The Grey Tower

Azalaide stood in the training yards and shivered. It was a cool morning, but the borrowed Drin uniform and what it signified discomfited her far more. In her year at the Tower, she had let herself be cooped up indoors and distracted by lessons. The Tower kept her busy; too busy to do more than think of her son in the few stolen minutes before exhaustion claimed her and sent her to sleep, and too busy to think about how she would much rather be outside.

She had discovered a few months ago, much to her surprise, that novices were allowed to learn the use of weapons. Azalaide had jumped at the chance, and had pestered the Mistress of Novices to be allowed to learn. It had taken a lot of promises; that she would stop if she felt faint, that she would visit the infirmary before going to her first lesson, and that she would generally do whatever the Yellows told her to.

Now that she had finally done it, and was outside waiting for her instructor, her nervousness felt like a stone in her stomach. What if she couldn’t do it? The gaidin she had spoken to had promised her that the dagger was not a physically demanding weapon, but Azalaide had no idea if she would be strong enough.

Her face was impassive as she surveyed the yards, looking for the red haired Accepted that was to be her teacher, but doubt raged inside of her. She wanted this, so badly. The thought that the only thing that could hold her back was herself was too much to bear. The Yellow Aes Sedai she had spoken to had made it perfectly clear that she might not be healthy enough to manage this. While Azalaide had smiled at the time and assured the woman that if she was healthy and strong enough to bear a child, she was certainly able to hold a knife, she had no idea if it was true.

I will not allow my body to betray me. She told herself, firmly. But it was too easy to remember all the other times her body had done so; the many planned rides, trips, and outings that she had not been able to make. This lesson would not be like that. She didn’t think she could survive her life as a novice if it was.

Carra Accepted It wasn't often she was asked to teach in the Yard. With a sword, yes, but not with the dagger. It was not her most proficient weapon, but she was trained well enough. Although that itself was a little far fetched, having lived on the streets one learned to use what was available to them or died by it. Carra had a dagger that had served her well in Caemlyn, and it was well enough to teach basics to an unskilled Novice that might not be able to handle a heavier training session. It was a curious request, but like in all things Carra merely gave the appropriate curtsy and agreed to the request. It was not like she had all the time in the world to do the things she wanted to do.

Dressed in her typical Tower leathers, more of a brown leather than the traditional Grey, a colored sash around her waist like a belt that spoke of her Accepted Rank. Carra's long red hair was braided flat down her back, as it was growing unruly and she debated having it trimmed. Trips to Hama Valon were not so easily gained for her, so she made do in the mean time. Arriving in the yard, Carra was not suprised to see the young girl dressed appropriately waiting for her. What she found surprising was how the girl.. her demeanor was completely quiet and almost sickly. To her, anyway. There was something that screamed at her ['victim'] that nearly brought pause to her steps. A girl like this in the streets would barely last the week.

But this wasn't the streets, and they were not in Caemlyn. Carra was instructed to teach this girl how to defend herself, but just looking her over Carra doubted that being an expert in a dagger will save the girl the heartbreak her personality would likely bring her. Giving a mental shrug, deciding that for the time being it wasn't something she was required to teach the girl, she left the thoughts alone. The mental warning sitting in the back of her mind.

"Novice Azalaide? I am Carraidhin Glaisne. You may call me Carra or Accepted, though I would prefer Carra. I was asked to teach you how to use the dagger. What training or knowledge of weapons or fighting do you have? Any knowledge in this area is useful, and it is good to know where to start."

The Accepted was shorter than her, but Azalaide easily managed to get a good look at her, despite her own demurely downcast gaze. She had developed that particular skill early, as a tall young woman in the Cairhein court. Carra was blank faced and assertive, and Azalaide was not quite sure what to make of her. But the Accepted’s gaze was clearly harsh and judging. It was something that Azalaide was becoming more and more used to; it was quite clear that some of the sturdier novices looked down upon her and saw her as nothing more than a fragile court flower. “It is lovely to meet you, Accepted Carra.” She murmured smoothly, dipping into her best approximation of a courtly bow, for lack of proper skirts. In Azalaide’s experience, it was always better to let herself be underestimated; it gave her more time to think and maneuver. Azalaide had the feeling that she might need that time with this woman.

