05/18/2000

Courtyard, The White Tower, Tar Valon

Marble tiles gleam from a straight path which leads from the Gates of the
Tower to the wide double doors which announce its entry point. Soft grass
and well planned patches of flowers can be found to either side, with the
occasional shady tree. Accepted and novices sit on stone benches, some
practicing their Power to the dismay of uneasy petitioners passing through.
To the side there is a stable, near the fenced entrance to the clearly
visible yard where shirtless boys go through sword forms through the day.

Guards take the weapons of those wanting to enter, though the Gaidin spread
about the courtyard, seemingly about their leisure, look ready to pounce on
any men who "forgot" a dagger at the gates. Aes Sedai pass through on
various errands, some nodding to acknowledge bows or curtsies. The
atmosphere is busy, but calm.


Espiria heads out of the Tower with Neelkan right behind her.
Unfortunately, her shadow is with her also. The Aes Sedai stays discreetly
in the background though, just keeping an eye on the pair, though it's not
for certain /which/ of the pair she is watching.

Savren sits with his legs tucked crosswise beneath him. He is at the
semicircular bench again, cleaning his sword, the blade across his knees as
he wipes away spots that aren't even there, or so it seems to any but him.

As soon as Neelkan steps out under the sunlight, he blinks his eyes a few
times and gives his head a shake, his hair fluttering about before settling
into a spikey mess of different colored strands. Dark red with yellow
highlights and odd white streaks. He ignores the Aes Sedai shadow, which is
good, because if he didn't he'd be glaring at her. Instead he casts his
bright blue-green eyes around.

Espiria sighs softly heading to one of the benches. She notes Sav sitting
there and bobs a neat curtsey to him as she passes. She glances over to
Neel, smiling in an encourgaging fashion before slipping into a seat. "Feel
good to be outside again, Neelkan?" Her eyes glance toward her 'shadow'
before she sighs. No..best not to even think about such things. This must
be a 'good' day. She puts a smile back on her lips, head tipping to one
side as she considers Neel again. "Come on..try to relax. You'll have your
own room before you know it."

Savren only glances in the direction of the three, including the shadow. He
only pauses a moment in his cleaning before he takes out his whetstone and
starts sharpening the blade. He may not be looking anymore, but any three
of them may feel as if his hazel eyes were still drilling into them.

Good day. That it shall be. Neelkan just grins and plops down beside her,
his eyebrows raising slightly, "I'm relaxed! In fact, I can't wait t' get
m' own room. And m'be I can get m' earrin's 'n fan back finally." He can
only hope though. His fan will likely be gawked at by the Gaidin, but it's
-his-, and they're just going to have to get used to it. He glances towards
the man with the sword and lowers his eyebrows, "Hmm. He onna the Gaidin?"

Espiria scoots over just a bit to give Neel more room to sit before her
eyes glance over to Sav and she nods. In softer tones to Neel, "Yes. He is.
I..have not met all of them as yet, but I believe his name is Savren. You
know..if you're going to be training here you should learn how to address
them. Do you know how? I mean...do you know how to address a Gaidin?" She
glances over to Sav again, before tipping her eyes back to Neel.

Savren applies some oil to the sword, just a dab, and rubs it up and down
its length. He sheaths, draws, and resheaths it, before taking ou the clean
white cloth out and rubbing the invisible spots again.

"Eh? I don't understand. Do I know how t' address 'em? Can't I just say
'G'day?'" Neelkan asks, as if confused at the question of addressing
someone. Light, this is the same guy who calls the Mistress of novices Wyn
and the Amyrlin Seat Kaomi. He turns those eyes back on the man, watching
him play with his sword. Hmmm.

Espiria smiles, chuckling softly before she speaks again in soft tones.
"Well...They have a title. Gaidin. That is part of who they are. The
important job that they do. It shows respect for all that training and for
the important work that they do if you call them Gaidin. Or if you know
their names...Gaidin and their name right after." Her eyes glances to Sav
for just a moment before she smiles. "Like...him for instance. To show the
respect, you would call him Gaidin Savren, since we know his name." She
smiles, patting Neel's arm gently. "But don't worry...It's easy once you
get the hang on it." She chuckles, "Ma would always make sure that I used
people's titles no matter who it was. She even had me call the Wise Woman
in our village Wise Woman Estandra to show the proper respect. That's how I
learned to do it, but it's not hard to pick up the habit."

