A Final Lesson

[Kael]

Orion stood at the gates to the White Tower, the seperation between the Tower and the rest of Tar Valon. He was waiting for Aramina, for the last time. It seemed strange that Orion would miss these lessons with Aramina. He did not hold Aes Sedai in a high regard anymore thanks to a certain Blue Sister, but Aramina he would genuinely miss. He always enjoyed the lessons.

 

But today wasn't going to be an easy lesson and a goodbye, Orion was not that soft with his students and until after today's lesson Aramina was still one of his students even if she was Aes Sedai.

 

He had sent a trainee with a note for her to tell her he would meet her here instead of where they normally met. He held a back scarff in one hand, something he had used to hide behind when he had still been ashamed of people seeing him as blind. Orion could only hope Aramina took kindly to this lesson since it was not one he expected many Aes Sedai to like. It was rather humbeling.

 

 

Orion

[TaeaDawn]

A meeting at the gates? It was something interesting to Aramina, a chance in their usual routine. She had trained hard with Orion and today's change in location had added a certain eagerness to her step. She decided to wear a green riding dress on this occassion. Her usual training gear would look strange if he was planning on taking her into the city and a full dress was out of the question for training, so she had settled on divided skirts made for a hard ride.

 

Her hair was pulled back in intricate braids, but something tight enough that wouldn't loosen if training came hard today, as it usually did. She smiled to herself as she spotted Orion at the gates, then quickly schooled her features. She was no child and the fondness she seemed to find for the Tower Guard that was training her made her skin jump a bit. She didn't allow people close. Close hurt.

 

"Good day Orion." She said, a smile in her voice even if she had just taken one off her face. "I begin to think you are training me in strange locations simply to confuse me." She said.

 

[Kael]

"Well perhaps you are learning something from being an Aes Sedai. I love to confuse my students, it shows their character." Almost everything Orion did with his students during lessons was to try and show him something about them, it was difficult enough to gauge a person with your sight but without..well.

 

"Besides I thought for the final lesson it would be nice to get away from the Yards." Even if you won't be seeing much outside them. Orion added silently to himself. See as much as he did at least.

 

"Your last task is fairly simple at first glance, simply going to get a small package from an inn down by the docks. It is from the Tower Swan inn which is owned by a pair their names are Wat and Mara, I'm not sure there last name Alric never did tell me his mother's new name."

 

Orion took the scarf from his hand and held it out, a gesture useless to him but he still new the proprieties of having your sight. "But like all simple things, it's never as simply as it seems."

 

Letting out a long breath Orion took a step foreward as his mind realed from everything he knew of Aramina's form. With his male trainees this was never a problem but with his females, trying to touch them always had ways to go horribly wrong. "Forgive me." Orion's hand light on Aramina's shoulder and trailed up her neck as he stepped behind her his other hand moving to be paralell with his other.

 

He tied the scarf the best he could over Aramina's eyes, making it tight enough that it wouldn't hurt but still wouldn't come off easily. "Your challenge. Do it blind. Use your other senses than sight. Fell your suroundings as much as see them. And besides. Having to ask complete strangers for directions can be a humbling expirience, and not any offence to you, we all need those lessons every once in a while."

 

There was one other thing that Orion did not mention. Alric stood on the other side of the gate, out of site and waiting for Aramina to leave. Orion could not be off much help but Orion had trusted his student once with the man and he would do so again. Out of the Gaurds there were few that knew the harbor as well as Alric as well.

 

 

Orion

[TaeaDawn]

"Your last task is fairly simple at first glance, simply going to get a small package from an inn down by the docks. It is from the Tower Swan inn which is owned by a pair their names are Wat and Mara, I'm not sure there last name Alric never did tell me his mother's new name."

 

"But like all simple things, it's never as simply as it seems."

 

The words were not a surprise. Orion seemed to be a believer in those words. Nothing was ever as simple as it seemed, certainly not a task from her blind Tower Guard. To her surprise though, he reached out and touched her shoulder, his hand flowing up her neck until he could place a blindfold on her.

