MoT no more (Attn. Borac & Ginae)

[Guest Celes]

The sun came out and peeked with soft beams through the curtain in Lyv’s room. She sighed and tucked her head deeper under the blanket when a loud rapping on her door announced an unwelcome visitor. The door did not open, but a voice sounded through, “Lyv, my trainee has gone off with two girls from Tar Valon last night, I just found him still drunk out of his mind, can you come and meet me so we can settle on his punishment,†Lyv rose from her pillow and then dunked her head back into the pillow. “Later!†she yelled back and heard a loud rapping, “Lyv!!†he called and Lyv jumped from her bed and threw the covers back, then flung the door open and screamed, “LATER!†and then flung the door shut in the man’s face. She felt goose bumps on her bare legs and sighed deep, then grabbed a pair of breeches and a clean deep blue shirt with long wide sleeves. Another boring day of handing out punishment, writing long reports for the Master at Arms, maybe staring at other people enjoying training, but mostly boring administrative tasks. For the last few weeks Lyv had to deal with trainees acting out, mentors not wanting to help these crazy trainees or get them back in line. And most of all, writing reports of all that was going on. Something was in the air driving everyone around her crazy and Lyv was getting fed up with it.

 

She tore a piece of her shirt and threw it in a corner, stomping her foot, it was a good shirt, old but not ready to tear up yet. Yet it had and she stumbled to her closet where she produced a black tight shirt. It would have to do and she really did not have more time to go over her wardrobe as another person was knocking on her door. It was a young trainee this time, she wanted to know if her schedule could be cleared that afternoon, the words monthlies and evil mentor fell and Lyv waved it all of, “Fine,†she said without argument and threw the door shut behind her as the trainee looked up at her surprised and stood grounded to the floor. Good, that would stop her from following Lyv who just wanted to be left alone for a few minutes. If that was ever possible in this madhouse, she thought to herself. Outside, the sun was poring down from the sky warming her to the core, Lyv stood silently enjoying that feeling and wondered for how long she could. Her eyes fell on a Brown Sister who was talking to two of the guards, she looked busy and the two guard she was speaking to looked eager to hear her out. Lyv found her feet moving towards the Aes Sedai, even though she did not know the woman that well.

 

Shaneevae Sedai was talking about preparations for a trip and Lyv was sure that she was asking these guards to join the party who would accompany her. She looked over Lyv and greeted her friendly, then talked along with the two guards. Lyv stood nailed to the ground, ready to burst out in tears for some reason. She wanted to leave this place, to feel useful and to make sure that she did not die of thirst for some excitement behind her desk. Lyv started to sulk and made her way back to her office, when she found a note attached to the door. “We need to talk to you, the training system needs to be reviewed, this evening is a meeting,†the note was quite incoherent and it came from a group of guards who among them had a few mentees. If they really believed she was going to spend her night off talking to them and listening to their complaints, they had another thing coming. She realized that this was it. This was the moment she had to leave or she would never be happy again. It was quite a drama going on in Lyv’s head and the trainee who passed her by had no clue what was coming for him when she suddenly turned, flung her arms about in an effort to keep her balance and hit the boy over the head. He fell flat on his behind and Lyv stared at him, almost horrified as if he was covered in gew. “I’m sorry,†she muttered and then started to make her way to Borac’s office.

 

The Master at Arms, for about a year now that was Borac, her old teacher in the Path of Water teachings and the man who had taken over the chair that Reikan once held. He had just up and left one day, they had hardly said goodbye and then Borac had taken the spot. She liked the man, but the news she was about to bring him might change that for the both of them. She was sure he would be angry at her and force her to stay on at least until he found a new Mistress of Trainees to take her job. But Lyv just wanted to get out of here, be it to squirm her way in the troop that the Brown Sister was taking away, even though she hardly knew where they were going. Or maybe just on her own, or with a Sedai who needed her. It was now or never in Lyv’s mind and she took a deep breath, threw open the door and started to speak as soon as she caught Borac’s eye. Luckily he was alone in his office, for this could get quite ugly. “Borac, I wish to resign as Mistress of Trainees, as of today.â€

 

Lyv

 

***

 

The morning found Borac pouring over reams of paper as he inspected the reports that had been delivered to his office. The Master at Arms found paperwork tedious at best but realized the necessity of it. Leaning back in his chair he rubbed his eyes and pushed a report on trolloc activity along the blight border away. Closing his eye he let himself drift for a moment thinking how nice it would be if he were on a ship in the open water.

