Characters:
Valerius Falconwing
Yurinar Gaidin
Ashlynn Sedai
Novice Calandra
Accepted Jaice
Guardsman Renimar

Setting: Courtyard: White Tower, Tar Valon

Calandra walks over to Valerius. "Are you alright, Valerius?" She stops when Yurinar calls out.

Jaice continues to try to describe the effect for Ashlynn, in the hope that it might make the 'seeing' easier, if possible. "It is almost like seeing lines inside it. These lines are the way the small bits have been arranged with the power to orient the flows within it."

Hearing a voice call out to, presumably, the man who just recently thundered by, Renimar arches a brow, glancing between the voice and the one being addressed.

Valerius schools his face to a calm, if cold and hard mask. He almost barks at Calandra, "Yes I'm fine." in a low and cold manner before turning back towards the stables and limping inside. Valerius marches back out... or marches as best he can on two recently bruised ankles, carrying two buckets of water. He walks back towards Yuri, ignoring all others on the way.

Calandra watches Valerius with concern for a friend, but doesn't approach him again. Instead she goes and seats herself on the grass under the tree.

A hint of amusement touches the officer's lips, guessing that the man addressed to be a Trainee, recognizing Yurinar as a Warder. "Ah, to be one again," he murmurs to himself. Merely shaking his head, he moves off again towards a circular bench off to the side.

Yurinar grumbles sourly at Valerius, "Certainly are takin yer time 'bout it aren't ye milkboy? Well, ah'll remind ye t'hustle 'bout th'next time. Hold a pale with each hand, then extend 'em straight out to yer sides.

Yurinar adds after allowing a tendril of pipesmoke to trickle through his lips, "'Nd do no 'ven think 'bout usin th'void."

Valerius almost gapes before catching himself. All this and he only wanted to ask yuri about different weapons training. He obediently holds both buckets with arms outstretched. And he didn't think about using the void after being told not to while running earlier.

Yurinar grunts softly as Valerius begins the exercise, "'Lright then, what is it ye wanted t'talk 'bout?"

Valerius grits his teeth somewhat with the strain of the two weghted buckets, "I wanted to talk to... ye about." moment for a breath, "Training with weapons... asides the sword." speaking does get a lot harder when under physical strain doesn't it? "Like cavalry training... or lancing..."

The Green Sister appears to furrow her brow even more as she attempts to see what Jaice is describing, unaware it seems of what is going on between her Gaidin. She gritts her teeth, letting out a small grunt, "I... I cant see it." She frowns deeply, looking slightly annoyed, and more than disappointed.

Yurinar nods in apparently understanding, then launches into a lecture, "Aye, might be useful. Did ye know the'Shienarans have th'best heavy cavalry 'bout? Aye. All have heavy armor platin on their body, and on their mount as well. All have a long lance, at least oen sword, 'nd mayhap a smaller hand weapon like a hand axe er a hand mace. Armored horse works well 'gainst Trollocs, 'nd bein mounted 'llows 'em t'perate deeper 'nto th'blight. Saldaens have th'best light cavalry 'round. Most of their men are armored, but their horses are no so. Some of their cavalrymen carry lances, but most 'nly swords er bows. They can move 'bout quicker, but are no so good at chargin Trolloc lines as th'Shienarans. Did ye know that th'wives of Saldaen 'fficers 'nd Lords go 'long with their husbands when campaignin?"

Valerius grunts out, "Yes... Gaidin... I knew that." sweat begins to bead as Valerius holds the two buckets out... Blasted Gaidins doing this on purpose.

Jaice's own expression remains carefully schooled, much the norm with this Accepted. She cocks her head as she regards Ashlynn, the long narrow braids falling forward to frame her face. "We can try again later; it took some doing for me to first see it. However... it is likely that you do not possess the Talent. Which may be a blessing, being Brown Sisters won't be banging down your door at all hours of the night."

Easing himself into the bench, Renimar fishes about a pocket for a smallish pocket book and a scrap of a pencil. Deciding to merely enjoy the relative 'peace' of the Courtyard -- no questions every two minutes unlike his office -- he works on something, keeping a ear cast to anything that might sound vaguely interesting. In this case, the little lesson about cavalry that the gaidin is giving.

A light chuckle excapes Ashlynn's lips at Jaice's words, her head shaking from side to side. "I can see how that would be a boon, however the Browns have never been apt to cross my threshold. Something about a prank with wards and water."