 

"Forgive me." He said in a quiet voice. Aramina wasn't used to touch. She didn't let people close emotionally and since Natalie's death, she doubted anyone had done more than brush up against her by accident. Such an intimate touch sent a shiver through her and she took a deep breath to push back the emotional panic that threatened to ensue. She needed distance from him, emotional and physical she had already told herself once. She respected him a great deal and his training of her exemplary. She could feel the need to get to know him though, the need to befriend him, as she hadn't in a long time. Definitely time to close the chapter on this book, she thought as she steadied herself.

 

"Your challenge. Do it blind. Use your other senses than sight. Feel your suroundings as much as see them. And besides. Having to ask complete strangers for directions can be a humbling expirience, and not any offence to you, we all need those lessons every once in a while."

 

As he stepped back Aramina was suddenly without sensation. She couldn't see anything and even the reassurance of his hands were gone. A deep breath. She could do this, she had to. She was Aes Sedai and she was standing in the middle of the city. She had a reputation to uphold for herself, the Tower, and her Ajah. And beyond that, she didn't want Orion to think less of her. This was his world now.

 

Another deep breath. Sound. Alric had taught her this. To stand in the dark and listen, pay attention to her surroundings through sound. Vibrations, movement around her. She pictured her location in her minds eye. "I will see you at the end of this journey, I hope." Aramina said to Orion, then began moving.

 

She took a couple steps to the side, her hand out slightly. There was a wall there and she allowed herself to follow it slowly. Until of course, the wall ended. She was at an intersection and Aramina could still see it in her mind's eye. The question now wasn't what to do now, but whether which wasy to go. She had no idea where the Tower Swan Inn was located. She took a deep breath then as she heard someone shuffle by. Humbling? She was an Aes Sedai. She did what was necessary, regardless of her own personal dignity. Wandering around, blundering wouldn't get her anything today. In that, Orion misunderstood her.

 

"Excuse me, would you be able to tell me where the Tower Swan Inn, is located?" She asked in a polite voice.

 

[Kael]

Alric followed Aramina a discreet distance away, far enough that he wouldn't be heard but close enough that she would never be out of sight. Orion was not a fool to let his students, an Aes Sedai at that, go wandering around a city unable to see. Even Tar Valon where crime was almost unkown, held danger for someone that handicapped.

 

For that reason Orion had asked him to follow Aramina, and because his step father owned the Swan. He watched with amusement the look on the man's face as he eyed Aramina sideways when she posed the question to him. Alric doubted he would do much different if he was being asked directions by a blindfolded woman wandering the streets.

 

"The Swan? It's down by the docks, keep going down this street. The second right will take you towards the docks. It's uh..well once you get there you should be able to find it uhhh...miss." The man nodded, looked around a few times and then walked quickly the way he had been going. Alric took another few steps closer to Aramina and waited to see what she would do.

 

 

Alric

[TaeaDawn]

That was... frustrating, Aramina thought as she she took a deep breath. She had been sure she'd be able to ask the man to walk her part of the way, but she hadn't recognized the sounds of him moving away until it was too late. Well, she had directions at least. The second right and she'd be on her way to the docks. As if she could see where the second right was.

 

She started walking again, slowly. She kepts her skirts pulled up slightly so that someone walking by might think she was trying to keep them from getting dirty, but the skirts were full enough if she got too close and brushed up against something she would have a tiny warning before hand. Burn it all, but she could weave a shield nicely if she didn't want to do this without the One Power. A shield would keep her safe on her walk without bumping into anything or anyone. Still, she was stubborn and she was going to make her way through the city to the Inn and she was going to do it without the Source. She had lived a fair number of years without it, she could do just fine.

