Closing another chapter:Thera's Grandmaster Spa (Attn Aubrey)

[Eqwina]

Tar Valon had seemed quieter since her return; it seemed as if the trainee’s towed the line, and everyone else wore a cheerful mask. It was that, or very little managed to ruffle her any longer. Since she had lost her child she couldn’t seem to summon anger or tears to any great degree; it was if the world had dulled and emotion was no longer as strong. Some people, those who only knew her as the Mistress of Trainee’s were thrilled with the new her. While others, those that she called friends were concerned. They had always known her as passionate and quick to anger, and her Zen like calm was almost unsettling. 

 

Walking through the yards Thera smiled at many of the trainee’s and when she stopped to offer advice she was gentle in her corrections, and was ever willing to offer more help. It was in one of her unusually cheerful moods that she received a letter signed by several of the Grandmasters. It was a surprise and shock, but she took it with the same mild emotion she’d used with everything since her return.

 

As she buttoned up her plain tan coat she did smile at her flat stomach. It had taken time to get back into shape after the child, but she had bounced back quicker than anyone had expected. Another great change in Thera was her hair. She’d always kept her curls cut short, but while she was with child she had let them grow and they now hung well below her shoulders. Taking out one of her new hair ribbons she tied back what she could and tucked the rest behind her ears.

 

Deciding she was as prepared as she would ever be, Thera left her office and crossed the yards. She ached to stop at the trainee’s that hailed her, but she kept her feet moving. Today would be about her, and her next step. It would only help her to be a better teacher to them. Seeing the gathering of Grandmasters didn’t slow her feet, Thera approached them with her head high. One thing in her that remained unchanged was her confidence; that was something that could never be taken away.

 

[Arie]

"It is not in how you wield the sword, but how your body can wield without." The movement was smooth, flawless, with the weighted lathe in perfect union with the unweighted blade in the other hand. "There will be a time where there is no blade, no weapon at hand and you may have to use something in exchange for the blade. A barstool, a stick, a limb from an opponent." There was a snicker from someone that listened, "You laugh now, but would you rather beat against a Trollocs chest with a bare fist or the arm of the dead weighted with plate? I personally hope there are a few points of metal in the arm. Take the opportunity as it comes, do not hesitate. And above all do not depend on anything but the comrade at your back and death at the end of your weapon. There is no certainty that you will return, it is only on the way back from battle will you be alive. Never before."

 

Sheathing the one blade on her hip, and setting the weighted lath against the fence she looked over the Tower Guards that came to learn under her, she nodded her head. "That will be enough for today. Next lesson, bring an unconventional, yet useful weapon to practice. We will be learning a few more tricks that they never taught you at Tavern Brawls." Clapping her hands the men and women left, each in conversation with themselves. The yard started to fill more with other blademasters, some complimenting her on her charges and the progress they were making. Give them all a year or two, some less, and they will also be among the ranks of the Heron Marked Blade. An honor held for so very few. How many were left in the yard? 15? 20? The numbers dwindled each year and Cairma feared to be the eldest and last left; or worse, the next to go.

 

Smiling at them, thanking them all in return for their praise, Cairma turned to see Thera at the gate to the Grandmasters yard. A wave, she jogged up to her.

 

"It has been a while, Thera. How are you and what brings you to the Grandmasters yard?" Pleasant conversion, despite the rumors. Cairma she had not been the only one to got through some rather drastic changes in the past year or so. She only hoped that the other woman was wise enough not to push too hard regardless of whatever calm she had found.

 

 

 

Cairma Vishnu

Grandmaster

Formerly of the Ren'Shai

Mother

 

Ooc: I figure she wasn't privvy to the call to have Thera tested as she has also been away. Call it a fight to see how well Cairma does after being away and if she can 'hold up' to Thera. :)

[Eqwina]

One person she had not expected to see was Cairma, the woman’s name could foster as many rumors as her own. Trying to appear pleasant Thera gave her a small smile and a companionable nod.  “Hello, Cairma, it has been awhile.” Stepping into the yards she eyed the others, but felt that she couldn’t walk away from her fellow Tower Guard. “I have been doing as well as could be expected under the circumstances. Well enough in fact that the others feel I am ready to be tested.” She gestured to the small gathering of Grandmaster’s a few yards off. 

 

Her eyes held a bit of a challenge, but the slight stiffness to her stance spoke of nerves. Now that the test was upon her she couldn’t help but start to question her worthiness.

