Once Upon a Scar: The Journey ~Rosheen~

[ashara]

“Nerome! You there? Rosheen’s lookin’ fer you.â€

 

The time had finally come.

 

Splashing water on his face, he stared hard at the mirror. The same green eyes, the same black hair- what in fact had changed? Enough? Enough for what he was going to do. They would be going on a trip, Rosheen had told him. Her words came to mind as clear as she had said them just yesterday, or had it really been yesterday? Everything had become a blur. And about bloody time you’re going for it too. This is going to test you Nerome. Be prepared. Was he? He didn’t know. He was nervous, that’s for sure. He wondered if Rosheen had any suspicions…

 

And there was Rossa. A smile lifted his lips for a few moments as his thoughts flew back through his memories with her. There were few of them as yet, but they had become precious to him. Their meetings were not as often as he would’ve liked, for after all, she was Novice and he a Trainee- two more different worlds would be hard to find and yet there was something about Rossa that engaged him to a point where he found himself unsettled at times. It was like dipping beneath the surface of a still steady calm and sending out ripples that brought uncountable questions to his mind. He did not understand them- their relationship-and neither did he feel the need to. Light, he was going to miss her. Did she even know? Wiping the water off his face, he picked up his sack and left immediately. Advantage number one of having no roommates : There were no awkward goodbyes. He had been lonely, but it had been good for him. Training had gone better, rougher, faster until Rosheen finally commented on it, telling him he was finally doing something worthwhile. Nerome took it as a compliment.

 

It's like taking your medicine

Admitting the relevance

Of every experience

You're thanking the elements

In all their appearances

Isn’t life just the clearest when

You face interferences with an aim for fearlessness

 

The wind was blowing gently as Nerome stepped out in the yard, his eyes fixed on the skies as he wandered towards the stables. Would there be rain? He certainly hoped not. Rain was a pain through and through, no matter how much people had sighed over ‘its beauty’ in the past. He couldn’t understand the fascination. Nay, he wouldn’t understand. Rain did not bring life.

 

“Whatsa matter with you boy? Going around all mopey. You seem a little old for your mother’s milk, son.â€

 

Oh blood and ashes. He was not in the mood for this. “Sod off. Go find some other fool to waste your idleness on, Finch.†Surely his features were not that gloomy. And yet, if a man like Finch could find that he could slur his way in with such ease, then most probably, they were really that transparent. So much for the gift of both Brain and Brawn.

[silhouette]

Yawn. Stretch. Stretch some more. Was it time yet? Rosheen pushed the curtain aside just a bit, and peeked outside. Time it was. She rolled out of bed, looking for her clothing as soon as her feet hit the ground. No Lyv. It took her a moment to realise that Lyv was on a trip as well. Humming a merry tune, Rosheen went about getting dressed, and setting up her Mohawk. She wouldn’t leave the yards without it. Well, not if she didn’t have to. Sometimes a person had to be stealthy, and Mohawks weren’t good for stealth. She doubted she’d have to be stealthy now though. Just a trip to Caemlyn, where they had to contact a contact of her contacts, who would then give them valuable information to bring back to the White Tower. Hmm. A good opportunity to see if Nerome was ready to be let loose on the world.

 

Still humming, Rosheen walked out. They’d eat on the road, just like they’d sleep by the road and do whatever it was they had to do by the road. It would be good for Nerome. While her mentee was nowhere near as soft as he had been when he arrived here, she could still smell the spoiled nobleman on him. Maybe he just needed to get his first honest kill in. that would change a person. Or maybe he just needed a girl. That could change a person too. Either way, Nerome was heading down the right path, but he wasn’t there just yet. The next few weeks would tell her just how far along he was. Maybe he was further along than she thought.

 

She saw him arguing to someone near the stables. Shaking her head slightly she wandered his way. Boy had better not get into a fight now. They had people to see, and things to do, and they certainly didn’t have time to waste in the infirmary while Nerome nursed yet another broken nose. Wait, was Nerome the trainee with the broken nose? Or was that another trainee of hers? To her surprise she didn’t remember. “I’m getting old.†She muttered, before grabbing Nerome by the collar and dragging him to the stables. It only took a few steps before he started walking on his own. See? He was learning. “No dawdling. We’ll have plenty of time to smell the roses when we’re on the road.†Caemlyn awaited them, and while it was as patient as the average city, she doubted her contact would share that patience.