 

Only she hadn't lived without her sight and that was really the issue here. No sight. But her hands were doing good on her skirts and there was sound. Up ahead she could hear more activity. She stopped and recognized what she was listened to. An intersection. She smiled as she started forward towards it, then stopped, realizing that crossing the intersection might pose a danger from sources she couldn't see. She bumped into someone lightly as she stopped. She heard a mumbled grunt and realized she had bumped into a man.

 

"Oh, i'm so sorry. Please excuse me. Would you mind, helping me a little?" She asked, putting on a very pretty smile for whoever it was. "My eyes aren't working right and I have to wear this. I'm just trying to get across to head over to the docks. Would you mind helping me, just across the street, and I would be very grateful?" She gave just the right pout and the perfectly appreciative smile at the end of her words. True enough words that seemed to say her eyes were bandaged because they were damanged but did not, in fact, say that.

 

[Kael]

Alric sat and watched Aramina as she came to the intersection, glad that she had the sense to stop. Alric still thought Orion was a bloddy fool for putting Aramina through this, Alric had only met her once but he had liked her and knew she didn't deserve this. It was to dangerous by far.

 

He watched in trepidation as the woman looked Aramina up and end, sniffed and promptly walked away. Alric moved himself up next to her, changed his voice some and spoke. "I will help ya miss. I have a friend who's eyes don't work so I know what a hassle it can be. It'll be no problem."

 

Alric put his hand lightly on Aramina's wrist and began to lead her thorugh the throng, acting completely normal and ignoring some of the strange looks passed their way. They passed through the throng and to the less populated area of the street. "Here we are milady, I am sorry I can't help you further but I must be going along now. I hope you get better."

 

With that Alric faded back into the shadows and waited for Aramina to continue on her task.

 

 

Alric

TPC TG

[TaeaDawn]

Why was it the people that helped always seemed to disappear before she could offer thanks. Probably so she couldn't ask for more help, she thought wryly. There had been something familiar about the last man, some trace of his voice that seemed to connect to her, but she couldn't for the life of her figure out what it was. The man certainly hadn't acted familiar with her. She almost laughed at the thought. Well who would? Who in the entire world would think they knew her well enough to act familiar with her? Certainly no Aes Sedai, though she had been giving pleasant smiles to others since she had gotten past her grief. Ironic, that Orion probably saw more to the heart of her than anyone else, saw her in her struggles with the sword and understood the small sighs and gestures that others with sight would miss.

 

She shook her head of such thoughts. She had already determined that she needed to make some distance between herself and her weapons mentor. No person was allowed too close to her and he had already gained more that just respect from her, but her admiration as well. Today's lesson made it even more so. A strong man to have lost his sight and continue with the life he had, with sight, chosen. She took a deep breath and continued along her way. She had made it through the intersections and all she needed now was to find this Tower Swan Inn. She followed her nose towards the docks, moving slowly, but surely as she would never allow anyone to think she was uncertain of her way. Uncertainty was not a trait an Aes Sedai should give off, even for one as young as her with no signs of agelessness yet.

 

She heard the coarse tongues of the dockworkers and admired their vocabulary for a moment before moving on. Some things were tucked away for later use, and others she knew would stay in her head forever, too coarse for her to repeat. It was amusing to be away from the sheltered halls of the Tower and to be among people that were unaware of her status. She still wore her great Serpent Ring of course, but few looked that closely at a young woman wandering the streets in a fine riding dress and with her eyes blindfolded.

 

A snickering from beside her told her that there were youngsters close by. She turned to the sound and smiled warmly to them. "I don't suppose you would know where the Tower Swan Inn is?" She asked.

 

The voice was small, younger than she had expected, but a young boy by the sound came forward. "It's just down the street My Lady." He said. "Are you hurt?"

 

She gave a small shake of her head. "No, I just needed to rest my eyes for a bit. Would you help me?" She asked. "I could pay you for your services as an escort." She added.

