New Blood ((Attn: Shadar))

[Kura]

Riadra was lying idly in bed, resting after a night of festive activities, when her door was thrown open. Instantly she embraced Saidar, ready to drown who ever dared treat her as such, until one of the Mae’Shadar stepped through, and she reluctantly released. The man’s eyes were hard; Riadra knew that he could feel her channeling. “You are to report at the blight border, at the pickup spots near Shienar. A dreadlord and new initiate are waiting for you there.” With that, the man turned and left, leaving a disgruntled dreadlady behind.

 

She rose reluctantly, slipping on a slip and an alluring Domani dress, even if she was of Camelyn herself. The man sleeping peacefully in her bed finally stirred. She used a lover’s voice, but her words were anything but sweet as she told him he had better be gone before she got back. He nodded, and got up to dress himself, but Riadra was already weaving her gateway, and stepping through to the designated location.

 

She didn’t have to wait long, as she saw the pair of men crest the hill only moments after she appeared. She put on her most seductive smile, as she recognized the dreadlord. “Oh, hello Rayol,” she purred, and the man laughed in return. “Riadra? I’m honored; you actually got out of bed for me.” The dreadlady laughed, a sweet fruitful sound. “I suppose that is enough games for now.  There will most likely be an Adept waiting to pick up your tag along, so let’s get this business done with. You know I’d much rather be playing…” Wtth that she tossed the man a wink, and wove a gateway to the entrance of the Fortress.

 

---

 

Arcon Dadread happened to be walking past the Fortress proper, when he saw the gateway slice and twist into life. He watched only a moment, disappointed that this particular gateway was made of Saidar. Three people stepped through, and admittedly he knew not a one of them. Still, he recognized the bewildered expression on one of their faces, and knew that he was a raw recruit. Noting this, and the fact that he had already missed his opportunity to slip quietly away, he bowed to the Dreadlady and introduced himself. “Ooh, one with manners. I like that in a man, still, business first. Take the boy and show him around, and do try to make something of him.” Her voice could only be defined as sultry, and the Adept thanked the Great Lord for his training in the Game of Houses at that moment. “Yes M’lady. I will do all that I can to whip him into shape.” With a musical laugh, she was gone, leaving just the two men in the hall.

 

“I’m sure you heard, but I am Arcon Dadread, Adept of the Fortress, which is where you are now. To put it simply, this is where dreadlords and dreadladies are born. Since you are here, I assume you can channel, and it will be my job to teach you how, at least the first few steps.” He did his best to keep the disappointment out of his voice, he did hate teaching. “First of all, what is your name? I can’t very well be calling you ‘boy’, as you do look a bit older than me.”

 

[TaiDashan]

Shadar was a boiling mass of emotion inside but a stormy calm on the outside. He would not let one muscle twitch unless it had purpose. He still had not been told why they had stopped here, only that they were supposed to. Rayol had not said much on their journey, he was not one for words. That suited Shadar just fine. They had run horses to death to get here in this short of time, the strange part was that the horses looked fresh as they collapsed beneath them. Shadar was sure it was due to the Power. On the journey Rayol had instructed him in how to touch Saidin, to fight to control it and not be swept asunder. Didn't want him killing them both he had growled in way of explanation. Shadar was not sure what lay ahead, other than service to the Great Lord and learning how to wield Saidin.

 

Ahead a silver line of light rotated into a doorway and Shadar arched an eyebrow slightly as the woman stepped through. Catching a glimpse of dark bed chambers before it winked out, he eyed the woman behind calm, stormy gray eyes.

 

“Riadra? I’m honored; you actually got out of bed for me.” Rayol said smiling. Her laughter at this caused her scant domani dress to do interesting things.

 

“I suppose that is enough games for now.  There will most likely be an Adept waiting to pick up your tag along, so let’s get this business done with. You know I’d much rather be playing…” she said.

 

Another line of light appeared but this time it showed what he assumed was the Fortress. Rayol had told him of it briefly in their travels. Shadar wondered which one had made the doorway in the air. As they stepped through they were confronted by a short, pale skinned man with a patch over one eye. The others spoke briefly and he was left with the black haired man.