 

The door to his office opened with a bank and Lyv stood there her face looked pained. Without greeting or asking leave to enter she blurted out that she wished to step down as Mistress of Trainees immediately. Squinting and leaning forward Borac studied her for a brief moment.

 

“I don’t know who taught you manners young lady but knocking at someone’s door is considered polite before entering.â€

 

Lyv took the rebuke in stride and stared straight ahead her back stiff. “Take a seat and we will talk about what is bothering you.â€

 

Moving the stack of papers off his table Borac waited until his old student had seated herself in the leather chair that sat in front of his desk. Folding his hands on his desk the Master of Arms considered her for a moment.

 

“Your position is one of duty and honor Lyv. Did I teach you nothing of both during our long days of training? You took the position to serve and now you wish to abandon the office you swore to serve in honor? Tell me Lyv what has jaded you so that you come to my office in such a state?â€

 

***

 

Lyv heard Borac speak about duty and honor as she sat across from him on a comfortable seat that made her feel as if she were sitting on pinpricks. She wanted adventure, not comfort and then he reminded her of their training together and Lyv knew exactly what was wrong with her job. She leaned in over the desk and said, “It is that training I miss, the air outside, the soft smell of spring when you wake up under your blanket and have to start up the fire you let die because you were too bloody tired to keep it going, not because some guard on the wall forgot to check it.â€

 

She rose from the seat and started to walk around the desk, Borac calmly sat in his seat until she flung her arms around his neck and he reacted slightly startled. Just slightly, had he foreseen her move? Had he known her passion had not died, not for their training, the swimming in lakes and the walking and sparring high up in the mountains where the air was thin. “I miss what we had back then, where you taught me all about nature, about what I could use to survive, I don’t want to be cooped up behind my desk and wonder when I will feel the soft grass under my bare feet, do you not remember?†she clutched her arms around his neck and placed her head on his shoulder, as if she were his daughter, or his lover.

 

Then she let go as he pulled her arms from around his neck, but she did not allow him to speak first and reprimand her for trying to flirt her way into getting what she wanted. “I talked to Ginae a few days ago, you know she returned from the Borderlands after working there for so many years, she told me about the life, or rather the death that was overpowering. About sleeping on the ground, half awake so she was ready for an attack if it came. She told me she wanted to teach others about her experiences…†Lyv took a deep breathe, her eyes growing with the pain she felt inside, “What experience can I talk about but the training I have had, I have never set foot in the Borderlands and probably never will as I am stuck here. What can I train the young folks about life in the outside world if I have never tasted it myself?â€

 

She settled back in her seat and took a deep breath, closing her eyes to suck in the air and not trying to think over how many codes of honor she had breached to get her point across. Reikan would understand, he would have let her go but he had left himself. He had just got up one day and left his job, his home and his friends. Even if their relationship was odd at best, hidden and never truly outspoken, their friendship made them understand each other. And right now, Lyv understood him better than ever. She said in a final plea, “Let me go on a trip, I’ll come back in a year with new experiences to teach the trainees and to burn on for the rest of my life,†she could not read his face and wondered what he was thinking about. Would the memories of their training help him make a decision or only put her further away from her goal?

 

Lyv

 

***

 

Borac listened to Lyv’s argument for wanting to resign her position with patience. He understood all too well the trials of being confined to a musty office pouring over reports and dealing with mundane issues. When she rose and walked around to his side of the desk he thought for a moment she was going to beg to be released.

 

To his surprise she flung her arms around his neck causing the heat in his cheeks to rise. When she finally disengaged herself and returned to her seat the Master at Arms had to take a deep breath to still his heart which was beating faster than normal. The woman was as wonton as a tavern girl at times and he should have seen it coming considering the amount of time he had spent alone with her during their training days.