The Aes Sedai takes a step forward at Espi's motion to touch Neel, but
steps back since it's only a gentle friendly patting on the arm. She frowns
for just a moment, her brow lifting slightly as her eyes narrow. This has
to be the most boring job imaginable and she has no idea why it's so
important to watch this girl. But..what Mother wants..Mother gets. She goes
back to her silent vigil.

Savren smiles his stone cold Gaidin smile, a mere widening and upward curve
of the lips, "Actually..." he breaks in suddenly, "I prefer to be called
Savren Gaidin...So it's like I've given up my old life and have become just
Savren, the Gaidin."

Neelkan snorts softly, as a reflex, "Titles." Blah. Sorry, he's never been
much for titles. The only person he ever called by a title other then
'Mother' and 'Father' was the Leader, who he called 'Leader.' "I don't see
why I gotta call 'em by a title. I don't much like titl..." he trails off
as the Gaidin speaks and sits up a little. Eh. "Um. G'day.. uh.. Savren...
Gai..din?" Sorry, he doesn't seem very good at this type of thing and
starts to shift around, even with the hand on his arm.

Espiria darts a look up to Sav, blushing brightly. "Savren Gaidin it is
then." She smiles, taking the hand from Neel's arm now that has had
attention brought to her by her words. "I..didn't know Gaidin. I am sorry
for offense if it was taken that way."

Savren shakes his head, "No offense taken...you couldn't have possibly
known. But, as for you..." he gestures at Neelkan in tha absence of name
and title, "Know that I do not care what you call me, so long as it is my
name or my title, whichever you prefer...but that there are Gaidin who are
just waiting for you to slip up and have you cleaning stables and digging
latrines...Just a warning. Practice the Titles."

Varcel wanders into the courtyard quietly.

"Uh... a'right. Savren." Neelkan says, feeling a lot better with the lack
of title. He makes a few mental notes to try to remember to call the
Gaidin, Gaidin until he finds out if they don't mind. But unfortunately he
might not remember all the time. "I'm Neelkan. I don't really gotta title."
Neelkan sort of -was- his title.

Espiria smiles in relief, eyes glancing up now that she's heard that no
offense was taken. Her eyes note the arrival of another person and she
can't help but blush as she sees him. Varcel. She quickly looks down so it
may not be seen that he was the cause of the blush, but then again..a
certain Gaidin might have seen it. Oh..if only she and he could chat
together again. She glances back to the Aes Sedai watching carefully in the
background and sighs. Maybe she will be nice and allow us to? We /are/
friends after all. She bites her lower lip gently trying to work out some
way to have that happen. She so loves her times in speaking with Varcel.

Varcel sees the various assembled and makes his way over, bowing to eac hin
turn, a small smlie offered for Espiria.

Savren looks up. Seeing Varcel, he puts his material up on his person and
sheaths his sword, gleaming brilliantly as it disappears in the scabbard.
"Hello, Varcel. Good to see you."

Varcel says "Good to see you, Savren Gaidin."

Um. Believe it or not, Neelkan actually does notice the blush from his
friend. Sometimes he's blind, other times he isn't. He looks from his
friend to the young man that the Gaidin names as Varcel. Hmmm. The skin
around his eyes tightens ever so slightly in thought. Then he moves to
stand up, "Well, I'll be goin' now. I need t' see if I can find Jessian 'n
give 'im m' answer."

Varcel nods politely to Neelkan. "Walk in the light."

Espiria glances over to Neel and smiles, "I will see you soon, Neel.
And..try not to worry about anything. It will all work out." She beams a
sweet smile fuill of hope and caring to Neel, "Light always keep you safe,
Neelkan." Her eyes tip from him, darting toward Varcel for just a moment
before she tips her head to one side. "I..have not as yet had a chance to
see any of the Gaidin steeds. Are they impressive? I..do so love horses."
Yeah, change topics..that should work, right?

Flashing a half-grin back at the girl, Neelkan reaches up to scratch at his
hair slightly, "'course it'll work out. I'll see ya later, Espi." He looks
towards the others, and nods his head briefly towards them, then turns and
heads over to the Tower.