Bruising Time (Attn Kyn)

[U4ea]

Edana was stiff as she rolled out of bed. She stretched a few times, but knew there was no way she could shake the ache she was dealing with. She wasn’t sleeping well and yesterday, she’d found out why. Sandre hadn’t just left that night. He’d left her for good that night. The Captain wouldn’t tell her where he was, only that he was on Tower business. He wouldn’t have had plans to leave and not have told her about them. No, he’d have thrown that in her face, too, just like the last time he’d left. So, he’d left because he couldn’t stand to be near her. It was the only explanation.

 

That didn’t lend itself to peaceful dreams.

 

She had training and then duty this afternoon, so she didn’t have much time to dwell on it. It did almost nothing for her mood, though. She dressed and made her way to get some breakfast, though her appetite was nearly completely gone. She ate because she had to, but she didn’t eat much more than that. It wasn’t long before she was standing before Master Kynwric for her daily dose of his sense of humor. They’d grown a little closer since that trip to chase the Seanchan, but they were far from “friends.” She didn’t have the luxury of friends, anyway. Everyone turns on you in the end, so the best thing you can do is ensure you’re taken care of in the best way possible.

 

She nodded stiffly to Kynwric as she approached, not trusting herself to say anything this morning. She reached for a lathe, glad to have something in her hands while she waited on him to start today’s training.

 

~Edana

well on her way to the infirmary

[_Kynwric_]

Kynwric saw Edana approaching and expected some sort of smart remark as was her wont to do whenever she saw him for the first time in a day, when she didn't smart off he furrowed his brow and turned, turning his familiar lathe in his hands, and faced Edana.  Kyn settled into his defense, and nodded to her. "Begin." Expecting the her to begin the familiar rote of forms she had been working on, finally tired of her silence he goaded her slightly, "So its going to be the silent treatment today? It will make for a long session with no conversation... where's that lad of yours, maybe he'll talk to me while we spar..."

[U4ea]

Edana nodded again, a sharp jab of her head as Kynwric ordered her to begin. She shifted through forms, glad to put her thoughts to something other than the jagged shards that were left of her personal life. She heard Kynwric's voice and it was enough to pull her out of her little bit of peace. She gritted her teeth until he offered to get "that lad of hers." Her forms faltered and she level a dead stare at Kynwric. He was trying to goad her.

 

"Where the 'lad' is, is, quite frankly, none of your business. He's not mine and, if I'm lucky, perhaps he's fallen into a pit and gotten himself stuck." She took a deep breath and lifted the lathe again, staring off past his shoulder and starting her forms again at the beginning. "Isn't it rather ironic that a big talker like you has something to say to me for being quiet?"

 

~Edana

insolence...gotta love it

[_Kynwric_]

Kyn was blocking her forms as he spoke, "I'm quiet when needs be, it is usually better to listen then speak. However, it does no good to train you and you not be able to fight while someone talks at you or talk yourself if need be." He had realized he'd hit a sore point with mentioning Sandre, but now was as good as any to teach the lesson about keeping your cool in the face of someone goading you and it was a lesson she was far overdue for. "So he's run off... again. Not a word left anywhere I assume?" Kyn shook his head as he blocked a series of head strikes. "You need a higher class of lad."

[U4ea]

Edana fought to control her irritation, but she flinched, anyway. She moved to forms that struck higher up, head shots, most of them, and didn't realize she was adding a bit more force to the strokes. OK, so she was silently hoping one of them slipped past him. She doubted it would happen, but every dog has his day, right?

 

"Not a word," she said, her voice toneless as she fed the pain and anger into the stream that seemed an ever present visual in her head these days. She was clinging to her temper by her fingernails, praying that she made it through this training without a full out attack.

 

"You need a higher class of lad."

 

At that, Edana lost the thin veil of control she had. She paused in her forms, blinking as the white hot flash of rage sizzled through her. Thoughts chased themselves in her head and she fought letting them out, knowing it was a losing battle.

 

"Higher class is what got me into this mess to begin with. Being a peasant with a history of attacking people she loves, means you can't possibly trust me not to turn on you, right? I can't be trusted, believed or even treated with any kind of respect. Between rumors in the Barracks, that I don't care about, and stupid boys apprenticing themselves in a smithy that can't keep their hands to themselves, any hope I had of living inside of these walls without the same recriminations my brothers heaped on my head are completely destroyed." She tightened her grip on her lathe, turning it over and over in her hand. He probably didn't understand a thing she just said, but once the gates were open, there was no stopping the flood that followed.

