Time to meet the troops (Attn: Cavalry)

[Liitha]

The hot sun battered mercilessly onto Jaem's face. Scouting in the middle of summer was not his idea of a great day. He was more than happy to take a little off Drea's duties though. She was quite a bit pregnant now with his son. His son. Light! How great it was going to be to become a father. Father. Husband. General. Jaem's life was as close to perfect as he could ever imagine. He had come a long way since leaving his family farm in the Two Rivers seeking adventure. He had found that and more, and he couldn't be happier.

 

His company wasn't so bad either. Xander had tagged along with the Band, becoming somewhat of a mentor to Jaem. The older man knew a suprising amount about the world, and the sword. Jaem had been trained by the Warders most recently, he was a Blademaster, yet Xander always had some little trick to teach Jaem each time he watched him practice. Each time he became a little better.

 

Lately though, Xander had stopped watching his training sessions, as had his daughter who had come with him. Maybe he just thought he had no more to teach. Come to think of it, it was after he had fought with the Seanchan flier that Xander had stopped watching. He had urged him to kill him and be done with it, but the man was disarmed and defeated and Jaem spared his life. For some reason, Xander seemed.... angry at him for sparing the poor man's life! Light!

 

Still, he had been ademant about joining Jaem today. If he was going to appologize, he was sure taking his bloody time about it. The bloody man just sat there like a big bump on a log on his horse.

 

"I don't flaming see anythng Xander. I'm no good as a bloody scout. Light, why do I volunteer for these things when theres plenty of other bloody scouts for the job?"

 

"Because you want to become a bloody hero. Fortune prick me, you don't have to be so noble all the bloody time."

 

"Hero? Light save me from that. That kind of madness gets a man killed more often than not."

 

"You'd be suprised at how much more often." Xander grumbled, almost to himself.

 

"What do you mean?" nothing. "Whatever. Anyways, I have to make a stop, then I'm going back to the camp." Jaem reigned his horse over to the nearest tree and stepped down. Before he could even unbuckle he saw a flash of silver in front of his eyes, then red. He could still see though. Light, if he had been any slower moving though...

 

Rolling backwards, he sprang up with his sword in his hands. "Blood and Ashes, man, what are you doing?"

 

"The Great Master wants you dead." Boar Rushes down the Mountain.

 

Jaem's sword caught it just in time. Great Master? Wasn't that the Darkfriend name for the Dark One? "Darkfriend!" Jaem spat. "You flaming son of a goat! I liked you. You bloody made me like you!" Jaem came with his own charge, that was easily deflected.

 

"You see. This is why I must kill you now. I did delay your death because you do be a great swordman, and could be a fine asset. But you be too narrow minded. You look at me and see a Friend of the Dark. Am I suddenly different now than before you knew? Should you like me less now? Am I no the same man?"

 

Jaem rushed in again, this time recieving a slice in the ribs for his effort. Light, his eye burned. "Come back with me, Xander." Jaem put his sword down to his side. "You don't need to do this, you are a good man."

 

"Ha! You are weaker than I thought. You could no do the Great Lords will. Now you die, pathetic worm." Xander attacked smoothly and viciously.

 

Attack never even crossed his mind, all Jaem could do was defend. Light, how could he think this man had done all the teaching he could do? Pride. Jaem Caran was proud as a rooster, and he was going to die like a fat hen to the slaughter.

 

No!

 

Sheer will moved his body, and Jaem let himself go with it. He was not going to die. His body was a torn bloody mess, but he was alive. He spun and danced the blades with a man who was clearly better than him. Jaem wasn't the only one gashed and bloodied. The look on Xander's face had changed from triumphant, to amazed, to determined to despirate in short order. Jaem probably had the quickest hands this side of the White Tower, and few even inside were as fast. A feeling of sudden serenity came over him. He was fighting at the ultimate apex of his ability. If he survived this, there was no way his body would ever be able to perform this feat again, no way he could ever fight better. If he died, he died.

 

Xander caught Jaem's blade in his own, tangling the two together. His face was perspiring, Jaem had never seen that before. But there was something else... was it triumph again? Before he could think, Xander's blade moved downwards, slicing off Jaem's left hand. Jaem's momentum carried him in that direction. Only a quick shift of position changed a killing stroke to the belly into a jab into his thigh. Pivoting on his good leg, with Xander's blade still embedded in his other, Jaem's sword swung and landed with a thud into the side of Xander's head.