Yurinar perses his lips in consideration, "Strange..th'Tairen's breed the best horses 'round but their cavalry's no better than Andor's er Cairhien's er Illians. Ye'd think that with better horses they'd put 'em t'good use, but no. Tarabon's got a bit of cavalry, but no much t'speak of. Most of 'ems 'nfantry. Th'Panarch's legion is near 'ntire 'nfantry, 'nd ah'd know. Been a while since ah was in th'service of th'Panarch, but fer ah time ah was her Legion Sergeant." he smokes the pipe quietly fer a moment, then chuckles, "Aye..that was a long time 'go." After a quick shake of his head to dispell the memory, he cocks a brow at Valerius, "Now what was it ye wanted t'ask 'bout?"

Wards and water eh? Can't be as bad as Warder and water. Valerius is straining from the lecture and the water... or maybe it's just the lecture, "If you were going to give.... lessons... in cavalry... and other forms... of combat." isn't he a sucker for punishment... and perhaps he's a few brains short on the learning to deal with Gaidin as well.

"Somehow I do not think I can reley on the same sorts of 'discouragements', Aes Sedai." Jaice's tone is laced with humour, and her blue eyes show it too. "I would likely be tossed out before their skirts were dry, particularly after the Cairhien incident. Some have decided I should be back to Novice for that. However, the Wheel Weaves... and not everyone feels the same way." She casts an eye toward the struggling trainee for a moment, and shrugs.

Calandra shakes her head and sighs, watching Valerius.

With a pointing finger, the Warder indicates Valerius's drooping arms, "Watch it there lad, startin t'hang a bit there. If ye don't keep yer arms up 'nd build some muscle, ahm apt t'call ye milkboy fer however short a time ye may stay here. Now then, cavalry. M'self ahm no practiced in it, but Gregory'll know somethin of it. He was in th'Children of Light. All of th'Children are mounted. Best army south of th'Borderlands. Good discipline 'ven tho they're a bit short on smarts."

Calandra scowls slightly to herself.

Hearing a comment about the Whitecloaks causes Renimar to start slightly. A none-too-hidden frown creases his visage at the thought of a Whitecloak, even a former one, in the ranks of the Tower. An impassive gaze rises from book to lecturing gaidin.

Valerius grunts and brings his arms up... a few inches at least, "I've no love for the children... And the Shienarans have the best bloomin army around." he says the last with a bit of pride... can't say Sheenarans don't have a stubborn streak a mile wide.

Calandra smirks slightly at that stubborn streak.

A schooled expression passes over Ashlynn's features about the mentioning of Gregory and the Children. Her eyes move over to Yurinar a moment, studying him, "It also goes to prove that not all Children are the same either, despite what some may thing." Is that a defensive note to Ashlynn's voice? She's sticking up for the Child she once thought to be a spy? Despite the fact he really used to be one?

A few passing trainees move a little quicker seeing Valerius' fate at being caught by Yurinar. Though a few do spare a few extra glances and smiles upon seeing Jaice.

Ashlynn nods absently at Jaice, handing the disk over to her. She turns her eyes away from the others speaking, regarding the Accepted for a few moments, "Do not overwork yourself child. I am certain the Amyrlin does not want to see you burned away to nothing before she gets back from her trip."

Yurinar nods to his Ward while he continues to smoke his pipe, "Aye. All 'round here are ready t'burn th'first whiteclaok they see at th'stake. Problem is, most of th'Children don't know th'first thing 'bout th'Tower save what they've heard in th'Fortress of Light. Most come from small southern towns where tales 'bout Aes Sedai er just myth 'nd legend, no t'be believed. But th'children now, they're real. They come ridin through th'towns lookin sharp, organized, discipline. Promisin 'dventure 'nd 'xcitement t'whoever signs on with 'em. Those poor lads lookin t'get out of whatever tiny town they're livin in, they'll believe 'nythin.

The slender Atha'an Miere slips the stone disk safely back into the pouch at her belt, and only nods to Ashlynn's words of warning. "I will be careful, Aes Sedai. It helps actually, to have this project; that way when other Aes Sedai come wanting me to try this or that, I can wave the disk at them."

Ashlynn nods absently in turn to Yurinar's words, her eyes still on Jaice at the moment, a look of seriousness passing over her features. "I will be bonding him." She announces, publically too. Oye. Whatever possessed her to choose now to tell her Gaidin is quite uncertain. Still, she does not take her azure gaze away from Jaice.