 

When she was finally done pleading her case and asked to be allowed to go on a trip to the borderlands Borac sighed. “Come Lyv we could both use a breath of fresh air. Walk with me to the Ogier gardens and let us continue our discussion there.â€

 

Standing he waited until Lyv had turned to walk out the door and fell in behind her. Reaching out quickly he gave pinched her bottom causing a small squeak to escape her lips. Turning her head toward him quickly Borac noticed her cheeks had reddened slightly.

 

“And next time you decide to use your pretty face to sway me I might decide to put you over my knee.†Winking at Lyv he ushered her out of the office. The two walked in silence out of the yard and down to the tranquil gardens. The Master at Arms knew he would have to watch himself. There was history between the two of them after all.

 

“So it is adventure you seek is it Lyv? Well adventure is a mistress with a call that is hard to ignore. If I decide to let you step down, and I do me IF, you would have to stay on until a replacement has been trained.â€

 

The morning sun was pleasant as it filtered through the canopy of trees and onto them as they walked. “But adventure in and of itself is no reason to disregard duty. We are tools to fight the shadow Lyv and if you do get your wish granted you will sending me reports to read.â€

 

Placing an arm over her shoulder as they walked Borac took a deep breath of morning air. How he wished he could go with her to the border lands. Sleeping beneath the stars as they had in what seemed a lifetime ago. “So you have thought on this for quite some time I take it child?â€

 

Borcac

Master at Arms

 

***

 

He expected her to stay on, to train a new Mistress of Trainees and see that this new woman would take over a clean job. Lyv had no intention of staying much longer and thought about telling Borac this when he made a remark that made the hairs on her neck rise, “child?†he called her a child? She stopped dead in her track and turned to face him, they were not alone in the Yards and it was not smart to tempt the Master at Arms.

 

Something had to be said about this though and as her hand moved over his wrist, she hissed, “Don’t call me that,†she was once his mentee, a trainee who had a lot to learn about life outside of the Yards. Never a child though, always a Tower Guard with a training behind her. “I am not a child, maybe I will start behaving like one now that I know that my boss sees me like one,†she started to walk away but decided that was too easy for her. She had to face up to the responsibility and Borac had nothing to do with this decision, so after three steps she turned back and said, “Care to join me to the waterfall?†she waited calmly for him to agree or not, it would do her good to clear her head and he was a Grand Master in Path of Water, so maybe she could trick him into teaching her a bit, once they were out of the bustle of the Yards.

 

Lyv

TG

 

***

 

Holding in a chuckle Borac waited until Lyv turned back to him. That she had almost walked away from him sulking reminded the man of the girl he had trained.

 

“I think the waterfall is an excellent idea Lyv. You need a place to reflect and the tranquility of the valley will do you good.â€

 

Together they retrieved their horses from the stables and were quickly out of Tar Valon and riding hard to the north east. They rode in silence as the rolling hills turned into thick woodlands. Both of them new the way well and following the little known trail they soon found themselves staring down into a valley. At the far edge of the valley a waterfall fell into a deep pool of water. Leaving their horses they made the rest of their way on foot.

 

The mid morning air was warming and the sounds of birds and insects filled the valley as they walked. Once they reached the pool Borac sat at the edge and removed his boots and socks. Dangling his feet in the water he waited until Lyv had done the same before breaking the silence.

 

“Do you remember our training here Lyv? It seems like a lifetime ago I taught you the ways of the water.â€

 

Lyv smiled as she stared at the waterfall.

 

“Are you sure this is what you want Lyv? Leaving the office you used to love? If that is truly your desire I will support you I am and will always be your friend and mentor above all else.â€

 

***

 

“Yes, I’m sure,†Lyv said, first she heard the words in her head, then she heard them rolling over her lips. Like a child on the first day of spring she started to run as soon as their horses were tied to a branch. She ran until she reached the waterfall and then ran straight into it, feeling the cold water run down over her head. Borac followed her in a calm pace and his words were soothing to her tired and yet jumpy soul. She smiled at him and said, “Draw, soldier!†and drew her quarterstaff from her back.

