Basic Training (attn: Lily)

[Kara_J]

Edalia strode briskly through the building, trying to look as if she knew where she was going. She did know where she was going, at least she hoped she did. The directions the other trainee had given were, well, vague to say the least. "Somewhere in the West Wing" he'd said. So here she was in the West Wing, traversing endless corridors and hallways, trying to find her assigned teacher's office and report for Basic Training.

 

Eventually after trudging through what seemed like several spans of corridor, Edalia found the room she was looking for. Taking a deep breath and quickly checking herself over to make sure she still looked presentable, Edalia tossed her braid over her shoulder, squared her shoulders and knocked sharply on the door.

 

"Enter!"

 

Edalia opened the door and stepped through, taking in the room and its occupant. Striding confidently up to where a blonde woman was sitting at a desk, Edalia bowed and then spoke.

 

"Edalia C'anthau reporting for Basic Training as instructed, Lieutenant."

 

Standing straight as she could, Edalia openly studied the woman before her.

 

[Lih-Lyh]

The scratch of her feather desisted. At the slightest breath, the barest of suggestions, it wavered, as though startled into considering the same rivers and trade routes with new eyes, a gaze that seemed unconcerned by the ink that gathered in blotches around its nib. There was stillness in that calculation, the calm of the waiting warrior before his clash. (I know that it took a long time to get to the end of that description. I'm going to spoil it for you: It's a quill.)

 

The Light blessed that there would be no such battles to-day (yes, there would have been ink stains everywhere!), although a questioner’s stealth work never ceased. (Questioner's are very hard to spotin their very ostentatious and familiar cloaks.) Without a faction to probe for the truth when there were liars in the dark, what group remained to uphold the king’s justice and protect his people? If killing be a sin, then she was thick with the blood wrung by lance and rack (or just thick in general), yet a clean conscience renewed her faith after confessions.

 

Still, to be asked on an urgent request to take on this new recruit, on the basis of her sex, came as an annoyance rather than insult. Usually, the first training built trust within [a] lance-group, so that the recruits realise it was futile to ask or tell tales to the higher ranked without getting punished for it as a whole, but the sergeant had insisted on Evelyn training the girl isolated, from her squadron. A moment of unease gave the questioner pause, not only for the inconvenience of teaching basic forms again. The lesson had been so designed as an introduction to a group that its format must be adapted to her special student.

 

The stout door to her study was of heavy oak but unlatched. She nodded dourly when the girl bowed, thinking her well mannered as she listened. Edalia was a confident brunette with a striking presence and curves to her body. The sun brought out the glints in her dark hair, a favourable light as her back straightened to ramrod fashion. (It's th first thing we questioner's look for first in our 'clients'; the better the hips, the bigger the scream.)

 

A grudging smile crept across Evelyn’s face (I wouldn't want near her face, either) , above the starburst and crookthat was the insignia across her chest. Tucking her feather carefully into its case, she stretched, fingers snapped her map shut for later viewings, and retrieved a lance from the rack. Lance thus equipped she addressed the prideful object of her scrutiny. (Snap your map and now you have two!)

 

“Follow.” Up the ladder behind her was a roost of messengers, secured into warm comfortable niches. Again her lips twitched, for those pigeons were experienced fighters wary of strangers. Once free of the hood and cages, their hard beaks would nip mercilessly at any attempts of capture, or taming aside from her command. “Child Edalia, this exercise tests agility and willpower. Bring a pigeon down to me.”

 

Descending to the study, Evelyn left to deal with the carrier pigeons, certain that her student would observe her duty, and catch a bird sooner or later.

 

OOC:  Have your lass bring a pigeon to Evelyn, who will promptly set it free and demand that you bring her another. This can be as easy or frustrating as you like it to be, just do it thrice before she’s satisfied.

 

[Kara_J]

Edalia was puzzled when the Questioner bade her to follow her into the loft, but then she understood once she saw the evil looking birds that roosted there, before she heard the Lieutenants request.

 

Taking a deep breath she approached the nearest bird cage as soon as the Questioner had returned down the ladder. Cooing softly to its occupant, she opened the cage and held out her hand. The bird watched her get close before suddenly lunging towards her and slashing at her hand with its beak. Drawing her hand back sharply with a muted cry of pain, Edalia studied her hand and sucked on the cut whilst pondering her next move.

 

Deciding against the softly softly approach, she lunged quickly at the bird and was rewarded with a mouthful of feathers and another nasty gash whilst the object of her lunge regarded her darkly in between preening its ruffled feathers.

 

Scowling at the bird, she took off her over-tunic and threw it over the bird, grabbing it hurriedly before it could free itself. Tucking it under her arm, she scrambled back down the ladder and handed it triumphantly to Evelyn. Only to watch in disbelief as she nodded, smiled, let it out of the window and asked her to get another.

