Alika, Gaudior, Kirid, Sharine, and A Novice
Setting: River Eldar Park You come to the edge of the park, the northern border thickening drastically with denser trees and bushes. At the end of the path, however, there is a large, arched canopy made from a smooth white stoneGrowing and covering most of the arch, so that only its outline remains, . are vines. Grapevines, bearing their heavy fruit, and roses, on the outside, the reds and whites of the roses complimenting the dark purple and green of the grapesThree stone benches are arranged beneath it, in a semicircular fashion, . the stone polished and smooth, in the shade of the laden canopy. A well made of perfectly round stones with a wooden roof stands here.
Gaudior walks into the River Eldar Park, and, seeing Alika makes a small choking noise. He says, "Excuse me, Alika Gaidin, I did not mean to disturb you." His eyes are wide, and admiration seems in his very pose.
Alika turns her head slightly, looking back over her shoulder at you as the bells in her hair make a soft jingle, "tis all right... I came for a bit of peace after having spent several days only with my bond."
Gaudior nods slightly. He seems to be just a bit unsure of himself, although a lot of his confidence comes back to him. He tells her, "Thank you, Alika Gaidin. It is truly an honor whenever I meet you, since, you set me on this path." His eyes go far away and a bit nostalgic as he smiles.
Alika tips her head back and laughs softly, shaking her head and causing the bells in her hair to jingle again, "after several days with my Constance, I wonder if that is a good thing or a bad one."
Gaudior chuckles a bit, smiling. He looks at her, moving to sit on a bench as he stretches. He says, "My training is going well enough with Gerbain I believe. But... I was always hoping.... I know you have a prodigy Alika, but... sometime might you teach me also? If I am ever a quarter as good as you are with experience and everything I would be thankful." He smiles at her, hope and fear in his voice.
Alika reaches behind her, into the leather sheath on her back and pulls out her staff, moving to rest the steel tipped sung wood across her knees, "my prodigy is in Murandy waiting for his wife to give birth... though she is but a child herself... I do have some time, as Constance allows it."
Gaudior looks at her, saying, as if not believing, "This is... thank you Gaidin." He looks at her, amazement and respect in his eyes for the Blademaster, as well as more then a little disbelief.
Alika shifts in her seat, shifting the staff off of her knees and slightly to the left, both hands gripped onto the wood, her bells jingling wildly as she looks once to Gaudior, then narrows her eyes and kicks up, flipping forwards to stand and face the younger man.
Gaudior smiles, remembering and fire in his eyes as he makes them into the Void. He says, "Lathe or steel against you, Alika Gaidin?" He then nods once in respect waiting.
Alika's voice is as cold and hard as the power forged steel that wraps the ends of the staff, colder even than her own blade, "I use what I use, Gaudior, but remember, I am not a trainee."
Gaudior looks taken aback by the statement. He says, "I am sorry I did not mean to imply that." Nodding slightly, he removes his own sword, Sapphire pommel glowing in the afternoon light. He slowly but confidently goes into the starting position, right foot forward and blade angled up to his opponent's neck. Calmly he waits.
Alika's staff begins to spin in her hands, the black steel at the tips blurring as she begins to circle, her eyes never leaving Gaudior, her tone even and void of anything that could possibly be construed as an emotion, "do you remember your test, boy... the one I gave you before?"
Gaudior looks at her, saying, "Aye, Gaidin, I remember it. It is what made me want to become a very good swordsman." His eyes never leave her as he circles the opposite way of her, studying the flashing wood and black steel.
Alika grins, the look near wicked as she pivots on the ball of her right foot, her staff jutting out towards Gaudior's left ankle as her left hand leaves the weapon to reach over her other shoulder to pull out a gleaming blade of almost white steel, its edge is rough and serrated, the blade near opposite that of her heron.
Gaudior pivots on his right foot, the thrusted staff moving inches away from their intended target. The blade then moves downward and to his left to slash at her staff, hoping to bring it slightly farther to the outside of him.
Alika shifts the staff to black the blade with a clunk, the serrated edge of Alika's blade moving quickly in a slash aimed at the outside of Gaudior's right thigh, her eyes meeting his as she leans into him, "take care or you'll break your blade on m'staff, boy."
Gaudior pedals as quickly as he can to the left, the blade still grazing him by a tiny bit. As he does so he attempts to wrench the sword away from the lock Alika has on it with the staff.
Alika's blade moves out from Gaudior's thigh after it hits, circling back towards his right side. At the same time the bottom of the staff sweeps from the ground towards the outside of Gaudior's left ankle, her eyes lost now in the spar.
Gaudior wrenches the sword to his left, at the same time jumping left over the staff, trying to make it continue the motion to block the sword on it's on. At the same time he moves as far to the left as he possibly can.
Alika's staff locks once again with Gaudior's blade, the lower end missing his left ankle and colliding with the inside of the right. Her blade, left unblocked slashes into Gaudior's side, the serrated edge hacking into the skin and abdominal muscles just under the right side of his rib cage.