Her considerations had distracted her from the task at hand. “I have had no training in weaponry or fighting.” Azalaide offered promptly, her head titled subtly down so that she might look up from under her eyelashes. She considered commenting on her many and varied dance lessons, but another quick look at the Accepted’s face made it very that such a joke would fall very flat indeed. She did her very best to look properly doe-eyed and insipid as she contemplated the other woman.

It was curious that Carra had not been instructed to ask after her health. The woman seemed practical and thorough, by her speech and dress. If Carra had known, she would have mentioned it at the very first. Azalaide had no issue with simply not telling her. She was here to learn, and Azalaide currently had no patience for speaking about her health. It was too real a fear for her; she could hardly imagine speaking sweetly of such a thing with a woman like Carra.

“I am, however, very eager to learn, Carra.” Azalaide lifted her chin and met the other woman’s gaze for the first time as she spoke, her smile welcoming and guileless. “Thank you for agreeing to teach me.”

Carra The girl wasn't stupid. Carra could see the intelligence that flickered in the way she held her features, and she wondered briefly if she had spend much time in the Courts. Be it Andorian or Cairhien as either could be rather brutal. Not that Carra would ever ask as that was but one of many skeletons in her closet. But how much of her timidly was a mask and how much was truth. She wanted to keep in mind the warning she was given about the Novice's health while at the same time push her to see just what limits she could bear.

Although she would not look forward to the lectures from both a Yellow and Illyria Sedai over her breaking another Novice. Not that she broke one before, but Carra did have a tendency to change people and not all in a good way. Luna was still musing about how she wished to spar and remove Carra's head. Carra took it as a compliment.

She gave a nod of her head, allowing the girl her privacy of both her health and her disposition for the time being and fell into the habit of lecturing. "We will need to collect weapons for you, but before we do that I will need to teach you a few basics. Some of these require no dagger but once a dagger is in hand it will feel more natural."

"Daggers are a close proximity weapon." Carra moved directly into Azalaide's personal space, looking up while still feeling like she was looking down on the girl. "You will need to be within a very short distance to a person for a dagger to be effective as a weapon. On the more positive side, it is also the easiest of weapons to hide so if you find yourself in a situation where you have very little room to move the dagger is a quick option and usually at arms reach if it isn't actually attached directly to your arm." Carra stepped back to give the girl breathing room, meanwhile pulling up her shirt showing thin daggers strapped around her arms just below the wrist. "As an example. I don't usually wear them around the Tower Grounds, but since this about teaching you how to use them."

Carra unhooked one and handed it to her, handle first. "Daggers can be both hand held and a thrown weapon. Due to their light weight, daggers are very quick, making them formidable weapons in the hands of a skilled user. This speed can more than make up for their short length. Because their blades are short, however, only stabbing can be instantly fatal. Dagger cuts can be very debilitating, but they don't penetrate deeply enough to kill except by blood loss. When fighting against armored opponents, their small size is a great advantage, allowing them to target small openings in an opponent's armor." She accepted the blade back.

Carra stood there, and let the girl gather her thoughts. There was a lot of information and she had barely touched on it. "Now, I want you to make a fist. Imagine there is a dagger in it, where would be the most effective place to stab me, do you think? Imagine I am an attacker. How would you use the dagger against me?"

Azalaide did not sigh in relief or smile when Carra nodded and began the lesson, although she would have liked to. The Accepted seemed to be an inquisitive sort of person, and Azalaide was glad to be spared the nuisance of talking circles around the issue of her health and her past. There were better things to be doing.