 

All the energy and all the serenity came out of him as he dropped to the ground, looking at where his left hand should have been. Everything around him went white, then black. He had one last lingering thought... Why?

 

* * *

 

Jaem's eyes opened to see his stump of a left forearm. He hated dreaming about that day. It happened on the rare night he couldn't have any alcohol, it was why he drank most nights. But he was up most of the night talking with Carnhain, and he had an early morning to look forward to. Wiping the sweat off his face, he sat up. "Time to meet the bloody troops."

 

 

Jaem Caran

Banner Captain of the Cavalry

 

 

OOC: give me one more post before interacting with me. If you really have an itch to post before I do, RP yourself getting to an early morning gathering of the Cavalry outside of the Citadel.

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PostPosted: Wed May 23, 2007 9:05 am    Post subject: Reply with quote Edit/Delete this post Delete this post View IP address of poster

A cool gust of wind came down from the mountains. This bloody uniform would have been hot regardless of the weather. He had forgotten how tight the bloody things were.

 

"I knew you were alive." A familiar voice caught Jaem's ear. "I flaming told you he was alive, Drogo. Jaem Caran is far too slick to get killed."

 

"Modi, you bloody liar. I told you he was alive."

 

"Well whoever said it, you were right." Jaem said. "Are you two joining me for the introductions..." he looked at their lapels "Captains?"

 

"Aye, that we are, sir." Modi said. "Thank the Light you're back, Jaem. Where in the Pit of Doom have you been?"

 

"The Light had nothing to do with it." Jaem snapped. "Only Jaem Caran had something to do with it." His two former best friends looked at him as if he bloody kicked their mothers. "Look, I'm sorry for snapping at you, I'm just in a mood. I'll tell you two old goat kissers all about it over a mug at the Officer's Tavern tonight. I'll be much better once I have some sauce in me, eh?" He continued walking towards the training grounds, eatting up ground with long strides.

 

"He's different." Drogo's voice said softly behind him. "Jaem never raised his voice in anger in his life."

 

"Whatever happened to him changed him something fierce. I'll wager he was taken prisoner by the Dark One." Modi's said.

 

"I'll take that wager." Jaem said, looking back. The looks on their faces were priceless. "I lost my bloody hand not my bloody ears." He laughed. "You two trying to whisper reminds me of the bloody Ogier I trained a few years back."

 

There was silence for a few seconds. "I told you he was different." Drogo's voice said again, this time a little lower. At least they were bloody trying.

 

The training yard was already filled with hundreds and hundreds of Cavaliers. A slightly raised platform stood out in the front of it all. He and his two escorts walked onto it. "Aten-chun!" Modi barked out so the entire yard could hear. As one, the group came to attention.

 

"At ease." Jaem said nearly as loud. "Welcome ladies and gentlemen. My name is Banner Captain Jaem Caran." A slight buzz came over the crowd. "I am General Stromblade's new second in command." A few cheers. "For each of you who know me, there are twenty who don't. I'd like to get to know each and every one of you eventually. Many officers won't do so, but its my way.

 

"Now to buisness. General Stromblade has put me in charge of the day to day training of you all. Most of you are already crusty old vets and know what you're about. I'll leave you to your normal training... for now. I hear though, that there are several brand new recruits that have had little or no training. Squad Leaders will get their Squadrons together right now and sort out who needs to come with me. When you're done with that, lets all get to our places as soon as possible, I don't want to be here all bloody day. Go!" They laughed as if it was a bloody joke. Well, it was... there was just more than a hint of truth to it. Whatever made them accept him. That was going to be the hardest part for them to accept, that a man who most had never seen was suddenly put in charge of them.

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Moseley

 

 

 

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PostPosted: Fri May 25, 2007 6:25 am    Post subject: Reply with quote Edit/Delete this post Delete this post View IP address of poster

The long days were beginning to wear Willaem out. He wanted nothing more than to go back to his quarters and sleep. But just as he had been doing that, he was dragged off his mattress and out into this crowd of somewhat familiar faces. There was a platform that he had been told to look at for the arrival of some captian or another. After waiting for an eternity, the man finally arrived. When every one soluted him, Willaem thought that joining them would not be such a bad idea.