 

~Rosheen Tahn Sakhr

[ashara]

Before he had a chance to open his mouth to retort, a firm pull tugged him away from Finch, leading him into the stables. “You always have the best entries and exits,†he said with a half hearted smile. It was true though; it was not uncommon for Rosheen to suddenly appear and take him away from whatever he was getting into to make sure he didn’t land up in the infirmary, yet again. The best part of it all though, was that most of the time, these appearances were entirely unintentional. Or so he believed. “I must say that for once, I must thank you for that collar pull. Appreciated duly.†The last comment only led to a much sharper tug, causing a horrid crick in his neck. You have been warned- that was Rosheen through and through. She didn’t need to talk it out when it was so much easier to just show the person what the future held for him or her. Or maybe that was just in his case.

 

The stables were busy as ever and considering its size, it certainly should be. He had been appalled by the stables when he had first come to the Tower- the times by which it was larger than the Sun Palace was a little hilarious. Immediately he went towards his horse, finding himself pleased when he saw Ayende’s sleek coat and muscled back. Lifting himself onto the saddle effortlessly, he trotted out smartly, his heart soaring as he heard the familiar sound of Ayende’s hooves against the ground. How he loved horses. Patting his neck, he spoke softly, his words for Ayende’s ears alone.

 

Dovie'andi se tovya sagain.

 

Turning his head back towards the stables, he waited for Rosheen to reappear.

[silhouette]

Rosheen ignored the mutterings of her trainee. There would be a day when someone decided to give him a pounding over it, but today wasn’t that day, and she wasn’t that someone. Her trainee was a lucky boy. Sometimes. Still, he’d learned. He moved to get his horse without pointers from her. Good. Perhaps that meant he would be able to stay out of trouble without pointers as well. Best not to hope for such grand things though. Nerome reminded her of her own little brother at times. Well, they looked nothing alike, with Ursana being of her height, and Nerome… not being of her height, but they both had a way of getting into trouble. Most of the time it really wasn’t their fault either. Trouble was just drawn to them like flies were to syrup.

 

She walked over to her own horse, smiling when she saw that Nikos was giving a pair of stable boys a lot of trouble. She patted the mighty dark grey warhorse on the nose. “Quiet now, Nikos.†She muttered. As the well-trained horse he was, Nikos quieted down enough for the stable boys to finish saddling him. He was no longer a young horse, but he wasn’t old yet either. His mighty lungs assured her that he could run for miles and miles without tiring. Not like those small, fast horses, who would grow tired after a few sprints. “What do you say, old boy?†she said, stroking his broad neck. “Time to go?†He threw his head back, which Rosheen took as a yes. “Let’s show those spring chickens what this game is all about.†She swung into the saddle, and guided Nikos out of the stables. Nerome was right behind her. Again, without pointers. This was beginning to look hopeful.

 

“Excited?†she asked him, as soon as they left Tower Grounds. To her surprise, she was. It had been a while since she left Tar Valon, and there was only so much enjoyment that one could get out of training, training, training, and training some more. This was where the action was. The great wide world. Caemlyn was a big city, and it was quite different from Tar Valon. She felt that Nerome would enjoy it.

 

~Rosheen Tahn Sakhr

 

ooc: Shall we continue on the south board?

[ashara]

“Excited?â€

 

“I don’t know.†And it was true too. He really did not. He was worried, definitely. Hopeful, definitely. Excited? “It feels good to leave this place, but I’m beginning to realize that rude shocks don’t just come in dark mansions and filthy streets.†He didn’t bother to elaborate. She knew his story well enough. And if she didn’t remember, all the better. No blatant questions towards him.

 

He had been to Caemlyn only once before, long years ago as a boy of thirteen. Selandre had taken him to Andor as his first introduction to the other races in this world, but of course she must’ve had some other, better purposes. Now Nerome had never been one for loud ‘gasps’ upon seeing extraordinary architecture or awe struck stares at the grandeur of a place, but Caemlyn he had liked. Enjoyed. The high walls, the slender towers were all very well, but the charm of the city lay in its people. They had been a blunt sort, smiling readily and speaking without the careful layers of thought and logic that was so natural at home. It had been so refreshing. Selandre had been appalled when she first heard his reasons for grinning so widely.

 

Tar Valon had never seen a lonely day, Nerome was coming to believe. Noise, bells and chatter was everywhere and as he rode on beside Rosheen, barely anyone glanced their way. If there was ever a Trainee who believed his life was moving to slow, then the direct contradiction was any other man in Tar Valon, whose life was moving at such a rapid pace, the time to accept change and sit and wonder was barely there. What amazed him the most about the whole thing was that no matter how absorbed each looked with his or her own life, they would move away from the approaching horses without a glance their way. Some ‘Way of Life’ indeed.

 

OOC: Now we can move. :) Could you post first on the South board or should I?