 

She heard the boy's small gasp of excitement and her smile grew slightly. "I could do that." He said, taking her hand and quickly pulling her behind him. She had expected it, but not the rush of memories it brought, of her nephew back in Cairhein and the children of her home village. Her nephew who was grown by now and probably married with his own children. She needed to write home again and find out how everyone was.

 

When they arrived he stopped by the front door. "This is it MyLady." He said. "Just like you asked."

 

"And I thank you for your service, Good Master." She said with a grin as she took out a coin and pressed it into his hand. "You have been an excellent escort." She heard him run off laughing, then turned towards the door. She walked in slowly, unable to see the hustle and bustle, but hearing enough to know she could easily walk into someone.

 

[Kael]

Alric quickened his pace and walked into his mother's inn when Aramina found her little helper, he knew the boy and knew for a coin he woud take you everywhere. He stepped through the door, and was only two steps before he was barreled down by a small figure. "Alric!"

 

Alric laughed jovially and hugged his little brother fiercly. "My Baeric, I don't think you'll be able to do that for much longer. Ah you're getting big." Alric hefted the boy into his arms and wove his way through the tables towards where his mother was waiting with a smile on her face. "Mother." He kissed her lightly on the cheek and deposited Baeric onto the ground, letting the boy go back to what he had been doing.

 

"Is Alara here?" Alric asked with a hopeful note in his voice. His mother shook his head and Alric sighed soflty. He moved past her and got himself a mug of ale from the kitchen waiting for Aramina to enter.

 

It wasn't long before the door opened and he heard his mother's voice calling to who he was assuming was Aramina. "Good day milady. Come in, you must be the one Master Mantier told me about." Alric made his way out of the kitchen, with a smile.

 

"You can take the blindfold off as well Aramina Sedai. Come, sit and have a drink. I doubt Orion would mind if your not back for a while. I don't think he actually has anything here for you to get anyways." Alric took a seat and put the mug down in front of him.

 

 

Alric

[TaeaDawn]

"Good day milady. Come in, you must be the one Master Mantier told me about."

 

"You can take the blindfold off as well Aramina Sedai. Come, sit and have a drink. I doubt Orion would mind if your not back for a while. I don't think he actually has anything here for you to get anyways."

 

A smile pulled at the corner of her mouth at the woman's words. So, Orion had sent her on a blind good chase for no reason. None except teaching her humility and keeping her on her toes. She thought a moment before reaching up and taking the blindfold off her eyes. She kept them closed a moment longer, letting herself adjust slowly to the light. It took only a moment longer to identify the woman that had spoken to her. She smiled slightly, inclining her head. "I thank you Mistress." She said easily. "Tea would be wonderfully soothing after the walk here." Another smile graced the woman before Aramina turned her attention to the rest of the room.

 

Her smile almost got bigger, almost widening to the point of warmth as she caught sight of a slightly familiar face among the crowd of strangers. She walked slowly towards him, suddenly wishing she had a mirror to check that her appearance was as she wished. Nothing would help the dirt on her skirts of course, but she wished she could make sure that her feactures were obeying her today.

 

"Master Alric." She said with more warmth to her voice than she had intended. "It's quite a surprise to see you here. Perhaps it should be though. Orion said your mother was here?" Realizing suddenly she had overstepped propriety a bit she smiled again. "Do you mind if I join you?" To her surprise, she found that she was afraid he'd say yes.

 

[Kael]

Alric smiled warmly at Aramina. If there was an Aes Sedai who he could call something like a friend it was her, even if they had only really spent a day and a half together. He gestured to a chair in front of him. "Sit and relax a while, I'm sure your journey was a troubelsome one. I told Orion just that but he is a rather stubborn man at times."

 

"And you already met my mother, and here she is again." Alric smiled again as his mother half curtsied as she set a cup of tea down on the table. "She upped and married the man who owns this place when we got." Alric chuckled lightly as his mother rolled her eyes and smacked him lightly on the back of his head.