 

To be certain she had proved her loyalties to the Tower time and time again. She had proven her worthiness with the blade enough to earn the heron mark, but being a Grandmaster was so much more. The distinction that came with the honor, paled in comparison to the respect that it earned among other warriors. It was the respect that Thera craved, especially after the last year..no… two years of her life. Her name had become a byline for the uncommon and shocking in the yards, and she needed a great achievement to balance the rumors.

 

“I am surprised you had not heard, then the news was fairly new even to me.”

[Arie]

 

 

She blinked for a moment a Thera's words. Although she could not argue with them -she'd seen a recent spar and could see her challenging the Grandmasters- but that she had not been informed was a bit of a surprise. Cairma could see a movement from the side of her head, turning there was a wince in Jaz's face and a rather unhappy look on Marie's face. With Jaz rubbing his arm in a mock pout Carima could guess who was suppose to tell her ... and forgot to do so. With a sigh and a slight shake of her head, Cairma looked to Thera with a steady glare. "It would seem there was a bit of a ..." She shot a glare at Jaz, "miscommunication somewhere. If it pleases the Light step into the arena of the Grandmasters and face your test". Sweeping her arms across the yard, she beaconed the woman to enter with a some what sinister smile on her face. It had been too long since there had been a new Grand Master to their ranks.

 

"Choose your opponent, Blademaster Thera Trakelyn, and may all that occurs here be witnessed by those present and let the outcome please all that is done Under the Light." Formal words for a formal occasion. All had their own variations that welcomed the new ones to the spar. Aran had this lawdy bard that would often anger the opponent. Singing loud, it brought laughter and a rather intriguing fight. No challenger enjoyed the lack of seriousness that Aran displayed even if how he used the spear could be considered equal to that of her own blade, if not better. Thankfully they never found it -although she wondered if it was a bit of a shame. Keeping those emotions to herself, she watched Thera carefully as she waited for the challenger to call out a name.

[Eqwina]

When Cairma realized the reason Thera had come to the Yards all casualness, however fained, melted away and the words to begin the ceremony were spoken.

 

All the faces in sight were familiar to her and she had seen enough to know their fighting styles. As her eyes scanned the gathering she began to realize that any of them were more than a match for her skills. Thera’s heart sank to her knees, but there could be no turning back now. Having made a full circle her eyes fell on Cairma, and she knew that if she had any hopes of coming out victorious she would need to be on level ground. She and her fellow Tower Guard were of a height, and with a similar build. It was not much, but it may give her a fighting chance.

 

“Grandmasters” Thera inclined her head slightly “I challenge Cairma to be the one to test my worth.”

 

They all nodded as if they had anticipated her choice and took several steps back to form a loose ring around the pair. Taking a deep breath Thera walked to the edge of the ring and took off her coat, tossing it over the side of the fence. Bending she stretched her back and her knee’s, closing her eyes to assume the void. All the torment she’d felt at the loss of her child, and the agony of the fights between she and Jasine, her frustration at the lack of respect her pregnancy had sewn, and her fear at failing this test were all fed into the flickering flame; giving it fuel and making it grow until there was nothing in the world but the oneness and her sword.

 

Standing up straight and proud Thera drew the katana from its scabbard and stood ready; her eyes caramel awls focused on its target.

 

“When you are ready Blademaster Thera, Mistress of Trainee’s” Cairma said as she stepped into position. It may have just been imagination, but Thera thought she detected a hint of scorn at her given title. On fast feet she advanced with her sword ready to perform Tower of Morning a vertical slash that was easily maneuvered during mid-swing. Her slash was met with steel and Thera pressed hard not wanting to find herself on the defensive. The Cat Dances on the Wall quickly became The Falon Stoops and as quick as that Thera found the tables beginning to turn.

 

[Arie]

How can I decide what?s right?

When you?re clouding up my mind

I can?t win your losing fight

All the time

 

They were two blades to her hips that were now unsheathed and settled comfortably in her hands. At first she was surprised that Thera had named her to test her, was it that she thought Cairma was female she would take it easier on the woman? Did she even remember the reputation she carried far past the prime of the Master Mercury? Was her 6-foot sword already forgotten that she might think Cairma would be easy? Cairma never fought for the sake of a battle. She fought to win. Light, she even took a sword to the stomach in a tournament spar with Rosheen to win! Was such acts so quickly forgotten? Maybe she should start to keep a few scars instead of having them healed away. Settling into a defensive mode with both blades in front of her, Cairma spoke, "When you are ready Blademaster Thera, Mistress of Trainee’s.” If the woman thought she would be easy on her, she had another thing coming!!