 

Gritting her teeth, Edalia bowed her acquiescence and climbed the ladder again. Ruefully thinking that she'd never be able to wear her tunic again, she approached the next bird, threw her tunic over it and grabbed. After a short scuffle as the tunic hadn't quite covered the bird, she manage to subdue it and carry it back down to the waiting Lieutenant. Once again it was let go and she was asked to obtain another.

 

Again Edalia bowed her acceptance and stalked back up the ladder. Her teeth grinding so much that it made her jaw ache, she grumbled to herself under her breath and tossed the tattered remains of her tunic over another bird. Once again she brought a bird back down the ladder to the waiting Lieutenant and almost sighed in relief as the bird was taken off her and the Lieutenant nodded her approval.

 

 

OOC: is this ok? wasn't quite sure if thats what you wanted.

[Lih-Lyh]

OOC: Fantastic   :D

(Warning: large paragraph inbound.)

 

"Ah," as she nodded a touch of guilt tweaked her conscience; Edalia's braid wasn't enough in length that they remained entirely confined, and the sight of those straying, chestnut wisps recalled the questioner to focus on the present. While her student was capturing the second of Evelyn’s fine-feathered friends, her thoughts had meandered back to the map (or maps, as she snapped them last time) she drafted. Behind a courteous mask she gathered what composure she could. "Sit, please." Then realising there was only one chair, she rose restlessly and paced the length of her small study, pausing when sudden movement alerted her to the activities of Tan, that frumpy pigeon struggling in the girl's cloak had flown to the windowsill, where he scavenged through the greenery and flowerbeds for feed. She stopped pacing to stare for a moment at the avian hunter, before a blink dismissed him for matters more important. There was still the lance in her grip. The feel of the wood warmed in her tightened hold. Her lips pressed thin in consideration of the girl. The first task was challenging, and no doubt she bore reddening scars on her arms and fingers from the encounter with pigeons, but she was smart in using her cloak instead of bare hands, which would have taken much longer to complete (and would have been far more interesting). Some (Some what? Chestnut wisps?) further along in training could not compete with Edalia’s determination, as they couldn’t get over the frustration of having to catch another pigeon after the first was released. Staying the course was important for soldiers’ morale, ‘specially if one eventually became a Captain, esprit de corps and all that. What Edalia needed now that she possessed some willpower (or at least could triumph over self-barriers in that she learned from obstacles) was thinking in groups, which made the solo tutorial even more dastard and irritating. But the idea would be, within a lance-group, just as the children with varying potentials react differently to the same experiences, that while no blade of grass was created equal, the lawn gets cut the same length. Ideally, anyway. (Well done. You all deserve a break and a coffee, or a shot of tequila if your head still hurts.)

 

Evelyn stirred, and meeting the girl’s eyes directly she drove the sentence with the dart of her fist (was she in a horrible accident or something?) . “Your lance. Once you take this it stays with you everywhere just as your next draw of air does when you breathe.” The curled fist hefted the lance higher, although the girl made no attempt to take it sans permission. “You mainly thrust with this lance as a weapon, do not throw it. If it’s meant to be hurled away from you, it’d be called your javelin, or maybe the litter in your wastebasket.” Her severe face did not belie a joking tone, though. She would have to caution Edalia about this again when the time came for the girl to learn how to gut a quatrain with more finesse than stabbing with the pointy end. “The steel on top needs regular oiling, may I suggest once a day, and some sharpening if the wear shows, while this wood should be kept dry to keep from becoming brittle, although it really only swells with saltwater. I expect to see your lance polished to a shine, am I understand?” (To be fair you should oil the wood, too, to keep it supple and strong. But it's a lance and will break pretty much the first time you use it anyway, so don't be so hard on the kid if it snaps!)

 

It was then that she permitted the other access to the fat, the whet stone for sharpening and the lance. What went unmentioned was her little skill in metalwork, that Evelyn had fashioned the very lance herself. She had secured the shaft to point with a lashing, and the line should be sturdy if the ropes held. Kuroshiro had taught her well in tying proper knots. Amazing how the basics came so handy, even now. (Yes, because questioner's never use knots for other purposes.) “Rest time over, since there isn’t a great deal of room you will be jogging in place, and maintaining a conversation with your lance at the same time until I blow the whistle. Any conversation will do, such as why you joined the child of light (she joined the child of the light? Oh no, is he like the Dragon?) , or your childhood, it (hehehe) don’t really care. Talking takes your mind off the pain.” And reminded drily, in case the other forgot to bring her lance along “but try not to cut yourself.” (That'd be a sharp lance.)

 

 

OOC: k, respond to receiving your weapon and jog in place for the three mins. During this exercise the questioner will ask you to raise your knees higher and you will feel fatigued, even if you came from a very fit background. Most do not, but there are exceptions. Have fun!

[Kara_J]

Eyes almost popping out of her head, Edalia studied the lance that Evelyn had said was to be hers. She hadn't expected a weapon so soon in training. She took it when it was offered and listened carefully to the instructions of how to keep it in good condition. Then came the next test, getting to her feet Edalia moved away from the desk and chair into a clear area of room.

