Finding a home...and a father? Attn Thera, Andrea--Open

[xilanin]

Xilanin walked through the Large area from the gate to the main building that the Guard had pointed him towards last night. Even from last night to this morning, Xil’s head was spinning.

 

*What am I doing?!* he thought to himself.

 

He had though the idea to join the warder was the perfect plan to find his father. He knew his father was a warder from what hi mother and the townsfolk had said about him (Though none of them knew that Xil had been listening…he was still a little boy to them). Once his mother…died…Xil knew the path he must take. Looking at the size of the practice yard and the White Tower and all the warders here, the task looked far more daunting than he had thought when he was walking into Tar Valon. On his way here, He had thought there would be nothing to stop him.

 

Now he didn’t know where to start.

 

He was given a place to sleep for the night and told to talk to…someone…the something of trainees… Mistress…the Mistress of Trainees. He was supposed to go see her this morning.

 

He walked through the yard, a place already filled with Men and Women teaching young men and women…and even boys and girls his age. There was even an Aes Sedai who had walked through the yard.

 

*Of course there is, you wool head! This is part of the White Tower!* He chastised himself. But, he had stumbled and almost fell right in front of her as she walked by. He had seen a small twitch of a smile on her face that still made his face heat up.

 

He had made it to the building and found himself at the doorway…Wondering if this was a good idea…wondering if he should stick with his first plan and just go ask the Aes Sedai for help finding his father…Wondering how he was going to find the Mistress of Trainees in this place. Xilanin looked around and gripped by a sudden heavy feeling of anxiousness and…fear…sat down against the wall looking out at the yards.

 

--Um, I will leave it like this and see who posts.

 

Xilanin Corender

New Trainee…lost

Son of  ???

 

[Arette]

There was nothing better than a dull ache in your muscles after good training, Sahra decided as she took a swig from her water flagon and wiped sweat off her forehead. The euphoric feeling was a bit like what you experienced after making love but she didn't want to ever have to choose between the two and prioritize them. Both were good in their own way. She had been training for weeks in row now and taking it more easy toward the end and her body definately would be thankful for the coming free day. Such potential for mischief even though Aran, the grand master of it, wasn't in town currently. But there was always Sana and Conor and Mahiko and other friends, who ever would be available.

 

As she was looking around the Yards, she spotted someone who didn't seem to belong. The brown haired young man was sitting against the wall and looking around anxiously with a look that would make anyone feel sorry and want to help. And Sahra definately had a soft heart. She approached the guy and stopped a few steps away from him. He had really nice eyes, brown and green were mixed in such way that you couldn't really say which colour was more dominant. Sahra berated herself for noticing such a thing but even if she was committed elsewhere, it didn't mean that she had become entirely blind.

 

"Hey there. I'm Sahra and a Trainee here. You look a bit lost so I thought to come and ask if you needed any help."

 

Sahra Covenry

A friendly Trainee

[xilanin]

"Hey there. I'm Sahra and a Trainee here. You look a bit lost so I thought to come and ask if you needed any help."

 

She was a trainee… and you could tell too. She had a certain sureness to her step, her red hair was pulled back, likely to keep it out of the way during a fight. She also had a well developed body…

 

-Stop that!- He thought to himself.

 

He jumped to his feet when she spoke. “I’m Xilanin Corender…or just Xil. I’m new, I guess. Or maybe not…I don’t know.  I was supposed to find the Mistress of Trainees but…” He trailed off. He knew that he was making a rambling fool of himself and for some reason, he suddenly felt a lot more self- conscious than he had a moment ago.

 

He looked nervously out at the yard again and then back at the girl…Sahra. She was likely a bit older than he was, but not by much. She definitely was in her element because she was all calm and collected and still had a friendly smile on her face. He felt that he could really talk to her. He started to say something and then…he jus couldn’t. He couldn’t just spill his life story out to some person who was trying to help. So instead he just said “Do you know what I’m supposed to do here? I’m really not sure what to do.” He gave a sheepish smile hoping she could help him out. 

 

---Thanks for Jumpng in here!

Xilanin Corender

New trainee

Son of ???

 

[Arette]

An interesting name he had and Sahra wasn't quite able to place it and his looks didn't hold any particular clues either. She really needed to train her perception on such things. Poor boy... well, young man since he was just few years younger than her, he seemed really nervous still. She kept smiling genuinely and let him finish when he finally spoke again.