 

Their movements were fluid, she had learned a lot from Borac and as he glided over the rocks, she moved her quarterstaff in front of her lower abdomen and moved it up again quickly to fend of his attack. Lyv smiled, “I can still learn, from you and from other fighters,†he struck a blow over her upper arm and nodded, she continued to move around him. He was quicker, gliding the way she had seen him do so often. Not just using the Path of Water technique, but also using techniques she had seen other fighters use. “Do you still learn?†she asked him as he fended off her blow with an incredible ease.

 

“I want to learn more than I can in the Yards, of course I can learn from the guards and the mentors in the Yards, but … but I want to learn from experience, from new experience,†her eyes lit up as she spoke. “There is so much left to learn,†she concluded her plea, realizing that she had won him over. He had already told her that he would back up her decision if she was sure. She had told him she was sure, “Thank you,†she said as he made his way back to the horses. “I’m going to stay here for a little while, if that’s ok,†she said in a low almost apologetic tone. “I need the space to let go, I’ll be back by morning to do my job,†she added to stop him from dragging her back to her office. She needed the space and would dance the forms as soon as she saw his back move away on horseback, gliding as much as he had through the forms.

 

Lyv

 

***

 

With her arms crossed, and her blue eyes open and observant as they always were at the times she was awake, Ginae Auvriani stood next to one of the training grounds, watching several trainees work on their strength and endurance. For the past few days she had noticed that the trainees weren’t working as hard as they should. She had also noticed people waiting in front of the office of the Mistress of Trainees on several occasions. Yet the Mistress of Trainees was not there, and the people left with their questions unanswered. Every now and then Ginae had taken it upon herself to answer questions, and to put some trainees to work. Under her watchful eye they worked harder. It bothered her, because it was not her task.

 

After a few days like this, Ginae decided to talk to the Master at Arms. Perhaps Lyv Tylin was ill. She didn’t know the Mistress of Trainees well, aside from the fact that the woman was still young. She couldn’t imagine that any woman would just leave the trainees to fend for themselves though. Not without a good reason. Perhaps Borac could explain to her why Lyv Tylin was nowhere to be found. As always, Ginae didn’t think she was stepping out of line by speaking directly to the Master at Arms or the Commander. The war against the Shadow concerned them all, and she had found that people appreciated her advice. She had learnt a lot about the Shadow during her time at the borderlands, and there were few who could say they had the same experience as she had.

 

After knocking briefly, she entered Borac’s office, not surprised to find him sitting behind his desk. Official tasks around the yards required as much paperwork as they did elsewhere in the world. “Do you have a moment?†she asked. When the darkskinned Master at Arms nodded, Ginae took a seat on the other side of the desk, facing him. “I have some concerns about the trainees. I haven’t seen Lyv Tylin around for a while, and it seems like the trainees feel lost without her. I was wondering if I should perhaps find her, and talk to her for a while. Trainees need a lot of guidance, and I don’t think that Lyv is giving them all they need now. I would like to find out why. Maybe I can even offer my assistance.â€

 

~Ginae Auvriani

Soon to be MoT

[Andular]

With a deep sigh Borac put his signature to a proposal for a scouting expedition into the blight. How the Master at Arms wished he could lead the mission but duty and decorum required him to remain in Tar Valon.

 

Forgetting his paperwork for a moment he stared out the window of his office that over looked the training yards. What was he to do about Lyv? He needed a good replacement for the Mistress of Trainees and had several people in mind but who should he chose? As if in answer to his musings a knock sounded at the door followed by Ginae entering and asking about Lyv.

 

Rising from his chair Borac studied the young woman for a moment before a smile spread across his face.

 

“It pleases me you are concerned about the trainees and Lyv Ginae. I think talking to her would be an excellent idea.†Picking up his quill the Master at Arms scribbled a rough map on a piece of parchment and handed it to Ginae.

 

“You will find her here in this valley. At the far end is a waterfall and Lyv is there meditating to find the answers she seeks. Go to her and tell her I suggest that you are the answer to her problems.â€

 

A puzzled look crossed Ginae’s face and Borac chuckled.

 

“Do not think to hard on the riddle Ginae. Go to Lyv an all will be made clear to you.â€

 

Borac

Master at Arms