 

"At ease. Welcome ladies and gentlemen. My name is Banner Captain Jaem Caran." Willaem strained to hear as others began whispering around him. "I am General Stromblade's new second in command. For each of you who know me, there are twenty who don't. I'd like to get to know each and every one of you eventually. Many officers won't do so, but its my way." There seemed to be more who knew him, or at least of him, than Captain Caran reported.

 

"Now to buisness. General Stromblade has put me in charge of the day to day training of you all. Most of you are already crusty old vets and know what you're about. I'll leave you to your normal training... for now. I hear though, that there are several brand new recruits that have had little or no training." A fellow he knew elbowed Willaem on that comment. He hated being branded as a new recruit. "Squad Leaders will get their Squadrons together right now and sort out who needs to come with me. When you're done with that, lets all get to our places as soon as possible, I don't want to be here all bloody day. Go!"

 

Willaem looked around as people began filing this way and that. But he was utterly lost. He made eyes with a young woman he had met during Strength Training and shrugged his shoulders. She made an equally confused face. "Will you stick with me while we find out where to go?" He shouted over the noise. She nodded and they grabbed hands, trying to make it out of the mob of people.

 

OoC: Can someone who's met Willaem rescue him?

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The Don

 

 

 

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PostPosted: Thu Jun 07, 2007 9:56 am    Post subject: Reply with quote Edit/Delete this post Delete this post View IP address of poster

Jaem looked at the motley group of young soldiers that he was left with. There were several dozen of them in all. "Alright now that we're all here, we can get this started. For the next few weeks you will meet with me right here on this spot. You will, of course, remain a part of the units that you were first assigned. However, what we have here is our own little Platoon. While you are a part of this Platoon, you will wake up earlier, work harder, and leave later than any other unit in the Band. A Caran recruit is the roughest, toughest, best trained soldier in the world." A little buzz went over the crowd, some excited, but most clearly unhappy. Those were the ones that wouldn't make it. And the better for it. Jaem only wanted men and women willing to work hard and with pride.

 

"When our training period is over, we will have what is called a War Game. It will be a simulated battle under real life conditions. You will face those guys over there." He pointed to the much larger mass of Cavalry that had been already been through training, some even real battles. Again came the buzz. "Not all of them." he laughed. "Just all of the other privates. They will be led by officers that will be picked by the Captains. You all will be led by this fine young corp of officers that I hand picked." He spread his hand out to the four Lieutenants standing a little behind him. All four were new brass. They were young and hungry. If he was goung to have the new recruits, why not new officers as well? "No prize for the winners except bragging rights. And while you can't officially be promoted by winning... outstanding performance will be noted by myself and General Stromblade.

 

"So first things first. I want everyone to get to know each other. The greatest single asset a corp can have is trust. We have to be able to trust each other with our very lives. You may break now. Make sure you get as many people in as you can in the alotted time period. Remember, myself and my officers are watching."

 

Jaem walked over to several soldiers. Probably the tenth or eleventh caught his eye in particular. He seemed sharp and on top of things. "Hello, Private. I'm Jaem Caran. So, what brings you to the Cavalry of the Band?"

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Moseley

 

 

 

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PostPosted: Fri Jun 08, 2007 1:26 am    Post subject: Reply with quote Edit/Delete this post Delete this post View IP address of poster

A kind Lieutenant had shown Willaem where he should go. He was directed to a Plattoon under the charge of the second in command, Banner General Caran. He listened to the General's strict, but not ill-meaning, words. Surely, though, musn't all commanders tell their troops that they are the hardest working? This man seemed to mean it sincerley, though Willaem would find out sooner than he would like, he reckoned.

 

When the Banner General began talking about the War Games, and Willaem saw the immense numbers of troops that Caran pointed to, his jaw dropped nearly to his knees. "That can't be?!" Willaem said seemingly to no one. General Caran reasured his troops that they would be fighting only some. Relief came in the form of an exhale of breath he did't know he was holding in.