 

"And furthermore, why do I need a lad, at all? Men are nothing but trouble, causing untold number of problems and they're all so narrow minded and self-serving that it's not possible to see past the end of their nose to anyone trying to help them!" She didn't make exceptions and she wasn't going to. Yes, that meant she lumped him in with the rest of the men in the world. It was a generalization, but she really hadn't met anyone who didn't fit the bill. That realization pushed her past the anger and deeper into the pain and she shifted her stance, attacking the only problem she could deal with... Kynwric.

 

The lathe in her hands shifted through forms that he easily turned back, though the force of her anger behind them made it a little more difficult. She shifted her stance higher and lower, meeting nothing but resistance until he shifted the attack back at her. Then it was all she could do to fend the worst of his swings off.

 

~Ed

[_Kynwric_]

Kynwric let the goading her feelings go, and simply defended as she spent herself attacking him and once her attack began to lag he shifted from his defense to his offense. He rode through the forms in quick, hard succession not pulling any blow. He knew he was leaving bruises or worse every time he struck Edana but it would be better for her in the end. After a few short minutes he eased off, leaving her gasping for breath and battered, gauging her intentions for a moment. Kyn figured she would attack again, just as soon as she thought she might hit him. He cocked an eyebrow at her and turned his back, as if making to leave her there.

[U4ea]

Focusing on keeping her head in one piece, watching the subtle shift of Kyn's blade and his balance, was a blessing. The pain was gone for a few precious moments and her breathing labored under fighting him off. She wasn't very successful, but she really hadn't thought she would be. Is this why Sandre started dueling? She could definitely see the advantage of the action, now.

 

Thoughts of Sandre brought the pain back and she watched Kynwric turn his back on her and move as if to leave. Memories crowded into her thoughts and she crumbled under them. Sandre standing at the door, bag in hand... Sandre throwing her ring back at her... Sandre spitting damning words from his lips... always Sandre, Sandre... She moved before she knew what she was doing. Her body complained, bruising and worn muscles protesting this sudden act of idiocy. Oh, she knew this would end badly. Her anger refused to let her see anything else, though. She swung her lathe, her stroke aimed for his side to turn him back towards her. Her mind played it out and she groaned inwardly as it happened just as she predicted. He fending her swing off and turned back towards her. He'd anticipated she wasn't done. And now she was going to pay for that. Somehow that realization never made it to the hands curled tightly around the practice lathe...

 

~Edana

[_Kynwric_]

The blow came in hard and aimed for his back as he had expected, she wasn't done grieving for whatever had happened with Sandre, that boy had a lot of prices to pay when he resurfaced. Kyn caught her lathe with his own, turned her blade back and methodically began to pick her defense apart, he started with her legs, powering blows into her her thighs and calves. This was designed to slow Edana down, make it hard to run, from there he moved upwards, landing shot after shot against her arms and shoulders until he could see the muscles shrinking up of their own volition, trying to ward off the pain. By this point he wasn't concerned about the defense she was presenting, he didn't have to evade her blocks anymore he could just power through them and still land a telling blow against her body. Finally he landed a blow at the joining of her neck and collarbone, driving Edana to her knees and then with the Grapevine Twines sent her lathe sailing away. Taking a step back he again watched to see what her reaction would be.

[U4ea]

Edana restrained the hiss of pain as his lathe landed on her leg. Then it landed again. Her anger was fizzling as she felt the tingling in her legs from the blows. When he moved up, she fought to block the blows, but she just wasn't good enough to stop them. That thought, more than the pain, brought tears to her eyes. She held them back, trying to force the energy into her defenses.

 

It was useless and she saw the blow to her body coming long before it struck. Her muscles tensed in complaint and she sank to her knees. Her fingers were already relaxing on the lathe, so it slipped easily from her grasp as he moved to disarm her. She rolled her head back, closing her eyes and fighting the urge to cry again. Crying was a terribly useless action and she'd be damned to the Dark One's pit before she did it in front of Kynwric.

 

She breathed a few minutes, taking stock of the injuries she knew she'd have to take to the infirmary. When she had control of herself again, she opened her eyes slowly, noting that he had stepped back and was watching her. She sighed and straightened her neck, even if it did complain rather loudly at the movement. "I'm sorry," she said, her voice coming out hoarse. "I can't seem to get control of this..." her hand made a non-committal gesture to the rest of her body. "I shouldn't have attacked you with your back turned, most of all. I apologize for that."

 

~Edana

[_Kynwric_]

Kyn waited her out, he knew there was an emotional price to pay for all she had gone through and he hoped that in fighting she had released some of the tension built up within her. Finally, he stepped forward silently and stuck a hand out to Edana to help her to her feet. "Apology accepted, but I baited you then and while unfair I hope you learned from it... several things." He noticed she was unsteady on her feet and he didn't let go til she was standing firmly, "Is anything more bruised than your pride? I'd hate to have broken my fav... a perfectly good guardsman."