 

Alric shifted his seat so that the small boy running and umping on him wouldn't be so painful. "And this is little rascal is my little brother. Baeric, Aramina Sedai. She is an Aes Sedai so mind your manners you." Alric chuckled and ruffled his brothers hair affectionately.

 

 

Alric

[TaeaDawn]

It had been a long time since Aramina had been around children of any age. Once, in another life, she had been fond of children. Before her mother had died and life had tied her to Tar Valon and to the Tower. For a moment, she forgot about her walls and the distance she kept from others. She forgot her need to protect herself and guard her heart. She smiled warmly down at the child by Alric's side.

 

"It is a pleasure to meet you Master Baeric" She said as she looked back to Alric. "It was, an interesting journey." She said, the same warm smile encompassed both brothers then. "I've never travelled blindfolded before. I should thank you for your last lesson. It was actually very helpful in getting here today."

 

She couldn't stop smiling. Part of her knew that her facade had slipped horribly, worse even than when she had petitioned to join the Green Ajah, but she couldn't seem to care at the moment. It felt right to sit there with them and let herself go, if only for a little while, to let herself feel, for a moment, like a regular person.

 

[Kael]

Alric felt strange simply sitting and talking with an Aes Sedai, in his mother’s in none the less. He had come to this very building years ago hating women like the one sitting across from him, and now he admired Aes Sedai, though Aramina above the others for what she had shown to him over this lesson and the last. She was made of steel beneath her beautiful exterior.

 

Baeric beemed hugely as Aramina greeted him, this would be the first Aes Sedai he had ever seen, let alone meet even here in Tar Valon. Alric chuckled lightly as Aramina spoke of her journey, and he was flattered by the fact that she would think that his training would prepare her for a task like this. He doubted he would be able to do this as well as she did today.

 

Alric took another sip of his ale as Baeric ran off, his childhood exuberance not allowing him to stay in one place even with an Aes Sedai in their midst. “I almost wish that your task is over even with you not having anything here to actually get, but you still need to get back to the Tower and that I cannot let you go without your blindfold. You’re free to stay as long as you want of course.†Alric nodded and pushed his finished mug away, smiling

 

 

Alric

[TaeaDawn]

The reminder that she was there for a purpose was almost enough to make Aramina lose the smile, to take back the facade that had focused so much of her life. But there was something she had never counted on, something that she would never be able to truely cover, and that was the simple desire to have another person close, to have the smallest touch mean something, the smallest glance an acknowledgement. She'd had that once, a friend who had turned Aramina's world on end and had shown her what warmth and love were truely like. When that had ended, Aramina had tried to bury the need and even the capacity in herself for such things. It was a doomed experience, but the walls to her heart were steep and in the years of Accepted training she had never again let anyone see her falter. It was only with her Captain General that she had truely faced her own inadequacies and realized that there was a world of learning for her still. A game played on a higher level than she had understood and she meant to master that Game.

 

Today, all those things seemed frail though, the life of solitude seemed unimportant and shriveling. This Inn, the people, Alric, it all seemed to be so full of life. No wonder Sisters left the Tower for such long stretches, if this was what they were in for in the World. At the moment, she couldn't think of anyplace she'd rather be. Certainly not with her dusty old tomes or working the forms as Orion had taught her. Her plans for an Eyes and Ears network were something that could be finished later. She needed only get back to the Tower again, blindfolded. She had managed quite well the first time around. She was fairly certain she could manage to find someone besotted enough in drink to help her back without too great an inconvenience. It might even be fun to have one of the boys help. A small hand guiding her to the Tower. The thought filled her and her smile regained it's former brillance almost as soon as it had lost it.

 

"Thank you. It's rare that I leave the Tower, even as an Accepted I left only on occassion and then mostly on errands for Aes Sedai." She rolled her eyes at that. She had yet to send anyone scurrying for her 'errands'. Like she wasn't capable of doing them herself. "It's a nice change to be able to sit back and enjoy a few moments. Especially in good company." Looking down at her tea, unable to look Alric in the eye as she said it. There were butterflies in her stomach suddenly and she took a deep breath to make it pass. Really! It wasn't like she was some young fool Novice sneaking around to the Warders Yard. She simply admired the man. She took a sip of her tea again to hide her unaccustomed nervousness.