 

"No prize for the winners except bragging rights. And while you can't officially be promoted by winning... outstanding performance will be noted by myself and General Stromblade." Willaem laughed slightly with Shealyn at this. When they were ordered to get to know one another, Willaem did something unexpected and introduced himself to people he had never met. It was time for change, he had realized. Kindly greeting people, he walked around, shaking hands and introducing himself as Private Willaem Mozelei of Ghealdan. He had worked his way through about ten people when things came to a lull. There were was no one that he hadn't met in sight, when from behind him he heard:

 

"Hello, Private. I'm Jaem Caran. So, what brings you to the Cavalry of the Band?"

 

"OH!" Willaem jumped back. Jaem Caran himself! "Sir...I'm sorry! I...uh... didn't expect you to be down here yourself." He straightened up. "To answer your question, I'm from Ghealdan and I have always wanted to see the world. I have heard that the army is the best way to do that."

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Ata

 

 

 

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PostPosted: Sun Jun 10, 2007 9:17 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote Edit/Delete this post Delete this post View IP address of poster

She slowly moved her head to get the braid to brush off the anoying fly in her neck. She was watching from the brushes and listening, so far she had seen no signs of anyone spoting her. Once again persuing her dream of one day joining the scouts but till then practise with her own litle games. Her notebook in hand she was drawing and marking up where difrent ranks spread off.

 

Because of ease by gathering close to the trees she chose to follow the new recruits. Crawling back she lurked through the trees and then went down on her stumock crawling forth till she was as close as she dared without coming out in the open and be discovered.

 

Straining her eyes and ears to take in as much as posible, a smile played over her lips. She did get to go out with difrent units at times to aid in the care of horses, most of all she enjoyed beeing with the scouts, though it was fun regardless. There was so much to learn and she tried to observe as much she could, a lot of her free time went to her own litle practises like this one. Noting a few names down in her book she tucked a stray hair slowly out of her face back behind her ear again.

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PostPosted: Sun Jun 10, 2007 9:58 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote Edit/Delete this post Delete this post View IP address of poster

"Well... Willaem, was it?" he nodded. "No need to be so nervous. Thats what this session is for afterall. Like I said, I'm Jaem Caran. I was a farmer right here in the Two Rivers before I joined the Band. I too joined for adventure. Burn my eyes if I didn't find it. Anyways, I was out of the Band for the last five years travelling the world. I came back about a week ago and they made me a Banner Captain again." he shrugged a little. "Anyways. You remind me a lot of myself when I was a young recruit. I'll keep my eye on you Willaem from Ghealdan." He patted the young man on the shoulder and turned to the next recruit.

 

Out of the corner of his eye he saw a small movement in the bushes. They're bloody spying on me already? Burn him, it was only the first day. Flaming Drogo and Modi. Without making it obvious, he went from person to person towards the bush where he saw the movement.

 

"... and that is what brought me back. If you'll pardon me, I must make water." Jaem made his way to the bush and began to unbuckle. Whoever was in the bush moved quickly out of the way. Jaem could only laugh. "A real spy would have let themselves get wet. Come now, out with you." He saw the young girl stand up out of the bushes. Blood and ashes, it was only the stable girl. "And what would make a stable hand spy on Cavalry? None of us is too fat for your horses, I assure you."

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Ata

 

 

 

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PostPosted: Sun Jun 10, 2007 10:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote Edit/Delete this post Delete this post View IP address of poster

A.D. looked at the man, how to get out of this without geting in trouble. Her book was hiden behind her back, there was no way to reply to his coment without beeing offencive as such. Mayhaps a version of the truth would be best in the end for this situation, it was not like she could be claiming to studying leaves or bugs. Nor was it really forbiden to be here or watch, so she smiled as she reached her descision. "I was just watching, I got the day off didnt want to disturb, and its hot" she waved a fly out of her eyes with a nod. That should do it, she had merly stayed out of the way in the shadows, surely he would dismiss her for more important things now.

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PostPosted: Mon Jun 11, 2007 7:27 am    Post subject: Reply with quote Edit/Delete this post Delete this post View IP address of poster

"A day off in the bushes?" Jaem nodded. "A plausible story. You seem to have a lot of energy? If you're really that interested in what we're doing, you can join in every once in a while... or for the full session if you'd like. We have plenty of stable-hands. I'm sure General Stromblade would let me take one under my wing. What say you?"