Gaudior grunts a bit as he leaps back trying to disengage the sword as the tip of the top of the staff dips. As the wound is very deep, he says, "I yield if I may, Alika Gaidin."
Alika's blade is jerked towards her, the serrated edge pulling against the edges of the wound before she removes it from Gaudior's side, her eyes turning to the young man, narrowed slightly, and wild at the sight of blood. "Be careful what you ask for, Gaidin... learn." The serrated blade is flipped over her shoulder, and she pulls the staff to sheath it as well.
Alika takes in a deep breath and steps towards you, her eyes cold as she regains her grip on the void, "next time, concentrate on the weapon that is posed to take your life, not the one about to knock you on the ground."
Gaudior nods, looks at her, pain in his eyes as well as some embarrassment. He looks at her, then away, then seems to shore up just a little. He says, "I will, Alika Gaidin, do all as you say just as you say it."
Kirid strides into the Park, his face carved in a scowl to match his mask. His voice is a sharp bark, "What in the Light is going on here?"
Alika tilts her head to look at Kirid, the bells in her hair making a soft clink as she intones coldly, "the Gaidin has yielded in our spar, rather messily."
Gaudior nods a bit, looking at the moment like he hates himself. He says, "I looked to block the staff instead of the sword, thinking I could dodge it, making rather... a mess." His voice breaks once or twice at this, and he says, "I'm sorry Gaidin, I am merely sad because I failed so miserably in the spar."
Kirid rolls his one eye, growling, "Flaming hell. I've got a bloody Gaidin bleeding to death in the Park. Where in the bleeding Pit of Doom are the Sedai?"
Alika shakes her head at Kirid, "a lesson well learned I think... one must learn where to keep their concentration." A gloved hand moves to pull her cloak back over her shoulder, to avoid getting any more of Gaudior's blood upon it.
Kirid's lips twitch, right at the corners, his voice moderated when he speaks again, "Well... I suppose bodily dragging a Sedai here wouldn't get her here any faster... she would just resist."
Gaudior nods slightly, deeply within the Void. His side bleeds, and it is a tough wound as pain is on his face, although he barely maintains the Void. He says, "Yes, I have learned my lesson Alika Gaidin." He coughs a bit at this.
Alika blinks once, the sight of Gaudior's blood causing an almost wild, hungry look in her eyes for the briefest of moments before it fades to nothing, her lip curling as she looks from Kirid to Gaudior, "I'll not spar you again until I feel you are ready, boy... I will not have a repeat of this. Be glad someone was watching."
A novice paces to the side of Sharine, speaking low telling her of what she was told. The Sedai waves a hand to the girl, faint look of irritation that is visible around her eyes. Nearing the area that the novice is leading her to, dark gaze taking in the scene, steps taking her quickly to the combatant areas.
Gaudior is lying on the ground; his right side hacked open just under his rib cage, lots of blood... blood on Alika's clothing and her cloak.
Gaudior nods slightly, looking as if he is completely ashamed of himself, more in pain of that then because of the wound. He says, "Of course Alika Gaidin." His voice breaking once again.
Kirid sighs as if put upon, "Light... did you have to -stroll- here, Aes Sedai? You can Heal, I assume."
Alika glances towards the Sedai for a brief moment, nodding her head with a slight hint of respect before turning back to face Kirid, her eyes clearing now, completely of the bloodlust fog that had entranced them, "He will live... Kalembar lived after I did worse to him."
Gaudior looks at Alika, saying, "And so I reaffirm my vow to become better at the sword." He sighs once, the usual Gaudior determination going back onto his brow.
Concern for her warder friend Gaudior shows on her face, as Rashima hovers behind Sharine Sedai.
Kirid growls softly, "Are you going to let him bleed to death, Aes Sedai? He teaches too many lessons for me to lose him now."
'You are lucky that I was here at all,' short and sharp, smooth silk with an edge of pure steel is Sharine's voice. Spirit drawn, as Saidar is embrace, rivulets sent though Gaudior as the woman drops down besides him no regards to the blood that splatters the ground. Rashima is seen in the background but not otherwise noted at this point. Other flows of air, water, earth and fire are drawn, woven into a tapestry of color to her eyes, it dips into the man reaching deep in seeking out the main areas that are injured. The blood loss of any major blood vessels and such being healed first.
Gaudior coughs up a bit of blood, finally losing consciousness as he sighs, breath a bit ragged and coughing. The he seems to be pretty badly hurt. Once Sharine starts to weave, he begins to tremble slightly, his breathing still a bit ragged.
Rashima looks at Sharine Sedai kneeling beside Gaudior, a frown flickering across her face - she thinks she can *almost* see something causing the wounds to close and heal...
Alika's eyes turn away from Gaudior after seeing the beginnings of the healing, her nose wrinkling up as she moves to begin tightening the laces on her gloves, once again. Her upper lip curls slightly, her tone both quiet and cold, "he is lucky you are here, Aes Sedai... and lucky someone was watching us spar from the trees... Though he might have been luckier if Constance was not resting for the trip we are about to take."
