Ways of the Spear [attn; Locke]

[Avyra]

“What kinds of stories do Cairhinen tell about my people? I won’t be mad. At you at least.” Avyra was a bit taken aback from the question. She considered it. "Ah, well," she said, then paused for a moment, looking a bit nervous. "Well, if you name it, we've probably told it. There was one where one Aiel took out an entire legion of men. A few about bathing in blood, since water is scarce. A lot of stories about cannibalism. Like, a lot of them. A few about you guys wearing human hide, some about drinking from skulls." She shrugged. "A lot of the stories were used to frighten little kids, honestly. 'Come, eat your vegetables or a giant Aiel will come and eat you himself.'" She sighed. "It was silly, but most of my people will never meet an Aiel. To them, you'd be just a fable." She paused. "So they have no issue making you into these giant, man eating savages who enjoy spearing everyone who crosses their path."

[Locke]

Terric

Terric snorted. “One Aielman taking out a legion? I like that one.” The other rumors were too laughable to be truly insulting. “Washing in blood is just unsanitary and counterproductive. Who keeps that much blood anyway? That’s a close tie with the cannibalism thing for sheer grossness. Where do your people get these from?” He began to laugh, “Who would wear a suit of leather in the desert, human or otherwise? Maybe make the rumors at least make sense, like yeah the cannibalism thing maybe. Skulls aren’t an efficient drinking method when you don’t want to lose water. Here, I can make up better rumors. There has to be some kind of logic to go along with the hysteria. Like if we were as creepy and vile as your countrymen thought, we would probably do something like clean out people’s stomachs or intestines and cure them to use as waterskins. See, that’s both vile and disgusting and it involves water, something Aiel actually care about. Maybe something about kidnapping and forcing children to dig wells in the deep desert.” He shrugged. “But no, we don’t do any of that,” he trailed off, “Well no Aielman with honor does. I’ve seen some disturbing things in my life, and not only from Shadow Runners.”

[Avyra]

Avyra was shocked when he laughed, and even came up with other rumors to add onto the mess! She gave him a look of, well, shock. She knew that if she was in his shoes, she wouldn't be laughing. "They are foolish, and I have no idea where they came from. But meeting you has confirmed that they aren't true." She paused. "I wish there was a way to change the way my people see yours. But... ah, minds are not so easily changed when it comes to things like this." She paused, stepping back a touch to meet his eyes easier. The stories were right about one thing; the Aiel were huge. "But we can hope." She paused. "I stand by what I said when I met you. I would love to see your home, even if it is dangerous."

[Locke]

Terric

Terric couldn’t help but be amused at his friend’s shock. Discomfort was a key ingredient of Aiel humor. “You know you can sit you know,” he said reclining. “Or do you like being able to see over my head?” He had well and truly forgotten about the lesson. They could pick it up some other time. “Why do you want to see the Three-fold Land? I’m not sure how my mother would feel about me bringing home a Cairhienin. The Wise Ones would be involved quickly.” There would be many complications, but he was charmed that she wanted to see his home land. “Maybe one day we can go to Cairhien. I promise not to step on to many people.” He wasn’t sure why he made the promise but it seemed right; it seemed like something that would make her happy. He did enjoy making her smile and laugh.

[Avyra]

“You know you can sit you know,” he said. “Or do you like being able to see over my head?” Avyra rolled her eyes, a smile forming on the corners of her lips. "Well, I do gain some satisfaction in it. Besides, I like to see your face. Its a very pretty face, and I don't get to see it when you're too busy being a towering giant." But she walked over, taking a seat beside him, crossing her legs in front of her. She looked very relaxed. “Why do you want to see the Three-fold Land? I’m not sure how my mother would feel about me bringing home a Cairhienin. The Wise Ones would be involved quickly.” He paused. “Maybe one day we can go to Cairhien. I promise not to step on to many people.” Avyra considered the question. "Well, I'm not too sure. I just want to see it and understand it." She paused. "There are many places I've never been before in the world, and I want to see them all." She paused, frowning. "It might be a problem. How would I get them all to like me?" She most certainly didn't want to cause a problem if she ever went there. But, at his second point, she couldn't help but laugh. "Oh, I'm on the shortest end of Carhienin heights. Average is more... at your chest." She paused. "However, I appreciate your, ah, efforts not to step on me. I really don't like being smushed." She smiled at him, eyes shining. He would actually want to see Cairhien? But it was so boring!