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Ata

 

 

 

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PostPosted: Mon Jun 11, 2007 5:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote Edit/Delete this post Delete this post View IP address of poster

A.D. was surpriced, thougthfully she looked at the man. She could join them, learn properly, it couldnt hurt, this wasnt the scouts but from what litle she had observed it was much the same in the begining for most, and she could still do her own practise when she had time.

 

Reaching a descision she nodded, "Thank you." she smiled, this could become fun.

 

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Moseley

 

 

 

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PostPosted: Wed Jun 13, 2007 9:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote Edit/Delete this post Delete this post View IP address of poster

Men and women around Willaem were making small talk now, as almost everyone had met almost everyone else in their own small areas. They seemed to be waiting for something more to happen. Willaem looked for Caran, but he was no where to be found. Perhaps he's off with another Platoon? But he said that he would be training this Plattoon specially.

 

When he told this to the recruit next to him, the woman shrugged it off and told him to forget about it. The two of them talked a bit about their pasts. The woman's nasaly voice and her boring story were beginning to drone on and he soon lost interest. His eyes wandering, he saw a man bending over in the forest, by the creek. And he seemed to be talking to himself. Is that Caran?

 

"Excuse me a moment," Willaem said distractedly. "I have to get a drink of water." He jogged over to the stream. It was most definatly Caran, and there was a woman in the foliage, talking to him.

 

"Captain Caran? Are you alright?"

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PostPosted: Fri Jun 15, 2007 3:18 am    Post subject: Reply with quote Edit/Delete this post Delete this post View IP address of poster

"Ah... good. Private Moseley. This is A.D., you might have seen her around once or twice in the stables. She'll be joining us in our little Platoon. You can show her all about being a soldier. Thanks for volunteering. Good man!"

 

Jaem left the two before they could say anything. It was time to get on with the bloody day. "Aten-chun!" The entire group froze and stood at attention. "Alright, time to separate you into your squadrons. They will be designated Bear, Wolf, Cougar and Eagle Squadron." Those were easy for him to remember, all native predators to the Two Rivers. He had each of his new officers count off an even amount of soldiers before moving on. Blood and Ashes, this was taking longer than he wanted. "Bear Squadron will start off with hand-to-hand training, Wolf Squadron with the sword, Cougar Squadron with survival, and Eagle Squadron with horsemanship. Officers, get your squadrons into formation." He raised his voice again. "We go everywhere as a team. We run everywhere we go. We leave none behind. Get used to it."

 

He left the officers to their own devices as they ordered their squadrons. Four lines of soldiers shoulder to shoulder, the rest lined up behind. It was a huge mess of course, with the officers having to constantly fix them. It would get better though. Drill, drill, drill.

 

He accompanied the Eagles to the stables. Burn him, it took all he had to keep up. It would be all he needed to be the flaming man that "won't be left behind." He had to be twice as fit as anyone he was training. They had to see what a model soldier was like, or they would settle for mediocrity.

 

"Today, you will be assigned your horses." The young officer said, when they finally stopped. Jaem stood at reast for a breather while the man talked. "You will name them and learn to care for them. You are Cavaliers. Your horse is your life. With this horse, you will always have a partner." He gave the nod for the stable hands to hand off a horse to each of the soldiers in turn.

 

P.S. btw if you guys didn't figure it out you're both in Eagle Squadron... as is anyone else that joins this thread later on.

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PostPosted: Mon Jun 18, 2007 12:47 am    Post subject: Reply with quote Edit/Delete this post Delete this post View IP address of poster

A.D. smiled to the man, and after that everything happened quite fast, as they where asinged to a squad.

Following she soon found herself outside the stables, horses had been readied for the soldiers, she caugth eyes with one of the other stablehands, a questionable look which she answered with a shrug of her shoulders and a smile. As the boy handed over the horse he held to a solder he then moved back into the stable while she moved to the fences, puting two fingers between her lips she blew and soon had her fingers curled around the top of the mane.

 

Leading her mare to the gate she met with the stable boy and between them they had her sadled up quick enoug. Mounting she joined the rest, she hoped that her mare's minor size wouldnt pose a problem. But sizewise they where still a good match, and they knew eachother well, so she knew she wouldnt give her up untill there was no choise left, which was more like to be due to age then lack of strength in the mare.