[U4ea]

Edana curled her hand in his, using his arm as leverage to pull herself upright. She winced, closing her eyes so he couldn't see the pain in them. She shifted on her feet, hoping to find the balance that would take the pain away from her shin. He didn't let go. She realized that about the time she found her balance and moved to release him. She opened her eyes and met his gaze a moment. IF she had any doubt that he knew she was hurt, he erased it.

 

"Is anything more bruised than your pride? I'd hate to have broken my fav... a perfectly good guardsman."

 

She felt her eyebrows arch up at the slight slip and shook her head ruefully. "I have lived through worse, Master Kynwric," she said, pointedly not mentioning his slip. He'd probably done it on purpose to help her salvage some of her pride, anyway. "I think a few ribs are bruised and my left shin is killing me. Other than that, it's just bruises, though." If her answer wasn't quite what it used to be, there was just nothing she could do about that. Not now, anyway. "And I learned many things, not the least of which is to make sure the next time I come at you with a lathe to make sure I've covered every inch of myself in armor!"

 

~Edana

[_Kynwric_]

Kyn nodded, he knew she was hurt but she wasn't going to show it if she could help it. He chuckled at her response and shook his head. "A better bet would be to not, at least not yet anyway. Let's get you to the infirmary and checked out. But one more thing Edana, you must control your temper. It is a great weakness that can be exploited by those who know."

[U4ea]

Edana sighed and nodded, pushing herself to her feet with only a brief hesitation. It hurt more than she wanted to admit, but she was learning the ladies names who worked in the infirmary well enough. Perhaps they'd be on a first name basis before much longer...

 

As they made their way to the infirmary, she found the need to distract herself. "How does it work?" she asked between clenched teeth. "How do you distance yourself from your life enough to not be affected when those around you press your sore spots?"

 

~Edana

[_Kynwric_]

Kyn 'hmmmmd' and thoguht for a moment. "I do it through concentration and practice and through being secure enough in my life to not let things like that bother me. Although that may take years and years. Did you learn the flame and void?"

[U4ea]

Edana nodded, sighing inwardly. "I learned the Spring and the Void, yes," she said softly. "I tried feeding that anger into it, but..." She sighed, this time audibly. "The last time I did it, he left."

 

She wasn't sure why she let that out, but it was there before she could take it back. "I've just been on edge about it, I guess. I'm tired of the rumors and..." She shrugged. "Why does being a woman around here come with so many issues?"

 

~Edana

[_Kynwric_]

"He's a very stupid boy Edana, but that cannot affect your use of the Void to quench your emotions. Not everyone leaves and the trick is to find the one who won't and who you don't want too." He looked over at her when she asked the last question, "You really need me to answer that? It is because you do a man's job with a man's skill and a man's loyalty. It is unusual, even here. All you can do is be as good or better than those around you and let the rest flow like water off a ducks back. Rumors cannot harm you, talk cannot harm you... it is blase, but sticks and stones..." and he just trailed the saying off.

[U4ea]

She nodded, knowing what he'd been about to say even before he started talking. She knew the answers, but somehow, hearing them from another person made them more tangible. Tangible she could deal with. At least she knew it wasn't just her self-recriminations coming to haunt her this time.

 

A pain shot up her leg and she hissed, her foot dropping sooner than she'd planned. It knocked her off balance and she reached out to catch herself against the wall to keep from falling again. She closed her eyes as another shoot of pain skittered up her arm, but she held herself upright until she had her feet back under her. We're on the way to the infirmary, she told herself. She'd be better soon enough.

 

To distract herself, she sent Kynwric a smirk. "Since you know all the answers, maybe you can answer this one for me? Why do you have to be so blasted right all the time?"

 

~Edana

[_Kynwric_]

"Experience." He said with a laugh, while pretending to ignore her difficulties. It wouldn't help her in the long run for him to do anything to undermine her toughness. "I am wrong often, but mostly it is because I am holding position I know nothing about. Men and swords I know a lot about and you haven't asked me anything out of those realms."

[U4ea]

Keep talking, she told herself, glad to see they were making their way closer to the infirmary. "So, if I asked you about braiding a knot like Lor's or how she manages to keep everything she deals with hidden behind her smile... you'd not have an answer?"

 

She focused on words, trying to find something to trip him up. Unfortunately, most of everything she knew anything about were the same as his... swords and men. Ok, perhaps not so much about men, but she'd been around them her whole life, so she probably new more than most women around here. She tried to think of something horrifically girlie to ask.

 

"What about which shops have the best silks? I might actually need to know that one. Perhaps wearing a dress and having dinner with a man who actually appreciates who I am is..." she stopped and laughed. It made her ribs hurt, but it felt good in other ways. "Yeah, the last time I wore a dress, it only landed me in more trouble. He got me in heels, too. Can you imagine?"