 

“I’m sure you heard, but I am Arcon Dadred, Adept of the Fortress, which is where you are now. To put it simply, this is where dreadlords and dreadladies are born. Since you are here, I assume you can channel, and it will be my job to teach you how, at least the first few steps. First of all, what is your name? I can’t very well be calling you ‘boy’, as you do look a bit older than me.” For the first time in days, Shadar opened his mouth and gave voice to his thoughts. As he spoke he bowed respectfully.

 

"My name is Shadar Al'Niende, most call me Shad. Preferably the shape you whip me into will be a deadly one." A slow grin spread across his face as he waited to be instructed. He would wait and learn everything he was given.

[Kura]

Arcon let a small smile spread over his thin lips. Two sentences, and he already liked the man. He seemed like he would be the perfect little tool, now all he needed to do was figure out the job he would be used for. "Shadar Al'niende, eh? Well, I suppose you have been found again." He had no idea if the man before him knew his name and it's meaning, and quite frankly he didn't care. "Before we get to any formal training, I suppose I should show you a bit of the Fortress, though I honestly doubt anyone knows every corner of this blasted place. Afterwards, I'll teach you the first steps of Saidin."

 

With that, the Adept spun on his heel and began a leisurely pace through out the complex. He introduced the places as he came upon them, the mess hall, the library, dormitories, showing him briefly where he would be staying. "It isn't much, but you can survive here. I'm only a few corridors away." He showed him quickly where the Adept slept. "I don't suggest coming here uninvited, things tend to explode if I don't want you touching them." With that he made it to the classrooms, and finally the courtyard. "Alright, we will begin here. Wide open spaces are good for beginners."

 

Arcon inspected the man closely, watching for any signs of any emotions. He had no doubt that the man was bewildered by everything he was shown, Arcon just wanted to know if he would show it. "First I must know if you have had any kind of training, or if I will have to teach you Ko'Di, as well as how to embrace the source." Just in case, Arcon embraced the source and wove a shield, he had learned better than to take chances with the New Blood.

[TaiDashan]

Shadar watched interestingly as a small smile spread across Arcon's lips. Years of being beaten for the smallest expression change had schooled his features to stillness almost without thought. It was rare that he showed emotion on the outside and this was no exception.

 

Shadar Al'niende, eh? Well, I suppose you have been found again." Shadar had not a clue what the man was talking about but did not have time to do more than tuck it away for inspection later before the man continued. "Before we get to any formal training, I suppose I should show you a bit of the Fortress, though I honestly doubt anyone knows every corner of this blasted place. Afterwards, I'll teach you the first steps of Saidin."

 

So he would teach him the first steps to Saidin? He would allow the man to show him the things Rayol had. It would be interesting to see if there were differences in the teaching and there was no use letting the man have any advantage in knowledge than he must. They walked around the Fortress and Arcon showed him the Adept quarters.

 

"I don't suggest coming here uninvited, things tend to explode if I don't want you touching them." Shadar blinked slowly and mulled that over inclining his head slightly to acknowledge the admonition.

 

In all honesty, Shadar was just as lost when they finished, as when they begun. True he had only been paying half attention, but matters demanded his thoughts.

 

"First I must know if you have had any kind of training, or if I will have to teach you Ko'Di, as well as how to embrace the source." Shadar nearly snorted. embrace Saidin. It was definitely not an embrace but more of seizing and fighting it for control. Instead he took a breath and spoke.

 

"Let us say I am clay in your capable hands. Instruct from the beginning that I may know how you would have me serve." Let him take that to mean the Great Lord or himself. Shadar did somewhat like the man. Trust, however, was another matter. Shadar rarely trusted.

[Kura]

Arcon nodded, as he suspected, the man showed no hint of emotion. He was a beginner in hiding his emotions then, not yet having learned how to project other ones instead. Arcon almost offered to teach him then and there, but they did have more important matters to discuss. "Alright then Shad, the first step is hard for most, but you look quite capable. You must first achieve Ko'Di, or oneness. This is often called the Void. The first step is to form a flame in your mind, usually a candle. Then, feed your emotions into the flame, then your memories, until everything that you are is consumed by this flame. When this is achieved, you will have achieved the Void, a near emotionless state that allows for supreme concentration. Within the void, Saidin should be waiting, a pulsating sphere of power, covered with the taint of the Great Lord of the Dark."