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PostPosted: Mon Jun 18, 2007 1:16 am    Post subject: Reply with quote Edit/Delete this post Delete this post View IP address of poster

Rather quickly, Captain Caran led Willaem and the new cavalry recruit to back to the Platoon, where they were quickly divided into Squadrons. Both Willaem and the former stablehand were assigned to Eagle Squadron, where they would be training with their horses. He hoped he would see Al'cair'caba, and possibly ride her. They jogged to the stable, and he noticed that Caran was seeming to have a difficult time keeping up. Captaining had apparently caught up to him. He noted that, feeling that it would become important later on.

 

"Today, you will be assigned your horses." A younger officer was talking to them now. The Lieutenant, maybe? "You will name them and learn to care for them. You are Cavaliers. Your horse is your life. With this horse, you will always have a partner." Willaem looked for the stablehand that was handling Al'cair'caba and moved closer towards him. Thankfully, the stablehand had not given it to anyone else by the time Willaem arrived.

 

"Good boy, Al'cair," Willaem whispered to his bay stallion, who seemed delighted to see him. He felt the same way, but felt that it wouldn't be soldierly to express his feelings. He lead his horse out of the stable on foot, following the lieutenant and awaiting further instruction.

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PostPosted: Mon Jun 18, 2007 2:13 am    Post subject: Reply with quote Edit/Delete this post Delete this post View IP address of poster

Jaem continued watching, as the Lieutenant again gave out instructions. "Today you will begin to bond with your horses. Many of you have horses that were yours before you joined the Band. For you, this will be a time to strengthen the bond that already exists. Each of you will be given a kit of tools that you will use for the grooming of your animal. You will take these with you wherever you go with your horse. Proper care will be given to them as it would be to yourself."

 

As Jaem's breath finally came back, he took the time they were being given their kits to do some excersize. Burn him if he was going to waste any time just flaming standing around. A few jumping jacks, a few situps, some one handed pushups (for obvious reasons). He stopped again when they were done.

 

He began pacing behind the soldiers as they groomed their horse. First the curry comb to loosen up all the dirt and whatever other debris was in its coat. Never on the legs or head though. Dandy brush to remove it all, this time getting the legs as well. The body brush removes all the finer particles, and is used to clean the sensitive head.

 

Now that the coats were clean, it was time to move to combing the mane and tail. Finally they used a hoof pick to remove and dirt or mud or pebbles from the hooves. That was basic grooming. Anything more than that would be handled by professionals. "Time for some chow. After that we'll come back here and use the rest of the day to bond with your animal." The Lieutenant said. "Tomorrow we'll go over riding equipment and take them out of the stables." He lined them up in formation again and they ran to the chow hall. Blood and ashes, he was going to be hurting tonight.

 

OOC: I know there isn't much to resond to in this post. If you want, you can wait till I have all the lectures down and reply in one big post.

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OoC: i don't have anything else to do now, so i might as well reply...

 

IC: Willaem listened to the lieutenants instructions with some boredom. He knew Al'cair'caba well, and the bay stallion trusted Willaem. He expected today's lesson to be fairly easy. "...Each of you will be given a kit of tools that you will use for the grooming of your animal. You will take these with you wherever you go with your horse. Proper care will be given to them as it would be to yourself." This much he knew already. Back home, Cedries had made sure that Willaem took good care of his horse.

 

The tool kit he was given contained nicer grooming tools than what the Ghealdanian Lancers had been issued. That was odd, but Willaem shrugged and continued on. First, he used the curry comb for the bay's coat. He hadn't been ridden in a while, so there was not much dirt there. Next came the dandy brush which brushed the little he had loosened off the horse. Finally, the misleadingly-named body brush was used on the head. Willaem spoke gently to the horse. "Good boy, Caba. You look much nicer than the other horses, but I'm partial." He found that complementing the horse changed the way he felt about riding him.

 

Now comes the hard part, Willaem thought bitterly when the lieutenant announced it was time to clean the hooves. Being in the stable had kept Al'cair'caba's coat clean, but the hooves were dirtier than ever. There were many small pebbles and a great deal of dirt. Caba hated lifting his legs for a cleaning, and several times, Willaem narrowly avoided a kick to the stomach, or worse. Thankfully, though, it was time for a meal and he quickly finished up with Caba's hooves.

 

"Tomorrow we'll go over riding equipment and take them out of the stables." Finally, they would do some riding!