Vincent had a grim look on his features. He had traveled long and hard from his home of Camelyn, and it was obvious on his fine wool clothing. Scratches, tears, and he'd probably never know where his cloak went. A fool attempted robbery, but learned his lesson soon after. Still, as the glorious shining walls of Tar Valon entered his site. All of these experiences meant nothing. I made it... A chuckle rolled off his lips. His self training would finally end, and he'd be able to live up to his dream of becoming a Warder. He would be able to protect Aes Sedai.

 

He quickly made it through the villages surrounding the island, coming to a beautifully crafted bridge, and he was stopped by a guard. "Light Shine on you, what business do you have in Tar Valon?" Vincent smiled, "The light illumine your soul, and I have come to realize a dream, and to learn to protect Aes Sedai." The guardsmen let a smile creep onto his face. "Go in, the Warder's Yards are by the tower. Can't miss it." Vincent nodded, and continues over, turning a corner, and catching his first glimpse of the White Tower. It was a moment he wouldn't forget. The Ivory sides spanning into the skies. He looked at the dual sheaths at his side. Long dagger, almost a sword, and bastard sword. He drew both, and sank to his knee, blades crossed on his knee. He gave a silent oath to himself. He pledged his blades to that Ivory Tower, and all it stood for, and when the time came, to one Aes Sedai above all others. The one that would hold his bond.

 

This done, he continued on, each step lighter, until he arrived at the base of the tower. "You, with the swords! What is your business at the tower?" Vincent shook his head, "I've come to train in the Warder's Yards. Can you help me find them?" With that, the man jerked his thumb in the direction of the training grounds. "When you get there, wait. You will be found soon enough." Again Vincent nodded, and followed the man's finger to his dream. He did as he was told, waiting just inside the grounds for whoever would approach him, his hands resting idly on the hilts at his hip. Waiting.

The sun had just crested the top of the tower and already her day had been full. She had been wakened from a deep sleep in order to “correct” two of her younger trainees.  Beginning a day that way always put Thera in a foul mood and it had only gotten worse. Ever since that night Thera had found being around Arturus less than bearable. Often when he was around she found herself in a snit, so it was just after sunrise and already Thera had been in the yards for hours.

 

She had completed her morning run which released much of her stress and then released more by sparing with a hefty sized guard. Her muscles still burned from the workout as she began her patrol of the yards. Thera flexed her arms as she walked, relishing in the feeling of a great workout. Since she had taken the position of Mistress of Trainees her own training time had been lacking. Suddenly a small smile bloomed on her ace as she felt Serena wake up. It had been so long since she’d had anytime with her Aes Sedai she relished the constant emotions that flowed through the bond.

 

Alidin Gaidin had informed Thera that their was a new trainee in the yards. She was in no hurry to find him; Alidin had said she would know him when she saw him. How he expected her to pick out one new face in the crowd she did not know. Thera stopped now and then to lend advice or correct a form. Too many times the young ones forgot home important form and discipline were. As she rounded a corner Thera saw a young man, armed with a sword and dagger. Thera knew that this must be her new trainee. With a hand resting casually on her sword hilt she approached him, her face stern. “Very few come to my yards to train already armed as you are. What business have you here?”

 

Thera was not angry of even upset but she always felt it was best to be strict from the start so that the trainees knew their place.

 

Vincent was a bit surprised when a woman approached him. The way she moved, seemingly without effort moving like a wolf on the prowl. He was impressed, and knocked off one rumor about Warders. Her voice carried a stern tone. It seemed used to barking orders, and the emphasis on my yard told him everything he needed to know. "I've come to learn how to protect." His answer was simple, to the point. Like so many other of the man's habits. All hiding that tight bundle of emotions, which he simply referred to as his fuel.

 

"So, ma'am. Where must I begin?" Again his voice was void of the excitement within him, he'd begin his training today. The first day of years of training, in order to protect those who had protected the world for three thousand years. They deserved his life, and again he waited eagerly for the words that would let him begin.

Thera could not help but study the boy openly. She was Mistress of Trainee’s and she wanted to make sure that every boy or girl that enter her yards were up to her standards.

 

In truth no matter what her opinion Thera could not, nor would she turn the boy away. The tower was not swarming with applicant’s everyday, but that was not reason not to impress upon new arrivals how important their duty was. It took a certain type of person to uphold tower law or to protect the life of another with no thought or care for their own.

How long had it been since she herself had put Serena’s life first.

 

“Do you have any idea what it means to pledge your life to the Tower? Have you any real concept of what it entails to sacrifice yourself to save the life of another?” They were not easy concepts to grasp and more than one had turn tail and run hearing her say those words. Thera said good riddance and put the ones that fled from her mind. They would never have lasted long anyway. “Answer me boy? Do you know what it means?”

 

Vincent's eyes narrowed. "I have left my family, what little friends I had, all of my life, to make this journey, and along the way I've learned just how inexperienced I am, but that matters naught. Forgive me, but this is insulting." His tone was level, even though he had an idea of the price of displeasing this woman. If it came down to blades, he doubted he'd have a chance to draw his own. Still, he was never one to back down, never when he was committed.

 

"But if I must answer you directly, I know the price, I know what I am signing up for. To give my life without a second thought to another, to a cause greater than myself. Chances are, by showing up here I've effectively shortened my lifespan, but I don't care." Again, that no nonsense tone of his was used. Every word would be forced to be taken as it was, the truth. Vincent had no second thoughts about his choice. He came here to be a warder, and that is exactly what he was going to be.

Unconsciously Thera’s hand stroked her sword hilt. Oh how she would like to take this boys head! No one spoke to her that way; in fact no one had in years. With a great effort she refused to grip her sword and drew he hands away. Her caramel eyes were glinting with fire and she fixed the child with a level stare. When she finally spoke her voice came out at a whisper. “ Child, there is nothing to say I should not take your head here and now. But..I like that you have courage if not too many brains.”

 

She leaned in close and jabbed a finger to his chest to drive her point home. “Courage is a well and good but if you EVER.” A callused finger drove so hard into his chest the boy stumbled back a step. “ and I do mean EVER speak to me in that manner again you will be lucky to escape with a whole hide and your head still attached” Thera waiting until the boy nodded. “That being said, I will set you a punishment, but not until I have shown you the yards and set up your training. I am sure there will be plenty of time to discuss punishments then.”

 

Thera turned on her heel and began to walk away. She was sure the young man would follow. As they wandered the yards Thera showed him the barracks, the kitchens and last of all, her office.

 

Vincent did stumble back, and it took a large amount of willpower not to scowl at the woman. Instead, he nodded his head, the closest he could come to apologizing; well, at least when he didn't feel he'd done anything wrong. He decided he didn't like this woman, but still respected her. So, as she spoke of punishments, nothing new really, and training, that was new, he again simply nodded his head. "Yes mistress." He kept his tone controlled, doing what he could to stifle all of the emotions and thoughts that he had.

 

As they toured through the barracks, he made a note of where he was to sleep, and the other people there. Quite a few sported numerous scars, and walked with their weapons as if they belonged there, an extension of their muscled bodies. Vincent thought he wanted to be the other way around; himself an extension of the blade. The Kitchen's aroma was enticing, the mixture of meat and vegetables bringing water into his mouth. Then he was brought into the Mistress of Trainee's very own office. He took in every detail, and then looked again to the woman who belonged here. "If I may ask a few questions?" This time he chose an inferior tone, though in truth his body didn't match it. "Will I be put to classes, or be assigned a mentor, or some mixture?" He waited for either a tongue lashing, or an answer. He thought he'd receive both.