 

As Arcon suspected, it took only a try or two for Shad to assume this state of oneness. "Hmm, you are either a swordsman, or you have received previous training. If I might make a suggestion Shad, don't try to manipulate me. I assure you I am better at it." He flashed him a small, fox like grin, and prepared to slam a powerful shield into place. "The next part is a bit trickier. Fill yourself with Saidin, prepare to go to battle, it is a raging torrent of ice and flame, filled with the taint. It takes a good while to get used to any of the effects, and to be safe, do not draw to much. I warn you, you can burn the ability to channel right out of yourself, or even commit suicide by drawing too much." He watched, more with his senses than his eyes. He was looking for the strain of holding to much of the One Power, prepared to save both of their lives if need be...

[TaiDashan]

"Alright then Shad, the first step is hard for most, but you look quite capable. You must first achieve Ko'Di, or oneness. This is often called the Void. The first step is to form a flame in your mind, usually a candle. Then, feed your emotions into the flame, then your memories, until everything that you are is consumed by this flame. When this is achieved, you will have achieved the Void, a near emotionless state that allows for supreme concentration. Within the void, Saidin should be waiting, a pulsating sphere of power, covered with the taint of the Great Lord of the Dark."

 

There were not many differences save the name and Shadar quickly assumed the Void. It only took a couple of tries this time. It was getting easier. The man's next comment elicited a small twitch at the corner of his mouth that almost became a grin.

 

If I might make a suggestion Shad, don't try to manipulate me. I assure you I am better at it." His respect deepened for the man and he evaluated him differently. He had known he was Carheinien from his height but.. a grin and he was continuing. "The next part is a bit trickier. Fill yourself with Saidin, prepare to go to battle, it is a raging torrent of ice and flame, filled with the taint. It takes a good while to get used to any of the effects, and to be safe, do not draw to much. I warn you, you can burn the ability to channel right out of yourself, or even commit suicide by drawing too much."

 

With a small nod Shadar reached out as Raylor had shown him and seized hold of the Source. Or rather tried to, it took a few times but finally he felt the life and shadow filling him. Raylor had warned that if he felt pain he had gone too far. It was hard to stay in control, let alone focusing on drawing any more. The freezing filth that threatened to shatter his bones filled him, along side the molten heat of life. Focusing his dark eyes on Arcon he waited.

[Kura]

Arcon waited a moment, seeing if the man could hold onto the source. This was a critical moment for the Acolyte, and by extension the Adept. Satisfied, Arcon continued. "I know, as you can not have done this to many times before, that it is hard to hold onto the source. You probably can't even imagine doing anything with it at this point, but you will. Look inside of the source as it fills you. You should notice something, it is not a solid thing. It is in fact made up of five elements." He began weaveing the strands as he spoke them, "Fire, air, earth, water, and spirit. I do not know if you can see what I am doing, so I'll actually do something with each." Again he wove, twisting the fire upon itself, forming a floating flame. With air, he plucked a rose from a bush, and floated it over, again naming the elements as he went through. With water he formed a globe, and extinguished the flame, and with earth he rose a small stool behind the man.

 

With spirit he slammed the shield into place, cutting the man off from the source. "It is quite shocking, suddenly being unable to channel, and I assure you that feeling of loss you are experiencing, never goes away. Claw at the source all you want, until I will it you will not be able to channel, and you are at my mercy." This time, Arcon kept his face neutral, "Or you would be, but here in the fortress, there is something known as the Peace of the Shadow. No killing inside these walls. Be very sure you abide by that rule, it is not pleasant to disobey it." That done, he released the shield upon his mentee.

 

"Now, I want you to embrace the source again, and try to pick out the strands of the elements, and just drag them out, extending them with your will. Don't try to weave anything, just, hold them out, one at a time, release, and then the next." This time cutting flows and a shield were readied.

 

Arcon was having fun.

[TaiDashan]

"I know, as you can not have done this to many times before, that it is hard to hold onto the source. You probably can't even imagine doing anything with it at this point, but you will. Look inside of the source as it fills you. You should notice something, it is not a solid thing. It is in fact made up of five elements."

