04/12/2001

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.


The white streaked red-haired Master Gaidin (though no doubt some still
have trouble imagining him in such a position), is pacing around the
Practice yard irritably. The cause of his irritation is no doubt seen
running laps around the yard. A couple of them actually. Three young boys
(obviously trainees) who did something to make him angry. Neelkan calls out
to them, "Yer laggin' behind! If ya don't pick it up I'll bring out some
weights ya can run with t' 'xplain why it's takin' ya so long!"

A woman in all blue approaches the training yard from the main courtyard,
looking like she has just awakened from a very long sleep. By the wrinkles
in her clothes, one could guess that she didn't bother to undress before
sleeping, or even to change after waking. She stops outside the entrance to
the yard, pausing to speak with a Gaidin who is overseeing two boys
sparring. After a brief talk with the man, her gaze follows his pointing
hand to a younger man with very odd hair coloring, she seems dubious but
thanks the Gaidin and slowly walks across the yard to where Neelkan stands.
Her gaze is unsure as she approaches, surely this boy is too young to be
the Master Gaidin.. "Light bless," she says to gain his attention,"I am
Lailyn, I have come to speak with Nealkan, the Master Gaidin. Are you he?"
Her accent is soft, clipped and very thick.

Mmmm? Neelkan turns blue-green eyes towards the voice, distracted from the
boys running for a while. The boys seem to notice the distraction, because
they slow back down again. Tsktsk. He looks over the woman for a moment and
grumbles. It isn't really for any reason other than he's rather surly at
the moment though. "Ye'h, ye'h, I'm Neelkan. What d'ya need Lai?" It isn't
an insult really, shortening her name. It's just something that he does.
Perhaps because he can't remember names very well, or just because he's too
lazy to call people by their full name. Luckily for the boys running laps,
he hasn't noticed their slowing down yet.

Lailyn smiles slightly, she doesn't see to be laughing at him, if anything,
she seems to be relieved. Finally, someone here who is direct. She doesn't
bat an eye at the shortening of her name, as it happens to her a lot. "I've
come to train as Gaidin," she says bluntly. Her eyes seems to hold back
though, perhaps what she heard about them accepting women was false.. she
hopes she didn't come here for nothing.

Erm. Neelkan's shoulders stiffen for a moment and perhaps that's a bad
sign. Yes, they allow women in training, but that doesn't mean he has to
like the idea particularly. He isn't against it, he just doesn't like the
thought of women fighting. After a moment he nods and turns to face her
completely, "Why d'ya want to train 'ere?" That's the question he's asked
everyone who's wanted to join the program since he got in charge of it.

Lailyn sees that she has his attention now and leaps on her opening, though
the question seems to throw her off a bit. She turns her head, looking at
several of the other Warders around the yard. "Because you're the best.
Look around," she raises sweeping hand to take in the area,"Look at the way
they stand, or how you stand, not as regular men. No I see here men who
know every muscle in thier body, and how they all connect. Men who know
that something as simple as standing or walking takes concentration and
training to do." She turns her gaze firmly on Neelkan, to late to turn back
now,"I come here because there is a war, the northlands fall, and the Dark
encroaches on the world. In no army in the land can I learn to face the
menace like I can here, no leader would let a female into the ranks of his
men. Here I have a chance to be something worthwhile, to learn how to fight
the Dark /and/ have a chance to do it. I come to learn to be /Gaidin/." Her
jaw sets firmly as she finishes, the impression is that she is not used to
talking so much and is now worried that she said something foolish, but is
unwilling to let her features betray that.

There is a long pause, Neelkan just looks at the woman. Whatever it is he
is thinking can not really be read in his eyes or expression, but what he
says comes after a long pause. Once she's already been finished for a
while. "The Amyrlin's Army allows women in their ranks, 'n some of 'em
train 'ere right 'long with us." But... she seemed to be speaking
specifically on being a Gaidin, there are some aspects of training that
differ a great deal between Gaidin and Army. "The main purpose of Gaidin
isn't t' just fight the Dark though, Lai, it's t' protect the Aes Sedai.
'ey're the ones who'll d' most of the damage, 'n it's our mission t' keep
'em alive so 'ey can." He rubs a hand through his hair, "But since ya seem
so passionate 'bout it, I'll go 'head 'n let ya start on 'ere. I'll need t'
go o'er the rules 'n what not with ya, so ya know what yer dealin' with."

Immidiately her features soften a bit and some of the tension in her
shoulders seems to disperse. She can train here!! But it's not cemented
yet, she reminds herself, he never said that you could train to be Gaidin..
Nodding as he finishes speaking she hesitates,"Yes, perhaps it would be
good to go over what I am getting in to." Although her words say what they
say, she seems just as unwavering about the idea as she did before.

"A'right. Well, 'ere's one rule I don't think we gotta worry 'bout with ya.
No romantic relationships with any of the students /or/ teachers. So keep
yer hands t' yerself. If ya wanna have a relationship with someone outside
the Tower, 'en 'at's yer own business, just don't let it interfer with yer
trainin'. 'n try t' keep it in private." Neelkan personally doesn't like
telling this rule, but he'd rather get it out of the way then end up
walking in on one his students going at it with some girl (or boy, as the
case may be). "No sparrin' with live steel 'til ya make Proven. Ya'll have
a room in the Barracks, ya gotta keep it clean. If ya have any trouble
stayin' in the Barracks 'en ya can request a more private room. The women
don't have their own bathhouse yet in the Barracks, I'm workin' on 'at, so
ya'll have t' go int' the Tower 'n use one of the ones in 'ere."

A brief grimace at the mention of romantic relationships verifies Neelkan's
non-worry about that rule. Lailyn nods in agreement with the other
statements, all of which seem sensible and easily fulfilled. "The Barracks
will be fine, and, though I don't have a problem with it, I will bathe
elsewhere to save you the disruption in atmosphere." She allows herself
only the smallest of grins while thinking about how fun it would be to walk
into the boys' wash room and embarrass them. Too bad it's such a bad
idea...

That would probably be a bad idea, yes. Though Neelkan is hardly a mind
reader, so he does not voice on how bad it is. "The only other ones ya
really gotta worry 'bout is showin' respect t' 'ose 'bove ya. Aes Sedai,
Gaidin, Dedicated 'n Proven. Ya should bow t' all of 'em. If 'ey give ya a
command, within reason, ya should follow it, but if it's 'gainst yer morals
'r anythin' 'en ya can come see m' 'n we'll work somethin' out. Same with
punishments. Anythin' big, like getting thrown out, should only b' done b'
m'. 'n maybe Raeth 'r Kaomi -- she's the Amyrlin."

Lailyn nods agian, not finding anything even the slightest bit objectional.
She even is starting to think that she's not dreaming! This is the real
thing! Finding it nearly impossible to contain her overflowing happiness
she breaks out into a large grin. "Great, when can I start?"

"Whene'er ya want. I'll get ya in the books t'night, but if ya happen t'
find someone willin' t' teach a lesson, go 'head 'n take it." Neelkan
smirks lightly at her enthusiasm. "But ya should b' signed up f'r some
lessons t'morrow, 'n chores t'. Nothin' major though, ya'll likely have t'
d' some cleanin' 'r have stable duty, brushin' horses 'n all 'at." This is
when he chooses to glance at the boys who told to run a while ago. And
finds them practically walking! "Grrrrr. Welcome t' the program, Lai, ya'll
have yer room ready f'r ya t'night, but right now I got some boys t' talk
t'." Then he starts to stalk off to give them latrine duty most likely.