 

"Nice to meet you, Xil. Our current Mistress of Trainees is called Thera Trakelyn and if you want to start learning with the Tower Guards here, you need to go to talk to her and get enrolled on the book of Trainees. And that's what you came here for, yes?" She grinned as he nodded. "Really good choice, I have to say. Come on then, I'll take you to her office." She turned to wink at him. "Not that I am particularly familiar with the location, just saying so you won't get any wrong ideas of me. My mentor and grand mentor would be very disappointed with me if I was, not so much because I did something naughty but because I got caught." The thought of Sana and Aran made her chuckle fondly.

 

Leading Xilainin toward the barrack where Thera could be found, she stopped before her door. "Here we are. This is your last chance to back off." She didn't really give him time to reply, though as she was already knocking. She gave him an encouraging pat on the shoulder when a voice called to enter. "Go on now, she won't bite or chop your head off. I'll get back to my training but if you want to come and chat to me later, you're welcomed to any time... any time my mentor doesn't keep me busy anyway. Good luck, Xil." With those words and last thumbs up, she turned on her heels and headed back to the Yards whistling a jolly tune.

 

Sahra Covenry

Talkative Trainee

[xilanin]

Sahra walked away whistling. Xilanin watched her go with a bewildered look on his face. *Well she seemed happy and excited to be here. Maybe it wouldn’t be as…frightening…intimidating…* He let the thought trail off and let determination set in once more. If She could be training to be a warder and keep such a great attitude, Xilanin could too.

 

Not to mention, that he had left home and traveled here to find his father, his last living relative.

 

Xil felt that sense of hopefulness rise again…that sense that had brought him here in the first place. He could very well do this and find his father…who knows, maybe he would actually be a warder someday, giving his life to protecting an Aes Sedai. He wondered briefly is bonding hurt when he heard a muffled “Either come in the door or go about your way!”

 

He opened the door and walked through…

**********

 

--I will skip this part cause Thera said she was gone for a couple days.

 

**********

 

Xilanin walked out of the room and wiped a droplet of sweat off his forehead. He felt as if he had just run a full span. Thera seemed Kind enough but she was not going to let anyone join the warders, it took some intense talking to be able to be accepted. One thing was sure though, Xil found that he definitely wanted to be a warder.

 

At first he had just wanted to find his father…then maybe be a warder or do something else. But listening to Thera he felt something just spark within him. The White Tower did important work in the world, and he could be a part of that.

 

Thera also found out that he wasn’t quite 16 yet, but being that his birthday was in 4 days she told him that she would still admit him in as a Trainee. He had never been so nervous in his life. Her stare seemed to penetrate him until he felt she had already known everything about him, she was just waiting for him to say it.

 

He did manage to keep his search for his father from her though. He just wasn’t sure how to go about that. Maybe this Cairma would be able to help him with his search. She was supposed to train him…mentor him. In fact he was on his way to find her now. Maybe she would be as nice as Sahra was.

 

--Off to look for my Mentor

 

Oh, CAIRMA!!!!! :)

Xilanin Corender

New trainee

Son of ???

 

[Guest Arie Ronshor]

Ooc: Sorry! I'll try posting soon. :) RL Work caught up with me a little..  should be able to post Wednesday as my uncle as need of a driver. ;)

[Guest Arie Ronshor]

 

"Could you focus, for just once, Connor. Your forms have been sloppy for a month and you keep repeating the same mistake. Do you actually listen?" Her words were frustrated but the boy in front of her just bowed his head in silence. A good five feet taller than the woman, Connor appeared half her size with a bastard sword in his grip haning limply at his side.

 

"Well?"

 

"..Sorry Cairma." He whispered. He had other things on his mind than his forms and had not been practicing them. He thought he could get past her, he really did, but she caught onto everything. She always did.

 

"Sorry is not enough, Connor. Either you do the work or you leave. I will not waste my time teaching you when you do not wish to learn."

 

"But.. "

 

"No "buts", Connor. Show me you can do it." Hearing the approaching footsteps, she saw a younger boy heading her way. "Go through your forms again, slowly. Use the beats I showed you."

 

"Yes, Ma'am."

 

Cairma called out to the lost boy. "You, Trainee. You seem lost. Where are you heading?"

 

"I.. I'm looking for a Cairma Vishnu."

 

"I am she. What can I do for you?" She tilted her head as she awaited an answer, also noticing Connor pausing in his forms. Sigh..