 

Shadar listened as the man explained how to see the different elements. Focusing on that searing bolt of light flowing through him, he could almost taste the different flows. Arcon listed off the elements. Shadar thought he could almost see something as he did but more than anything, he could feel each one more strongly as Arcon listed them. He watched patiently as Arcon showed him something with each until the Source suddenly disappeared. Confused, Shadar reached out again only to run up against an unseen something. Almost like a smooth wall of warm ice.

 

"It is quite shocking, suddenly being unable to channel, and I assure you that feeling of loss you are experiencing, never goes away. Claw at the source all you want, until I will it you will not be able to channel, and you are at my mercy." Panic lanced through Shadar in quick, jagged bolts. He hated being powerless. Frankly it terrified him. Arcon continued, easing his terror only slightly. He kept his face as blank as Shadar's. "Or you would be, but here in the fortress, there is something known as the Peace of the Shadow. No killing inside these walls. Be very sure you abide by that rule, it is not pleasant to disobey it. Now, I want you to embrace the source again,"

 

Shadar felt the freezing fire fill him alongside the shadowy taint almost as the man said it. He almost missed Arcon's next words for wondering at the need to Seize Saidin. Oh but the power! He very nearly grinned. try to pick out the strands of the elements, and just drag them out, extending them with your will. Don't try to weave anything, just, hold them out, one at a time, release, and then the next."

 

Once again Shadar felt for the unseen strands blindly feeling for their flavor. Doing as instructed he relished in the Power.

[Kura]

Arcon watched the man struggle to go through his first bit of channeling. Spirit and fire were easier, that much he could tell, but he didn't appear to have a glaring weakness like Arcon had when he first started. Good, he might be able to shield some of my weak spots... "Good, Shad. Now, stop channeling, and listen very closely. It is time to start weaving. Pay attention, extend all of your senses." Arcon wove bitterly slow, first letting a thin strand of fire, and he began twisting it around the flower he had plucked, a petal ignited, slowly turning the flower to ash.

 

Quickly, wove water, the most basic of ways to extinguish flame, and rinsed the petal, ending the flame's life. With that, he wrapped it again in air, floating it around slowly, before opening a small hole and planting the flower in the ground once again. "Alright, that was simple for me, but might be infuriatingly difficult for you. Don't get upset with yourself if you accidentally set the flower aflame completely. Now, pick a flower with air, and bring it to you, and do as I did. Don't worry, I can stop any flow and the source if you mess up." Arcon was silently marveling at how quickly this one was learning. Most Acolytes took weeks to get to the point where they were now...

[TaiDashan]

"Good, Shad. Now, stop channeling, and listen very closely. It is time to start weaving. Pay attention, extend all of your senses."

 

Watching as Arcon wove, Shadar was not sure he could duplicate the feat.

 

"Alright, that was simple for me, but might be infuriatingly difficult for you. Don't get upset with yourself if you accidentally set the flower aflame completely. Now, pick a flower with air, and bring it to you, and do as I did. Don't worry, I can stop any flow and the source if you mess up."

 

Turning his focus back to the Source he felt out Air. Seizing it clumsily away from the rest he wove it like a thread toward the bush. Or tried to at any rate, it was a fair approximation of what Arcon had shown him but lacking in the finesse of the more experienced man. Reaching a few times, Shadar initially tore off a branch of the bush. Thinning the flow he stripped some leaves and a flower off and floated them over. Determination danced around the edge of the Void. The Void had been one of his favorite things about learning to channel, before he actually touched Saidin that was. next came Fire, this one felt slightly easier to notice. Control was another matter. Thinning the flows to precise uses was difficult to say the least.

 

Three flowers went up in a small gout of flame, and another branch torn free before he got the right of it. Next was Water, weaving a small amount it doused the flame. Holding the flow of Air was even harder and made it next to impossible sometimes. Weaving Earth a large mound rose suddenly and almost knocked him over. Trying again a large crater formed before the weave snapped back into him. It was nothing compared to the lightning crack of a horsewhip though and the man simply furrowed his brow in concentration and continued. Once he had finished he looked up at Arcon.

 

"I cut your weave just then." Arcon explained when Shadar asked about the whipping sensation. Shadar's eyebrow rose ever so slightly at that. He was interested. A way of stopping what someone else was channeling? That definitely had its uses.