[Locke]

Terric

A pretty face him? Well he had managed to keep all of his teeth and had only had his nose broken a few times. That had to count for something, Terric guessed. His mother definitely would not want him bringing home a tiny Cairhienin who thought he had a pretty face.

She answered his question sitting next to him, "Well, I'm not too sure. I just want to see it and understand it. There are many places I've never been before in the world, and I want to see them all." She paused, frowning. "It might be a problem. How would I get them all to like me?" She paused, a smile lighting up her green eyes. "Oh, I'm one the shortest end of Cairhienin heights. Average is more... at your chest. However, I appreciate your, ah, efforts not to step on me. I really don't like being smushed."

Terric suppressed a sigh, green eyes would be the death of him. He chose his words carefully, “It shouldn’t be hard to get them to like you for you. I don’t know how anybody could dislike you. They will however, have trouble with long held animosity.” His people mistrusted Cairhienin for good reason. Laman’s Sin had rubbed sand in the eyes of his people after four hundred years of peace and trade. “If we can get past our long held beliefs about each other, so can my people. That or they can just get over it. You are a good person.”

[Avyra]

“If we can get past our long held beliefs about each other, so can my people. That or they can just get over it. You are a good person.” She, well, smiled. She hadn't been expecting those words; they were good to hear. "Thank you. You are too." She glanced at the sun for a moment, then heard a bell chime the hour. "We should both go, classes are about to start." She scrambled to her feet, dusting off her clothing. "I'll see you in a few days here, again, or sooner if time allows us to visit." She paused, considering her next motion. Then she darted in to give him a quick hug. "Thank you. You helped me today, and that means a lot to me." She let go quickly as to not make it awkward for him; it probably was already, seeing as the Aiel didn't much hug or touch, and gave him a wave. "Just don't break your arm again doing something foolish."

It had been a few months since they began, and Avyra was starting to look forward to their regular meetings. She could feel herself getting stronger and lighter on her feet, quicker to react. Plus, she felt good. She had never felt this good in her life. They still had yet to spar. Terric seemed worried about her getting hurt, even though she was sure she wouldn't. Avyra was making her way to their usual spot, pulling back her hair as she did so. "I see you, Terric. How is your morning?"

[Locke]

Terric

Terric stood on one leg in the middle of the training yard. His other leg was bent, foot resting on his knee. His base leg was bent slightly at the knee, and his foot was cocked to the side. His arms were raised in front of him at the ready: one outstretched and warding and the other protecting his face. He floated in the Void balance perfect, weight aligned along a center point in his body. His breath came in stead inhalations and he could feel the and under his bare feet. He had stripped off his coat and shirt in the summer heat. The sensation was outside the Void somehow, so was a sense of disgruntlement that he couldn’t choose to enjoy it.

He caught sight of Avyra crossing the Warder Yards towards him. She had grown over the last few months. She hadn’t gotten taller but she did stand taller, more confident. She was learning to move like a warrior as well. It wasn’t perfect but she was a quick study. He could see by the way she placed her feet when she stopped in front of him. "I see you, Terric. How is your morning?"

“I see you, Avyra,” he said extending his leg and holding it as he bent his support leg till he was practically at eye level with her. If he held this position he knew his thigh would begin to ache. “Last time I showed you some shoulder throws, today I want to show you how to get out of different grapples.”

[Avyra]

What in the name of the light was he doing? Avyra tilted her head to one side as she watched him, holding perfectly still on one leg in an odd stance. She put on a confused face as he answered, changing positions slowly and holding that one too, his leg bent so that he was almost eye level with her. “I see you, Avyra,” he replied as he did that. “Last time I showed you some shoulder throws, today I want to show you how to get out of different grapples.” She nodded. "All good, all good. But I must ask before we start. What are you doing?" She just had to ask; curiosity was eating her up.

[Locke]

Terric

His thigh was beginning to ache and he switched legs with a smooth motion. He stood again, placing his foot against his bent knee. “Balance drills,” Terric replied in a voice that seemed to say, Isn’t it obvous? “I meant to start doing these with you a long time ago. They’re very helpful, especially when you practice on something like a wall or a small rock. Once you’re really good at these, you’ll be ready to run across roofs and the like.” He held the stance for a little longer. “Go ahead give it a shot. See how long you can stay up. Don’t worry, I already taught you how to fall. You have been practicing right?”