 

 

 

Cairma Vishnu

Precariously Annoyed Mood.

Tower Guard

[xilanin]

Xil walked out of the main building and down to what Thera called "The Yards". The yard was filled with students and teachers. Swords and other weaponry. Xil was hit again with that sense of getting in over his head. The closest thing he had come to a weapon was swinging a stick as a play sword. All the bravado he felt coming out of Thera's office was quickly draining from him.

 

He looked around and saw an extremely large man being yelled at by a much smaller woman.

 

"Sorry is not enough, Connor. Either you do the work or you leave. I will not waste my time teaching you when you do not wish to learn."

 

"But.. "

 

Xilanin started to give the situation a wide berth. He hoped his mentor was a bit more lenient that this woman.

 

"No "buts", Connor. Show me you can do it. Go through your forms again, slowly. Use the beats I showed you."

 

"Yes, Ma'am."

 

Just as he was turning a different direction, the woman turned his way.

 

"You, Trainee. You seem lost. Where are you heading?"

 

"I.. I'm looking for a Cairma Vishnu."

 

"I am she. What can I do for you?" She tilted her head looking at him.

 

He barely stifled a groan. "I...I am, Xilanin Corender, and you...you are to be my mentor."He said, now certain he had made the gravest mistake in his life. She gazed at him with a hard, stern look. He could tell she was sizing him up...judging him. He knew he was very small, and young. Likely she would find him unfit to be a warder, but he suddenly felt a sharp heat flow to his face. He was going to do this...this was really all he had. The warders and his quest to find his father. He tried to straighten his stance and said in the strongest voice he had, "I am here to be a Warder."

 

Xilanin Corender

New Trainee

 

[Guest Arie Ronshor]

 

As much as Cairma hated to admit to herself, the distraction was very welcome. She looked him over, taking her fill of what she would have to work with provided the boy was telling the truth. Like all trainees, he was young and held enough reserved that showed he was only partially pleased to be there. She suspected he had overheard her scolding Conor and thus his reserved voice and defensive stance. Nodding to the new Trainee with a smile, "Do you have anything for me from Thera?" The boy passed her a note that verified the boys statement and that he was indeed her new trainee.

 

Reading over the letter once more, Cairma turned back to Conor.

"When you have completed 50 sets of forms, do a good 50 laps around the yard and you are dismissed for the day. Let that be a reminder to practice your forms instead of snacking in the mess hall."

 

"Yes, Ma'am."

 

Turning back to "Xilanin, was it?" The boy nodded, "Please just call me Cairma. Follow me to the Armoury." She started to walk away from where Conor was practicing. "Tell me about yourself. Where are you from? And more importantly, what experience do you have with a weapon, or anything related to it."

 

 

Cairma Vishnu

Grandmaster

[xilanin]

Not knowing where to begin, exactly, He started by telling her about his mother’s farm. He had spent most of his time tending the garden and the fields in the farm.

 

“I haven’t really not done much in the way of weaponry, unless you count hunting with my sling and shucking corn and skinning game with a knife…cutting wood.” He said, a little embarrassed. “I have always played in the fields with a stick pretending to wield a sword, but I’ve never held one in my hands.”

 

Mostly, he told her,  he just read of the use of weaponry. So, basically, he knew enough to know which way the edge of a blade was supposed to face, and not much more.

 

He told her of his life on the farm his Mother had owned. It lay between Caemlyn and Tar Valon, though he almost didn’t look Andoran with his skin being  a bit darker than that of other kids in town, but not by much. He told her how his mother and he had lived together, rather secluded much of their lives, until…and he grew quiet…The flow of words just seemed to stop in his throat.

 

It had been five weeks gone since he set the last stone on his mother’s grave, he had no more tears left, but he felt his chest tighten at the thought of her. Through a constricted throat he spoke of her; of the suddenness of her sickness and her death.

 

“I had nothing left back home for me, so I came here, in search of my…um, in search of my future.” He said lamely. He had almost said in search of his father, but he was not sure he could say this to Cairma. Not yet. He wanted to tell, he just did not know where to start. So he thought the better course would be to wait until he knew more about his training.

 

He looked at her, to see if she had caught the slip and to see what she would say. Her face was a mask that he could not read, though. So he just said, “Where are we going?”

 

Xil Corender

Trainee

 

[Guest Arie Ronshor]

Ooc: I'm going to move this to a new thread so we can get you working on your next WS. :)