08/18/2000


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.


Neelkan is sitting on a bench outside in the courtyard, looking rather
impatient about something or another.

Redd comes out of the Tower, a complete mess on the inside. However, it
can't be seen, so he looks pretty normal, only slightly saddened by
something. He happens to glance Neelkan on his way towards the practice
field, and changes his direction towards him. "Hello, Neelkan."

Glancing up from his bored impatience, Neelkan spots the young boy and
smiles lightly, "'ey 'ere, Redd." He reaches up and ruffles at his hair. He
knows nothing of what is going on inside the Tower, or inside the boy right
now.

A small smile forms on the boy's lips, but it looks very phony. "Neelkan?
Could you spar me?"

Raising his eyebrows, Neelkan glances around a little, then shrugs, "If ya
want, sure. I'll try not t' hurt ya." He manages a small wink as he moves
to stand up. He still doesn't notice anything.

Redd nods. "Thank you." He then starts toward the practice field, watching
for Neelkan to follow.


Practice Yard, White Tower, Tar Valon

Hard packed earth is ringed in by a plain wooden fence. Daily the practice
area is maintained by the pounding of young men's feet, as they are ran
about the yard or set to forms. Towards the left hand side of the yard the
thud of arrows hitting targets can be heard. The right is devoted to racks
full of practice weapons and armor. Throughout the day the harsh voices of
Gaidin urging the boys to work faster, stronger, harder can be heard. At
night the silence is almost eerie as only the cicadas come out to play
their nocturnal commentary.

A three story building is at the end of the hall, providing a place for the
trainees to live. A set of iron stairs up to the door is a favorite meeting
spot for some of the boys, to sit and rest when such things are granted.
Often they can be seen catching a meal there, to avoid wrinkled noses and
sniffs from young ladies unaccustomed to the sweat and grime they daily
generate.


Going over to the area where they have swords handly, Neelkan picks out a
practice sword for himself, judging the size and make just right for the
way he likes it, then waits for Redd to do the same.

Redd doesn't take the same care to pick a good sword like Neelkan. He never
did, really. At least it looks like it is close to what Redd needs. He
moves towards the sparring area. Waiting for Neelkan, he gets himself
ready.

Neelkan moves into a stance, ready for attack or defense, holding the sword
in one hand. He waits a few moments, watching Redd's stance for a few
moments before he takes a step forward and does a inward swing in the area
of the young man's shoulder. Nothing too hard though.

Redd reacts quickly, trying to show Neelkan that he shouldn't take it easy
on him, by deflecting the first attack and following with a jab to
Neelkan's chest. He doesn't prepare to pull back if he were to need to, he
knows Neelkan will deflect it.

Neelkan is rather good with a sword, so yes he deflects it, smirking a
little and murmuring, "A'right, a'right. I got the point." as he does. This
time he aims a couple simple, easily blocked slashes before a slightly more
complex one that dips down in an attempt to clip the side of the boy's
knee. Still not quite as harsh as would be used in a real battle, but not
exactly going easy.

Redd isn't extremely skilled, but he won't let anyone take it easy on him
if he can help it, especially after the last few days he's had. He deflects
the first two, but the third one, he predicts wrong and gets hit in the
knee, jumping to the side a bit. He resets, staying his usual calm as he
readies to let Neelkan get the first attack again, unless he sees an
opening before-hand.

Pulling back after landing a hit, Neelkan goes into a defensive stance for
a few moments before lundging forward in a simple jab, aimed at upper right
shoulder. He's going ahead and putting close to the usual battle force
behind this one, assuming since he's leaving enough notice of what he's
doing that it will be knocked away.

Redd becomes distant for a moment as thoughts run through his mind.
Tetrarch, discs, Mother, Wyntere, Espiria... all these people... all his
failures... Everything that he did wrong plays back in his head, ending
with an abrupt halt, followed by Redd yelling out, "NOOO!!!!" Then he
deflects Neelkan's attack, lunging at him with three horizontal strikes,
alternating sides, if they get blocked, full force behind them, anger and
other emotions running through Redd. He appears to not see Neelkan as
Neelkan, but as a threat.