 

Gripping the lance in her fist, she started to jog. Feeling slightly stupid she started to talk to it, feeling that it was best to begin at her childhood, she explained to the lance that she had been born and raised in Saldaea. How her father and mother were merchants and that much of her life was spent travelling on the Trade Routes in the caravans. She spoke of a crush she used to have on one of the guards in her parents employ, until he was killed in a bandit attack. That memory gave her more pain that the exercise did.

 

Her breath was coming in short pants, she wasn't used to this much exercise at all,she could feel the sweat start to prickle her skin and the muscles in her legs start to burn fiercely. Then the Questioner looked up from what she was doing and demanded that she lift her knees higher.

 

Drawing a deep breath, she complied and resumed telling her life story to the lance. She told how she used to hang around with the guards and how they taught her the rudiment's of fighting....without her parents knowledge and how her favourite, almost fatherly guard, had taught her how to throw knives. She'd loved learning that and had practised in secret. Then her breath caught as she told how her parents had caught a fever and despite all she could do they'd died. She told of how she was left to fend for herself, having to sell her parents stock and having nothing to go back to Saldaea for. The guards leaving to find other employ. She described how she had mooched around trying to find something to do. She explained how she hadn't any skills apart from what the guards had almost jokingly taught her, and so she had found herself applying for training with the Children.

 

By the end of this, her breath was coming in short painful rasps, her muscles burned and her face and body prickled with sweat. Relieved, she heard the whistle blow and staggered to a stop, not sure whether she was holding the lance or vice versa. Exhausted she awaited the next command.

[Nynaeve]

IC:

 

Ezekiel knocked once and barged into the room with no pause. Edalia was on her feet, breathing heavily and sweating. Evelyn, on the other hand, was sitting quite comfortably. Making Edalia squirm no doubt. Evelyn raised an eyebrow at Ezekiel's abrupt entrance. "We're not done yet." Ezekeil smiled. "Oh, I think you are, Evelyn. There's little time and I don't like to be kept waiting." Evelyn sneered but Ezekiel paid her no mind. "Follow me, recruit."

 

He took Edalia to the yard and pursed his lips in contemplation for a moment before proceeding. His cloak flapped in the soft breeze as the sun started to set down, giving the sky a reddish shade. Edalia was about to undergo one of the oldest customs. The first Oath. A solid tie to the Fortress and the cause.

 

Increasing the usual volume of his voice, Ezekiel spoke ceremonially. "We meet when day ends and night begins to seal your commitment to the Light. Please, repeat after me." Raising his eyes to the setting sun, Ezekiel recited. "By the Light and my hope of salvation and rebirth, I swear fealty to The Children of The Light. I vow to serve, respect and grant obedience to the high command. In the name of the Creator, I swear it."

 

 

 

OOC: Ok Kara, post yourself taking the oath and what feelings you feel when you swear it....and consider this requirement done. Way to go! you've been brilliant  :D

 

 

 

Ezekiel

The Hand

[Kara_J]

When Ezekiel suddenly appeared in the room, Edalia sagged in despair. She was so exhausted, she truly felt that she would collapse in a heap should they ask more of her. Through a fog of fatigue she watched the ensuing wordplay between the two Officers, then was taken by surprise when Ezekiel turned to her and demanded that she follow him. Stifling a sigh, Edalia dug down for some energy and surprised herself by being able to walk out of the room with barely a wobble.

 

The pace Ezekiel had set made it clear that there was no time for questions, or rest for that matter. Wondering what it was he had in store for her and hoping that it wasn't anything energetic, Edalia followed mutely and as quickly as her stiffening muscles would allow, though she couldn't help drifting into a daydream containing a hot bath and a long sleep. 

 

Finally they arrived in the Yard, the breeze a welcome refreshment from the stuffy air of the corridors. Ezekiel still hadn't said a word to her, she was just about to ask what this was all about, when he suddenly intoned the beginnings of the Oath.

 

If Edalia hadn't been already leaning on her Spear for support she would have collapsed then and there. Realising she was gaping like an bull-goose fool she snapped herself to attention, briefly wishing she could have had a wash and a change of clothes before taking the Oath. She was acutely aware of how filthy she was, covered in muck from the pigeons, scratches, not to mention the sweat pouring off her. But this was IT, the moment she had been waiting for, though in truth she hadn't expected it so soon.

 

Head held high, facing the setting sun, she repeated the Oath in a steady voice, not hiding the hint of pride she now felt.

 

"By the Light and my hope of salvation and rebirth, I swear fealty to The Children of The Light. I vow to serve, respect and grant obedience to the high command. In the name of the Creator, I swear it."

 

This was it. She finally had a reason to keep going, the months she'd spent drifting were now behind her and a purposeful future was spread out before her.

 

 

Edalia

Child of the Light