03/22/2001 Courtyard, 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. Nathael stops by the guard station as he walks towards the tower, and hands over an old cudgel to the man stationed there. With an acknowleding nod, he walks into the Courtyard for the first time. Coming out of the Practice Yard, Neelkan rubs his hands through his hair in frustration. Sometimes being a teacher bites rocks. He nods to a few people passing by giving him the whole 'Neelkan Gaidin' 'Master Gaidin' going ons. He's starting to get used to the title. Nathael was about to approach one of the others in the Courtyard, but the choruses of 'Master Gaidin' reach his ears, and he turns his attention to the man who had just entered. After steadying himself for a moment, he walks over in Neelkan's direction, and performs a bow as soon as it is appropriate. "Master Neelkan Gaidin, if it is not too much trouble, may I ask whom to speak to about training here at the Tower? Neelkan grumps softly, stopping in his trek. "Ya've come t' the right person 'en. Ya wanna train 'ere, hmm?" He folds his arms over his chest and looks over the lad that isn't much tolder then he is, and notices the Eharon look he has. Reminds him of home. "So what's yer name? D'ya got any previous trainin'?" His accent might be noticable, but it's from a fairly obscure area of Eharon, though he doesn't really look much like one. "My name is Nathael. I have no previous formal training, no." The young man seems to relax slightly upon seeing a fellow from Eharon, but doesn't seem to place the accent. "'at's good." Neelkan nods, seemly happy with the lack of training. He likes teaching them from scratch. "Mind if I ask why ya wanna be a trainee? 'ere's all kinds of programs where ya could learn how t' fight. 'ere's the Army e'en. So why d'ya want t' be a Gaidin trainee?" Nathael looks like he anticipated that question, at least. "Whether it's true or not, no one has ever spoken poorly of a man trained here. Training at home was not really an option, either, and other places as readily accept folks from my standing." "Hmm." Neelkan pauses to think about that a moment. Doesn't seem to be the ideal answer he likes to have, but he nods nonetheless. "Ya'll get t' find out if 'at's true 'en." He unfolds his arms, looking away from the boy and towards the Tower a moment, "I'll put your name in the training books after I go over some rules with ya 'n ya agree t' follow 'em. Most of 'em are pretty basic. We want ya t' keep a clean appearance, but ya can wear whate'er ya want as long as it's washed often. 'ere's laundries in the Tower 'at'll take care of 'at. It's recommended 'at ya bathe e'ery day, specially after a long practice. Trust m', ya'll learn t' like it a lot." He grins. Before he came here he certainly never bathed every day, but then most people don't. Nathael raises an eyebrow at that. He may have washed at the inn before coming here to make a good impression, but it certain wasn't a regular habit of his. He nods though. "That sounds reasonable." "Yer 'llowed t' leave the Tower as ya please." Neelkan says, "But if ya go outside the city please ask f'r permission 'r tell somebody so we don't think ya ran off. Yer 'llowed in the Tower, but don't go int' the upper levels without permission, specifically, yer supposed t' stay outta the girl's rooms. Gettin' caught up 'ere is /not/ somethin' ya want t' happen, specially if yer doin' somethin' 'at can't be done down 'ere in public. If ya wanna talk t' the girl students, find time 'n do it in public." Nathael nods his head to this as well. The last thing he needs is a member of the opposite gender driving him out of this place as well. "I understand, Sir." Vermillion comes tromping out of the stables with his war horse Inferno clopping along behind. Seems he's bringing the giant beast out for a bath. WOuld be bad if the Dark Friend's horse were cleaner then the trainees round here who don't make a habbit of washing regularly. "Yer not 'llowed t' spar with live steel 'til ya make Proven, which is the highest rank of student." Neelkan says with a nod. "It's t' keep visits t' the infirmary minimal. If anyone asks ya t' spar with a blade 'fore yer Proven, say no. Ya won't get in trouble if ya don't get caught, but if one of ya ends up in the Infirm with bad injuries, yer goin' t' so 'void it." "A change of pace," Nathael comments, approvingly. The slots in his clothing that would hold dueling daggers that all men in Ebou Dar carry are empty now. Vermillion takes a moment to tie Inferno's line off on one of the posts near the stable and then heads back in to fetch the supunge and the bucket and a few other things. As usual, Vermillion has 2 tower guards assigned to his escort. They don't seem to be watching him as closely as they normally do though. They hang back a little further and occassionally concern themselves with things other than him. Vermillion certainly is not complaining. He comes back out of the stables with a bucket full of soapy water and everything a war horse needs to look his best. Neelkan notices Vermillion through the corner of his eyes and those blue-green eyes narrow sharply. The Master Gaidin does not like the Darkfriend. Grrr. He almost forgets about the Eharon boy for a moment, but then looks back to him and adds, "Uh, sorry. 'n just make sure ya go t' yer lessons, 'n try not t' sleep in. Don't stay out all night drinkin'. 'n anythin' else ya can think of 'at's common sense. Oh! And if ya see a Eharon woman with a blue fridged shawl carrying around firewood... duck." Nathael looks to see whom the Master Gaidin is glaring at, and makes a note to be careful around Vermillion. He turns and chuckles quietly at the last comment. "After the last few months, your last suggestion sounds like common sense as well." Vermillion is pretty much oblivious. Nobody around here likes him. WHy should he be anymore or less concerned by Neelkan's sentiment? Actually that's not true. Inferno loves Vermillion deeply, as every horse should its master, and for that reason, this particular task is one Vermillion can actually enjoy. he sets to soaping his animal down. Good thing Verm's never seen Neelkan with /his/ horse. That creature (not even deserving of a name) hates him. But why does he put up with it? Good question. Probably the same reason the self-proclaimed woman-hater is in the White Tower surrounded by women! "Good. Ya'll have a room in the Barracks, but if ya wanna spend a couple nights outside of town, there's a couple Inns 'at're good. Just make sure yer there f'r yer lessons the next day. Ya need t' pick three weapons 'at ya wanna learn. One f'r yer main weapon. If yer main weapon isn't sword 'en yer second weapon has t' be. Yer third can be anythin'. Ya don't have t' pick right 'way, but it's suggested ya d' 'fore ya start trainin'." "I have a room I've been staying in in town. I'll probably gather up my things for a night." Nathael smiles slightly as it appears that he has been accepted for now, at least. "Three weapons shouldn't be a problem." "A'right. 'en I'll puta ya in the books 'n ya can start trainin' soon as possible. Ya can take lessons from Gaidin, Aes Sedai 'r e'en some of the Army Officers if 'ey have the time. The required lessons 'r listed pretty much e'erywhere 'at trainees go." Neelkan motions towards the Practice Yard area. "'at's where ya'll spend most of yer time, 'n the Trainee Quaters are right in that area." Nathael peers over in the direction that the Gaidin indicates, and nods his head again. "Beginning to look like home already," he says with a small smile. "Good. Ya'll have get used t' it." Neelkan smiles lightly. "Now I get ya in the books 'n get yer room set aside f'r ya. So I'll see ya later, Nathael, a'right?" Vermillion quietly works away scrubbing his horse. Inferno is a gigantic animal so he'll be at it for a while.