She did not flinch as Carra moved into her space in order to show her how close one must be to use a dagger on another. Azalaide was too used to her space not being her own, or else she might have startled. But she soon found al of her surprised replaced by curiosity. The fact that daggers were so easily hidden made them the perfect weapon for a woman like her. She could already imagine all the situations in which a well-hidden weapon might be enough to turn any tide in her favor.

Still watching Carra intently, Azalaide hefted the dagger. The thought of throwing daggers was far preferable to the athleticism necessary for stabbing and slashing. Azalaide had always been practical, and she could not imagine successfully managing an attack and retreat that would require such energy and strength. Reluctantly, she passed the blade back to the Accepted. She was already itching to have a try at throwing it.

“Yes, Accepted.” She murmured at Carra’s request, making a fist with her right hand as directed. She could not mask the surprise at being asked to imagine Carra as an attacker; her gaze darted uncomfortably from her own hand to Carra’s face, before skittering away. But then the thought was not as strange as she might have been, and she found herself speaking without thinking.

“I would first slash at your face.” For the eyes, and because it was shocking move. Carra was a pretty woman, and most women were at least a little vain. The thought of such a wound across her face would be enough to make most women flinch backwards. “And then, if that is distracting, at the arms and hands that are holding any weapons.” Perhaps such a move would make an attacker drop her own knives. She paused, flexing her fist and considering. It was all well and good to suggest such moves that might gain her time, but for the first time in her life, she had to consider how she might kill someone. “From there, I suppose it might be simplest to stab you in the throat. Or if that is not possible, in the stomach.” She knew from her brothers’ training in swordsmanship that gut wounds were particularly horrible and likely to fester.

Azalaide could not think of anything else to say. For all that she could think through such moves, she could hardly imagine completing them. Such a furious burst of activity was likely to leave her gasping for air, not stabbing someone in the throat.

Carra Carra gave a firm nod. "You have good instincts, and your logic in your attacks show some understanding of how to defend yourself." The praise was simple, but this weak girl needed confidence more then a berating, so Carra gave in to being kinder to her for it. However her tone remained even and hard, ensuring that the girl did not think Carra was going to take it easy on her.

"Lets start with a gripping and how to hold the dagger." Pulling out two wooden daggers, she handed one to Azalaide and kept one for herself. "To start off, there are two ways to hold a dagger, and each has its own purpose. First is the 'Forward' grip, where the dagger points upward with your thumb, toward the head of your opponent." This she demonstrated for better understanding. "Next is the 'Reverse' grip, held in the opposite direction: downward with the pinky and toward the feet of your opponent. Do not worry about the names - I will only use them for faster explanation as we get further on. Be sure to hold the dagger tight enough to not drop it, but loose enough that it does not tire your hand or limit your movement. Also be sure to practice swapping between the two so that you can change instantly between them when you need to.

"From here, let's move on to the basic stances." Carra moved herself so Azalaide could see her better, and began to demonstrate as she spoke. "First is the Leading stance," she said, putting the dagger into her right hand and stepping forward with her right foot. "Your main hand holds the dagger forward, about chest-high. Your other hand is held about to your side, the same height or a little lower, but not slack. Your feet mimic this, with the main side forward and other slightly back - bent and separated enough for stability and to keep you mobile." Seeing some that were confused at which hand was supposed to be the lead, Carra added, "Remember: your dagger hand is whatever hand you are most comfortable with. If you are right-handed, use your right, and vice-versa."

She then swapped her feet and turned her upper body to compensate. "Second is the Trailing position - basically the opposite of the last one. This time, the empty off-hand and accompanying foot are in front, and the dagger hand is held behind it, to your side as before. Depending on how you are holding the dagger can also determine the placement of the dagger.

"Take a moment to practice these," she said, returning to a standing position. "Make sure that your off-hand stays up - where you leave the hand itself is your personal preference, but it must be up and ready to assist you in defending. When you feel ready I want you to give me your thoughts on these stances: how they would work best in combat and such. Take both ways to hold the dagger into account - and tell me what you think would work best with each."