 

[Kael]

Alric smiled brightly and glanced about the room to take in his life for that was what this little inn was. The Tower might be his drive and passion but his family and those he loved was his life. And it made him proud for Aramina to give his humble little life a compliment such as that.

 

"Everyone must sometimes take time to simply relax from the pressures of our other lives. To spend time with those who care about you, and who you care about. It is always a nice feeling to know there are those who care for you around." Alric glanced quickly at his mother who was amiably talking with one of the regular patrons.

 

Alric turned his smile back to Aramina, drumming his fingers on the table in a habit he had developed from sitting around this inn for long hours at a time. "You should know that you are always welcome here if you ever want to get away from the Tower. I know I would enjoy seeing you and I doubt you'll find anyone else from the Tower here."

 

Alric nodded to reinforce his words. He admired Aramina more than any other Aes Sedai for what he had seen her do and he enjoyed seeing her and simply talking like this. It made her more human to simply talk, rather than an Aes Sedai who was sent to him for training.

 

 

Alric

[TaeaDawn]

"It is always a nice feeling to know there are those who care for you around"

 

The words stung and for a second, without her facade, sadness filled her eyes. Those who cared for her? There was no one who cared for her anymore. A dead memory was all she had. Family she had little conact with since coming to the Tower how long ago now? There were no friendships she shared in the White Tower either. There were colleagues and Sisters, but no friends. Orion had touched her already, her respect for him bordering too much on care and she had already decided to cut that off as quickly as possible. Her life had too much focus to have time for people in it. She had to focus on the work at hand. She didn't need anything to complete her tasks, didn't need anyone to help her.

 

But if she didn't need anyone, why was she here? Sure, she had been sent here by Orion on some fool test, but she could have left as soon as she arrived. Nothing was holding her here now. She should just get up and walk right out. She should.

 

And then his eyes turned back to her and he smiled. "You should know that you are always welcome here if you ever want to get away from the Tower. I know I would enjoy seeing you and I doubt you'll find anyone else from the Tower here."

 

Her answering smile was still slightly haunted by the knowledge she allowed herself. That sometimes it hurt too much to keep everyone away, but she still hurt too much to let anyone close. Perhaps she always would. Sitting here though, she wished it weren't true. She didn't know why or how Alric had gotten under her skin, but he had. And she couldn't turn away from that anymore than she could have when Nat had gotten under her skin either.

 

"Thank you." She said with a slightly shaken smile. "I... this is a nice change from what I had expected today. I thought I would be working the forms or some such, then follow it up with dusty old tomes. The research is necessary for what I want to do, but you're right. It is good to get away."

 

[Kael]

Alric chuckled lightly to himself at Aramina's thought for the day. This was far from working through dusty old tomes or working forms with Orion. He was also glad that he had provided some escape for her. He thought of Aramia as a friend in such and he wouldn't want her to waste her life in the Yards and being an Aes Sedai when at times you must simply relax and be human. Benath the calm agless exterior even an Aes Sedai was still a woman at heart.

 

"I hope that my company is at least a little more interesting than researching in dusty old tomes or working up a sweat in the Yards." For Alric this was better. The inn had a feeling of home that even the Yards could not identity with. A warm and loving atmosphere that was simply home, the family. His mother, brother, father and the woman he wished to marry all in the simple inn at the docks of Tar Valon.

 

"And I do not blame you for enjoying being here instead of in a library or at the Yards. A bonus for being a gaurd perhaps, we don't have to deal with books and trying to use our heads. Give us a sword nad point us in the right direction andwe are fine. Though I envy Warders at times, even though I've never really wanted to bevome one. They're ability to go out in the world and have all the fame for it. But my life is here in Tar Valon now and I could never leave my family for an Aes Sedai, among other things." Alric smiled warmly as Alara walked through the door, a smile on her face and her normal bounce in her step. His heart leaped as it always did when he saw her and his face lit up in a smile that always accompanied her presence.