 

The twin blades were lighter than Beast, but the force behind them the same. Matched steel to Thera's Sword; The Creeper Embraces the Oak. Black Pebbles on Snow. Cutting the Clouds. Form after form was met by the resounding clash of steel against steel as the two female Masters met. Eye to eye there was a smile to each of their lips as their concentration could nto be broken, and Cairma was no fool to know that one mistake will cost. But there it was, the joy as the sword was matched and the flow of the spar became hypnotic to her. 'This, this is what I missed... Her mind fell away to the melancholy and agony of her loss. The once joyful banter of Aran and Rosheen, they had once been all too competative in these yards, fighting brawn against brain. Kissing the Adder. Leaf Floating on the Breeze. Thistledown Floats on the Whirlwind.

 

Cairma could see the struggle of Thera's blade against two of her own, so she pressed harder, the wave of her hits falling down like a hammer against tempered steel. Soon, it will all break apart, and she would finish it. 'And not at the price of my life. See Aran? See how far we've come, I have come...? I wish you could see this...'

[Eqwina]

It was always strange what thoughts took you in the midst of battle; and a battle this was….no matter its cause; each woman refusing to yield and one not willing to call for quarter, her status and reputation too damaged to allow for failure. At least in her own eyes.

 

Trying hard to deflect two blades with her one Thera dogged a thrust only to earn a long gash along her leg. The slow oozing of the blood was hot on her leg, but she couldn’t spare a moment for it. Blows rained down on her, one after another, never ceasing. A Boar Rushes Down the Mountain cost her another slash in the other leg, this one shallow and Tower of Morning gave her another decoration on her arm. Had she not been wrapped in the void she would have limped with in pain, but for now all the lost blood and hurt belonged to another.

 

Being forced to retreat back in order to avoid worse injury Thera tried to use Black Pebbles on Snow only to be countered again. She was using every scrap of her skill and she was still barely holding her on against the other woman. If things did not change it would not be long now.

 

Drawing on the pain of losing her child Thera fed it all into the void and struggled to force Cairma to defend. She drew on the old memories of times she lost, and of those she one. Her mind remembered the harrowing battle fought at Aridhol, and each small victory of her past gave her a renewed bit of strength. But………..All the memories, wins and losses, joys and pains were not enough…….

 

Limping a bit Thera missed deflecting a simple slash and this time she stumbled, barely catching the second sword in time from taking her hand. She had to end this soon!

 

[Arie]

 

 

She was out of shape, Cairma scowled inwardly. Either that or this woman was fairly evenly matched. Perhaps it was the elite-ness of the Grandmaster rank that burdened her enough to know that such a spar should not be easy. Unfortunately, the spar was not easy, but what she also noted was that it wasn't entirely long either. Fairly well matched, Cairma started to judge not the execution of the forms and the strength of the woman, but the creativity and precision at which she executed each of her movements. The footwork, the movement of the arms, the eyes, Cairma watched and she judged harshly.

 

There was a significant amount of measures to each spar, more than simply being able to beat a master at their own game. Catching Thera's arched movement with a cross-guard of her blades in defense, she caught the look in Thera's eyes. Although she was not exactly tiring, and the limp must hurt something dreadful, there was a level of determination in her eyes that Cairma would have seen mirrored in her own. Determination and confidence. Smiling at the woman as they were locked in stance, staring eye to eye with the three blades locked above them, Cairma winked at the woman and pushed her back hard enough on her least severed leg so as to keep her off balanced without actually causing Thera to fall. It took effort of her own not to kick the woman away, but that was no longer the point of the spar. This wasn't a war, and Cairma saw what she needed to see.

 

Stepping back as Thera recovered, Cairma bowed low, folding the fan with both her swords into their respective sheaths. She could already feel the pains of the spar, but she easily ignored them. Ren'Shai training had its perks. Waiting a moment as she heard the other woman sheath her blade as well, Cairma stood and walked over with a warm smile and a hand clasped to Thera's shoulder. "Well done, Thera. You have done us proud."

 

Looking to the other Grandmasters, Cairma announced in a steady voice, "Allow me to introduce, Thera Trakelyn Grandmaster of the White Tower. With the Light as my witness, I, Cairma Vishnu have measured and weighed and have found her worthy." She turned to Thera, "Congratulations, sister. I do hope that after a little healing, you might be able to limp your way to the Tavern for a little celebration?"

 

 

 

Ooc: Hope that works okay for an ending? This way we both win! ;)