Kirid moves over towards Alika, chuckling faintly now that the Gaidin is being seen to, "Did you really have to try and pull his guts out, Alika?"
Alika's eyes turn to Kirid, her body moving smoothly to follow with only the slightest rustle of her cloak and jingle of the bells in her hair, "I am not the little girl who walked into the yards of the tower all those years ago, Kirid... time has changed me as much as it has you."
Utter concentration can be seen on Sharine's face, any debris slowly being pushed out of the wound. Muscles reconnect underneath the healing weave as she moves it from the innermost layer and outwards. Bits and pieces of cloth can be seen leaving the wound, sweat beading on the Sedai's face as she pushes herself to do this, 'Gaudior, you never did learn did you.' low words spoken with a hint of the strain as the major damage is finally healed. Not bothering with niceties, the man's skin withers then grows together.
Kirid shrugs slightly, his left hand reaching up to touch the mask on his face, "I didn't mean you shouldn't have cut him... but that was a nasty wound."
Alika shrugs her shoulders slightly, "at least I did not leave him with it to fester... and his healer is much more pleasant than Merliss Sedai was to me after Kraelin cut me from hip to knee." Her eyes close for the briefest of moments, and a sharp breath is inhaled, before they flash open once again, "he will live, and he has learned."
Kirid nods once, wincing slightly, "You are right Alika, the worst he will have to deal with is being flirted with."
'That is as good as I can do,' Sharine raises her gaze from Gaudior to those about her, 'A bit of a scar will be there but He won't die on us here.' Exhaustion is edged through her voice, tight control then Rashima is seen again in the background. The words of you two strange Warder types who *poke Kirid and Alika grin* bring a raised brow as she rocks back onto her heels in preparation for rising.
Gaudior breaths a bit easier as he is healed, still a bit of a scar, from left to right, on his side. He sighs once as if in relief to pain.
Rashima looks with concern at Sharine Sedai's fatigue, and moves closer in readiness to assist her if needed.
Alika nods slowly, her eyes moving from Kirid momentarily to Gaudior and back again, then to the Aes Sedai, "thank you... the scar will remind..." Her head turns, returning her eyes to Kirid, "perhaps it seems a bit drastic, but sometimes, over the years, I have found that the only way to learn, is the hard way... Kraelin taught me that, more so than Narsil or Kalembar ever did."
Kirid frowns slightly at the unfamiliar name, but simply nods; "We learn our lessons many ways. Let us hope Gaudior learned his."
Rising in one movement, blood on her dress, Sharine casts another brief down at the downed Gaudior, 'A scar to remind him, but of what exactly.' sweeping a look towards both Alika and Kirid, 'please don't keep me in the dark.' despite the please it was not a request.
Alika looks towards Sharine, her eyes focusing on the young Sedai for a moment, "to remind him not to get himself in over his head, to remind him to think before he acts, and to remind him that the weapon that is able to kill him that is wielded by his opponent should be the one he concentrates upon or he will serve no use to any bondmate he may have, -Aes Sedai-... I do not expect you to understand right away, but it will serve to make him both a better warder, and a better man."
Kirid allows Alika to dig into the Sedai, hence saving himself getting that much more in trouble (I'm not totally dumb after all). He merely nods once at the end of her words.
'I understand much more then you would think.' stiffening, exhaustion that had been seen replaced with coldness. There is nothing subtle about Sharine's tone; a hot knife through butter couldn't have more of a cut to it.
Kirid's lips twitch again, and he glances to Alika, then looks back to Sharine, his lips quivering slightly as if trying to fight off laughter or a scowl. Instead he merely bows, inclining his head, "As you say, Aes Sedai."
Alika tips her head back, laughing loudly, the sound coming from deep in her throat, her eyes tearing from the humor she finds, "I see that the Aes Sedai understands what it is like to have been a warder for nearly forty years, and what it is like to lose a bond because of being in over ones head... Have you a problem with my methods, Aes Sedai, discuss them with Constance Sedai and she will surely see to my punishment, she likes to have excuses." At that Alika turns back around, facing Kirid, "if you will excuse me, Constance wishes me packed and ready to leave for Caemlyn by the time her nap is through."
Kirid turns to Alika, bowing again, "Of course, Alika."
'No, but I know what it is to be bonded to an Asha'man unable to disobey.' Sharine words grins out then she stops, pale faced. A shake to her head then without anything further she starts away.
Alika's cloak falls back about her as she shrugs her shoulders, the bells in her hair taking on a strange silence, as she steps silently towards the woods, looking back towards the Sedai a moment and shaking her head, before nearly vanishing in a blur of her cloak.
Kirid frowns again, "If you will excuse me, Aes Sedai, I will go get some Trainees to bring the Gaidin back to his quarters."
Sharine has already started away, no answer to Kirid nor is there to be one.
Kirid shrugs once, and turns to stride off through the woods, on a different tack than Alika took.