[_Kynwric_]

"I'd have an answer, as for braiding Lor's knot ask her. But as to why she can hide everything behind a smile, she's Aes Sedai and Cairheinin and that needs no more explanation." He kept an eye on Edana as they shuffled along. "The best silks anywhere you need to be in Edou Dar, but in Tar Valon it would be Madame Lissette's on 4th. I have been Loraine's companion and husband for far too long to not know where my Aes Sedai buys her dresses Edana. You can keep trying if you wish though."

[U4ea]

Edana laughed, shaking her head. "Aye, so you've broadened your knowledge base from swords and men to swords, men, clothes and Cairhienin women." She felt the sweat breaking out on her forehead, but pushed herself onward. "And since the only thing that's keeping me from collapsing in the floor in a dead faint is my mouth running, I'll just keep asking you silly questions until a Yellow makes me sit down."

 

She smiled, her hand still on the wall as they turned a corner. Were her steps getting slower? She couldn't tell, but didn't think the pain in her shin was going to allow her to move any faster. She could nearly hear the women in the infirmary reprimanding her for walking on these injuries. They could go to the Dark One for all she cared! "Why do the Sea Folk not wear more clothes? Is it to aid the air flow on the decks of the ships or simply to show off their endowments? How long does it take a blacksmith to make a horseshoe? Why does the Captain never put more than one guard on the sally port gate during the evening?"

 

She was panting by the last question, but she kept her eyes on the floor in front of her, determined to walk all the way to the infirmary. Master Kynwric's concerned looks be damned. "Wait, you married Loraine?" She wrinkled her brow as the words he'd said sank in. "That can't have happened very long ago..."

 

~Edana

[_Kynwric_]

"Why do the Sea Folk not wear more clothes? Is it to aid the air flow on the decks of the ships or simply to show off their endowments? How long does it take a blacksmith to make a horseshoe? Why does the Captain never put more than one guard on the sally port gate during the evening?"

 

"Sea Folk have different traditions than us, I for one don't mind it at all. A horseshoe? between 5 and 20 minutes, depending on the smith. And we don't guard the sallyport gate more because the quarters of the Green Ajah overlook it, anyone coming in that way would get a very rude reception. If you thnk about it I can think of no better place for an attack to come. Its also a punishment post, no one to talk to, nothing to do and you can't go to sleep."

 

"Wait, you married Loraine? That can't have happened very long ago..."

 

"Yes, I did and the last was not phrased in the form of a question." Kyn was now waiting for her to pass out so he could carry her, it wasn't far off from what he could tell.

[U4ea]

Edana snorted at his replies, knowing he was humoring her with half of his responses. She needed the humoring, though, and she knew what he was waiting for. It would be a warm day in the Borderlands before she gave in, though. "Of course you wouldn't mind the Sea Folk's choices in clothing, but I can't imagine your... wife..." she paused to smile at that for a moment. It was nice to hear someone was happy. Light knew she wasn't. "... has the same ideas."

 

"What do you suppose the Greens would do if they actually saw someone coming through that gate? Do you think, from that distance, there would be enough sight to distinguish the Guard on duty from the invaders? I'm sure that, if anyone had made it through that gate, the Guard would most likely be dead, but..." The bustle in the corridor was picking up and Edana sent a prayer to the Creator that she was making it to the infirmary without having to be carried. That didn't happen often. The thought made her smirk a bit. "... just suppose he's busy fighting them off. Do you think an Aes Sedai, from that height, would be able to tell the friend from the foes?"

 

~Edana

[_Kynwric_]

"Yes, they'd be able to tell Edana. I can't explain how or why, but they'd be able to tell. Besdies that, they have workings that can choose friend from foe..." The rest of what she had said was rambling and he certainly wasn't going to comment on Loraine and her opinion of the Sea Folk, that line of questioning was not somewhere he wanted to go. It wasn't that much further to the infirmary now, but he was beginning to doubt whether Edana would make it or not.

[U4ea]

Edana shook her head, at that. "He's not a bad person, you know?" she said, changing the subject. "He's just been used by a lot of people and he's afraid..." She clenched her teeth, pausing as a pain from her leg made her head swim. After a moment, she pushed on. "...he's afraid of being himself. Doesn't trust it or something like that. I'm not sure why, but he's always been that way. From the day I met him, he's just..."

 

She stumbled a bit, catching herself against the wall. She tried to push herself back up, but her body wasn't cooperating, anymore. She let herself slide down to the floor and left her head leaning on the wall, her back to Kynwric. "I can't," she whispered, fighting the tears again. She was NOT crying, not about the pain and not about Sandre, either. He'd left HER damnit! "I can't make it another step."

 

~Edana