[Kura]

"I cut your weave just then." The man looked puzzled, for sure, but if Arcon's fine tuned eye could tell, he saw hunger more than anything. "It is the single greatest weapon against another channeler, and not all that difficult a weave to do, but for now, it is far beyond you." Arcon ran over the events of the past few moments, thinking of all of the mistakes the man had made. Rather it was a lack of skill in general, or just in experience, the adept couldn't tell just yet. "Reduce the amount of the source you are holding, until it is just a sliver. You are weaving threads, similar to the ones in your shirt or cloak. Think of the frayed edges of a cloak, visualize just a single thread of earth, and sink it into the ground."

 

Under his watchful eye, Shad succeeded in burrowing the hole, and planted the flower into it. "Alright, now keep your power low, and watch very carefully." Arcon wove mostly spirit, but twisted in the other four elements. It was a simple weave, for sure, but one that he was willing to bet would be infuriatingly difficult for the man before him. When he was done, he looked up at the Acolyte. "This is called a keeping, and it is an infinitely useful weave. It quite simply stops rot. Food under the keeping will never rot, and this flower will never wilt. For two years I have been here, and I have a flower from my first few weeks, the dew from that day still trapped upon it."

 

With hardly a thought, he burned the flower to cinders. "As such I do not need another, now, weave the keeping, and I suggest keeping the flower, but that is your choice." Arcon waited, seeing if the man could be forced along. He knew if the elder dreadlords got wind of his treatment of the initiate, than he'd likely be flayed alive, but this one was meeting his challenges one by one. He heard that the Black Tower expected all initiates to follow this pace, and now Arcon could see how they expected it... "Go slow, no harm shall come."

[TaiDashan]

"It is the single greatest weapon against another channeler, and not all that difficult a weave to do, but for now, it is far beyond you." Then he would work until it was not he thought to himself. Arcon directed him to reduce the flow of Saidin. Almost as if rolling it between his fingers, Shadar thinned out the Source to minute amounts. It was hard at this level but under the direction of the Adept he was able to slowly sink a hair thin flow of Earth and plant the flower.

 

"Alright, now keep your power low, and watch very carefully." Shadar watched very intently. He had begun to see the weaves more so now that he could recognize them while he held the Source. Arcon wove a good amount of Spirit and twisted in Air, Fire, Water, and Earth. Shadar committed it to memory but knew he would have to try it a few times before he would grasp the concept. There was no practical purpose that he could see, but he was one to know that things were not always what they appeared to be.

 

"This is called a keeping, and it is an infinitely useful weave. It quite simply stops rot. Food under the keeping will never rot, and this flower will never wilt. For two years I have been here, and I have a flower from my first few weeks, the dew from that day still trapped upon it."

 

Arcon finished by flashing the thing to ashes. Frowning slightly, Shadar hesitated for a moment consideringly. So far he had been able to handle the weaves the man had asked and the risk had seen relatively low. However the risk of failure, to Shadar, was far greater a risk than merely losing the ability to channel. Almost as if he could read Shadar's mind, Arcon spoke.

 

"Go slow, no harm shall come." Inclining his head slightly, Shadar began to weave. Drawing a flower to him that had an ant in the center he slowly, painstakingly wove with more precision than his other weaves combined. Sweat stood out on his face in a light sheen but he completed the weave at last. He had chosen the tiny ant in the middle to suit his mood. If what Arcon had said was true, it would stay there with that flower for years to come.

[Kura]

To say the least, Arcon was impressed. The man had managed to cover weeks of training in a single night. Still, another intriguing thought was the ant that the keeping had been woven around. It didn't move a hair, and Arcon's mind buzzed with possibilities. Stasis... "That was...impressive Shad." Right then he considered telling the man how far he had come, that Arcon had forced his training. The Adept thought better of it. "That concludes your training for today. I suggest going to the mess hall, grabbing a bite to eat, and then sleeping off the traveling and channeling you have done."

 

He had intended to leave the man to his business, after all he was supposed to meet with Terra in an hour, but he wanted to plant a seed of loyalty in the new Acolyte, seeing the potential in him. "Shad, I will meet with you tomorrow, some time before noon most likely. We will work on your grasping and releasing until you have it down to at will, and your basic weaves. I've decided to take a special interest in you." Again Arcon flashed Shad an award winning smile, and went off to his rooms to prepare his notes. Terra was coming quite far in her studies of Daes Dae'mar...