Renimar snorts softly to himself at Yurinar's words, though they are most likely true. Leaning back in the bench, he half-lounges in a somewhat relaxed state, content to let twilight deepen the cerulean sky to night.

Oy is right... hope the Warder isn't too upset at this news... he's apt to take it out on Valerius with "Void Training."

Yurinar grunts and nods softly as if Ashlynn's apparent revelation were hardly a surprise to Yurinar. He offers only, "Aye..ah gathered from how ye been actin lately Ashlynn." He returns his 'ttention back to Valerius, "So then milkboy, might want t'ask Gregory 'bout trainin in cavalry. No real useful fer Warders though. Lances are best used in formations 'nd it's a heavy weapon t'be carryin round 'nd then 'nly t'be 'sed once in battle."

Valerius grunts with the strain.. his arms are starting to give out but he still valiantly fights to keep them aloft, "Still... I've found it best... to know as... much as... possible... Anything... to better... protect... ones ward." his arms begin to shake with strain.

Calandra frowns a bit worriedly at Valerius.

Ashlynn's eyes turn toward her Gaidin now, to chance a glance within his direction. She nods to herself after a moment, a faint smile coming to her lips; oddly proud of how he is taking things so calmy. Her blue eyes dance quite visibly as she sits back more deeply upon her bench. It is only then that she turns her eyes to Valerius, eyeing him thoughtfully; like a huntress on the prowl for another bond already, after she just announced she would be placing one under her care... or rather one in care of her.

Jaice only responds to this announcement with the arching of one slender brow, but that, for Jaice, speaks volumes. She stands then, and curtsies to the Aes Sedai. "I believe I will return to my room and get that work done. Good evening, Ashlynn Sedai. Yurinar Gaidin."

Yurinar's gaze is drawn toward his Ward once again. He chuckles and gives her a playful wink before look to Valerius once more. At Valerius's words, Yurinar's eyes light up, "So ye want t'protect yer Ward as best ye can do ye? Well, let me tell ye 'bout th'best weapon 'ver made." He drops his hand and snatches the heavy battle-axe from it's hook at his belt. He hefts it before Valerius, "Oh ah know what ye may be thinkin. Blast, that things too heavy. Aye..might be a bit heavy fer you, but we can work on that. Never too late. Once ye get a bit of muscle on those bones of yers 'nd an axe in yer hand..nothin'll be 'ble t'stop ye. Aye, ah'll 'dmit tis no as quick as a tickler, but tis more versatile and does a lot more damage. Ye can carve a giant swathe through trollocs with this! T'prove it, ah'll let you hit me once with yer tickler, 'nd ah'll hit you once with m'axe 'nd we'll see who wins. Sind like a good 'dea does it?"

Ashlynn turns her eyes back to Jaice, noddinger head gently, "Good evening, Accepted." She speaks in a more formal tone, then chuckles under her breath, "No doubt Naelan and Vestir will have more to say upon the matter when word finally reaches their ears." Naelan and Vestir are the tall and stocky Gaidin that are often times seen about the barracks or near Ashlynn guarding her whenever Yurinar is not about.

Valerius wonders if he should bow to the departing accepted... but it's all he can do to keep the buckets aloft. Nooo... not another lecture.

Calandra curtsies to the departing accepted.

Renimar eyes the Atha'an Miere as she heads up the Tower, before his eyes move back to the gaidin and trainee once more. The comment about the battle axe elicits an appraising look to the heavy weapon. A soft chuckle escapes his lips at the thought of that being hewn through human bodies, though it would be effective against Trollocs.

Valerius grunts slightly and responds, "Nay Gaidin... I'll.." the buckets begin to slowly drop, "Take yer word fer it..."

Yurinar grunts in mild dissapointment, but before conceding the arguement, he pokes Valerius's midsection with the tip of the axe, "Ye sure are ye? Nothin ah can do t'change yer mind?"

Calandra frowns at the axe as she pictures what it would do to Valerius.

Valerius ' face contorts slightly and he puts more effort into holding up the buckets... he doesn't actually feel his arms anymore, and the veins on them are fully out, as well as the veins around his neck, "Nay Gaidin... I...'elieve you..."

Yurinar grunts softly and replaces his weapon at his side, then nods, "'Lright milkboy. Best ye put those buckets back in th'stables 'fore yer head 'xplodes. Off with ye."

Valerius lets his arms drop, the buckets hitting his legs and splashing him with a bit of water. He turns slowly and slightly hunched over, carries the water buckets back to the stables.