well." He said, voice low and soft as he concentrated.

"Right." He murmured as he cautiously put his left foot forward, his sword turned parallel to the ground, "Lion on the hill." Seayn nodded, trying to memorize the details of the stance before he moved to the next one, "Swallow glides to the branch?" He spoke, voice holding uncertainty as he switched lead feet, putting the practice weapon closer to his hip, looking nearly as wooden as the lathe.

The Saldaean lowered the point of the blade, aiming it at the ground. "The Ox lowers his horns..." He took a moment before he spoke again. "Wouldn't I generally want to keep my weapon high to swing more easily with it?" He asked, not trying to be contrary, just trying to figure out the nuances of the lesson as it moved along. His breathing was smooth but his face was awash with sweat because of the day's heat, beads of moisture gathered on his brow.

Kaira bit her lip. "Hm. Why are you moving so stiffly? Take a deep breath."

She inhaled and held her breath. Her cheeks puffed out. Slowly she exhaled. "One more time," she said. Then she grinned. "Are you nervous? Now, stretch! Arms out. Arms up. Touch your toes. Do you feel better? Okay, let's try again. Start again with the Lion on the Hill. Watch."

She demonstrated the three stances again. When she finished with the Ox Lowers His Horns, she said, "It does seem that this move is letting down your guard, doesn't it? But it is actually very good for luring the opponent in and delivering a counterstrike."

At least that's what her father had told her. She demonstrated very briefly, bringing up her sword to tap Seayn along his thighs and then thrusting towards his belly.

"See? But right now we need to work on your balance and posture. Again! Again!"

Alric Aurella

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