 

Alara flashed him a smile back before heading off to the back to meet with Alric's mother to start working and he doubted she would want to interupt his conversation with Aramina. Alric reluctantly pulled his gaze back to the conversation at hand, it was hard to take his eyes off of Alara when she was around at times. "And I hope that isn't what you do all the time. If it is I'll have to tell you you need to learn how to relax and have a good time. You have to have at least a day or two off to just be you in the week. Serpent ring or not."

 

 

Alric

[TaeaDawn]

"And I hope that isn't what you do all the time. If it is I'll have to tell you you need to learn how to relax and have a good time. You have to have at least a day or two off to just be you in the week. Serpent ring or not."

 

Aramina had watched his reaction to the young woman who had entered as they spoke and the girl's reaction to him. She understood what she was seeing, even if it was something she never expected to experience. Still, this place, it was warm and caring. The patrons seemed to feel it as well and the atmosphere was jovial even between strangers as they mingled.

 

She smiled sadly at Alric and sighed. "Perhaps I do need to learn to relax, but I don't imagine i'll be seeing too many days to myself. It's just not... something in my nature I suppose." She admitted. "Though that might well change when I begin to travel more through the world. I have no intention of staying in the White Tower, hiding behind it's walls when there is a world to visit. I can scarcely become more than a mediocre Battle Sister if I lock myself away and never find Battle, now can I?" she asked.

 

As they continued to talk Aramina realized that it was getting time to return back to the Tower again. She had other training to attend to and working with Orion on the forms and swordplay did not excuse her from the work she needed to do with her newfound Battle Weaves or from the research that waited on her desk in her temporary quarters in the Green Quarters.

 

"And unfortunately, I think I need to return to my evil overworked habits." Aramina said with a warm smile for Alric. "But I do thank you for the company, and the hospitality. I will be thinking of what you've said and I think, perhaps, you will see more of me around here."

 

[Kael]

Alric sighed softly as Aramina announced that she needed to be going. He enjoyed his time with her but knew that he probobly needed to get back to some type of work, whether around the inn or back at the Yards with one of his own students. He would need to something to make this day not a complete waste, though just relaxing was never a true waste.

 

"As long as you know that you are always welcome here to learn a good lesson on relaxing and getting away from the world." Alric smiled and looked around the room where everyone was doing a whole lot of well, nothing. "This can be a very good place to learn how to do that."

 

"And if your sight seems to be lacking on your way back to the yards...." Alric turned and tried his best to look as if he had completely dropped the train of thought. "Baric! How long has it been since you went and saw your friends at the Yards?" Alric turned back to Aramina with a small smile and offered a hand as he stood with her. "Need some help with the blindfold?"

 

 

Alric

[TaeaDawn]

"And if your sight seems to be lacking on your way back to the yards.... Baric! How long has it been since you went and saw your friends at the Yards?"

 

He offered Aramina a hand then as he stood. "Need some help with the blindfold?"

 

She smiled as she took his hand and nodded. "It would be appreciated." She said as she handed the blindfold over to him. She didn't want to leave really, but she knew she needed to. She had work to do and in some way this place was too much like a home she would never have.

 

She made her way to the door and as the blindfold was placed, she felt a small hand in hers. She knew that Baric was with her and she couldn't help the gratitude she felt as he led her out onto the street. He let go when they were out and Aramina began walking again, taking her time and listening things out. On a couple occassions, the small hand made it's way back into hers and she knew that she was being directed back home.

 

Finally, she knew she had made her way to the Gates where she had left Orion. She made her way there, and took off the blindfold, not sure if she would see her mentor there or not. One thing was certain. When she was done, she was going to hunt Baric down in the Yards and make the boy a little richer for his efforts.