Ack. That's a little bit more then Neelkan was expecting. He's able to
block the first one, and the second one is blocked, but it slides down his
blade and hits his hand, likely going to leave a very, very nice bruise
there tomorrow. He's able to keep his hand on his sword but the third one
hits completely, going to leave another very nice sized bruise on his other
arm. In a growl, he lashes right back out, swinging multiple blows in a
row. He's not too happy about getting hit, and Redd certainly got his
attention about not going easy on him. There's three consecutive slashes,
just like his, two diagnal, and the last going up to the top in a straight
slash from below.

Redd, in his seemingly out of nowhere anger, is more on the offensive than
the defensive, so he's too forward based to deflect anything after the
first attack. The second attack connects hard on his arm, the third coming
in contact with his chin, knocking his head back. Redd doesn't seem to be
deterred by that though, responding with a quick jab to the chest, then if
that gets pushed away, spins with the push and slahses at Neelkan's hip.
Redd must have lost it to fight with this much intention in just a spar
with his /adopted brother/!

The first jab his blocked, but Neelkan doesn't see what he is doing with
turning with the force until it's pretty much too late. He can't bring his
sword around quick enough to block it, so he tries to jump aside to dodge,
but he doesn't get far enough in time and it lands right on the bone there.
"Light!!" He yells out. Yes. Going to have another large bruise there in
the morning. He stumbles aside, and places his sword point on the ground to
catch himself. He isn't in a hurry to get back in a position though. He's a
little confused why Redd would be so... combative with him. He sure takes
his sparring seriously...

Redd doesn't seem to think it just a spar anymore, as he follows quickly
with a downward slash at Neelkan, too fast to be aimed, and it looks like
it could easily miss, but it makes it clear Redd isn't stopping.

"Blood 'n ashes!" Neelkan yells as he suddenly notices Redd still coming at
him. What is going on here!? Is he mad at him for some reason? His first
thought is that Aed spoke with him. It doesn't miss entirely, despite the
fact that he jumped back to dodge. It catches his shirt and tears along it,
ripping it until it comes free and scratching along his skin a little, even
if it's a fairly dull edge. He brings his sword up from below, just aiming
to block the kid's sword away for now. "Light, Redd, stop!!" What's going
on with his friend?

Tears can be seen in his eyes as he continues his assault, two quick
attacks, a horizontal slice from Neel's left, then a vertical slice from
below.

Totally focused on the defense, Neelkan is able to block the two attacks
with a little effort, and on the last one he doesn't block at all. He
dodges to the side and tries to get behind the boy and wrap his arms around
him. He saw the tears. Something is definatly not right here.

Redd drops his blade when Neelkan grabs him, and he completely collapses,
the only thing keeping him from hitting the ground is Neelkan. Instantly,
he bursts into tears, crying heavily, "I failed... I failed... all I can do
is fail..."

Holding onto the boy, Neelkan opens his hand and lets his own sword drop.
"Redd? Redd, listen t' me. Whate'er's happened, ya haven't failed." He hugs
the boy against his chest, more then happy to support his wieght. "Shh.
Shh... let's get ya to yer room. Ya need t' lay down..."

Redd slowly, with great effort, as he is completely drained after such a
fight, turns around and leans against his brother. "I couldn't help... I
never can help... I always fail..."

"Blood 'n ashes." Neelkan doesn't know what more he can say to the boy, so
he just glances around at those in the Yard and starts to move towards the
Living Area, slipping an arm under Redd's to support him. "Redd, don't
blame yerself. Ya can't blame yerself. D'ya think yer the person spinnin'
the Wheel 'n can make e'erythin' a'right? Yer not. Ya can't. All ya can d'
is try yer hardest. 'n I know ya have. 'n 'at's not failure. It's only real
failure if ya don't do nothin' 'en ya could've."

Redd doesn't fight, and doesn't say anything more as of now, just letting
Neelkan lead him to his bed.

Neelkan says nothing more and just leads the young boy away.