Sandre arrived at dusk. His rage of having been manipulated into coming here was balancing with his impression of the city he entered. He saw chains to block the river. Towns to guard the bridges. Guardsmen patrolling. More impressive was how clean the area was. He had been all over world with his father's political dealings and never had he seen a city so clean. He hated Serenla Sedai who had tricked him as a child to come and serve here as an adult. However as far as cities go he decided there could be worse. The community seemed close knit. Shop owners would come out and gather to talk. They would Barter among themselves. While that rage wanted him to believe that Darkfriends would stick together as such he could not ignore the voice from his heart that said "They care about each other here". Late working townsmen on their way home and those heading to taverns nodded to him as they passed but kept a distance from him. He was wearing a black hooded cloak that was slightly too big for him and would have been suitable on a Fade if they really existed. His lack of sleep and the lack of emotions also gave his eyes a hollow look, as though the joy of just being alive was gone. His Warhorse, Swift, was also as black as coal. Swift had been a gift when he was younger. From Serenla Sedai of all people. He half expected the horse to throw him sometime but after a couple years Swift became the only one he would trust. It was not the fastest horse really. Strong no doubt and smart, but part of being a good commander was deception.

 

Upon arriving at the tower, the sun was setting over the horizon. The Tower was almost ominous as the shadow of it grew in the setting sun and seemed to reach for him. Guards eyes him nervously and others on the yard not so nervous at all. Sandre was told he was to meet the Mistress of Trainees but was unsure where she would be. Wandering around the yard there he found one set of students learning drill. Obviously this group was being punished to be out so late. Drill could take a few dedicated months to learn but he knew it was a favorite tactic to mix it with physical discipline when a step was missed. That way by the time the serious physical exercise began after the drill was learned they would be through the basics of getting in shape. Sandre was greatful that he knew drill already from his training back home, there was a few things these Warders taught differently but it shouldnt be too much trouble. Continuing his wandering and practicing a few of the drill steps he had seen, he came across a class learning basic tactics. Obviously this group was done with learning drill. They were learning the Crane Formation which Sandre had always felt was unconventional but would be useful in place like Tarwin's Gap. Learning to fight at night would only make it that much more effective of a formation. Moving on a last time he saw weapons training and froze. He had never been comfortable with a sword. Looking at the weapons he knew what they were but not how to use them. He knew how to maintain them and the process of making them from his time as a Blacksmiths apprentice, but in the few months of training he had he had managed a few stances. He still had not made a perfect stroke of the sword in even the most basic first form he worked on all those months. He favored the hand and a half sword and watched every correction and every movement of the trainee using the weapon and the master showing him how to use it. It was there Sandre was found.

It seemed the late winter was bringing her more trainees than she knew what to do with. “When it rained it poured” and enrollment in the Warders Yard was a perfect example of that. Grabbing her coat she buckled on her sword and put on her hat, leaving her cloak on the peg. Ignoring the cold was second nature to her now, and a clock could get in the way.

 

She’d been informed that there was a young man wandering the yards looking lost. Why no one could be bothered to just bring him to her, she didn’t know, but alas duty called so she stepped out into the frigid night air. Tugging on her gloves just as the door shut behind her she began to wander, looking for a face she didn’t know. While enrollment in the Warders had continued to climb Thera still knew every face and every name. You couldn’t very well punish someone who you didn’t know.

 

Nodding to a few of the boys she stopped to watch their spar. Her presence made one lose his concentration, but with a few stumbled steps he regained his composure. “You have to stay focused Arin, a stumble like that in real life and your Aes Sedai could be run through.” Seeing his face turn crimson Thera walked on; she had another purpose after all. Instructing students was only part of what she did as Mistress of Trainees. All be it that it was the best part, far superior to paper work or dolling out punishments, it only took up a small part of her day. She was still loathe to admit that her new husband stole many of her hours, which had caused no little talk. Jasine was not too long a Tower Guard, less than a year in fact, which meant almost everyone had puzzled out that the pair had been in love while he was still a trainee. Thera’s cheeks still flushed when she thought too long about their affair, but really 10 years age difference was not so great. Not when her being bonded to an Aes Sedai had caused her own growth to be somewhat halted. The almost 30 Mistress hardly looked a day over 25, and beautiful to boot.

 

Her wanderings called ripples throughout the yards as she searched for a new face. Trainee’s worked harder with her there, and it was that fact that made spotting the young man so easy. He was the only one who didn’t spring into action at the sight of her. Distracted by the sparing taking place around him the young man was startled as she lay a hand on his shoulder.

 

“One thing you will learn quick boy is that no one lull’s about in my yards. Now stand up straight, close your mouth, and tell me what you think your doing here?” Given her new cheery disposition it was often hard to conform to the gruff, sharp tongued woman she used to be, but it was always necessary with new recruits…at least at first.

 

Sandre had been intent on watching the movements of the sparring pair. The Dark One himself could have popped into existence and danced a jig behind him and he would not have noticed. He was committing it all to memory. His memory was strange to him. Whem most people read a book they could recall the words. While he did not lack this ability he could also recall the page he read it from and exactly how it looked. He recalled it well enough to read it again from his head. Studying this fight he was taking in everything. He thought for sure another sparring pair was about to run him through when a hand landed on his shoulder.

 

“One thing you will learn quick boy is that no one lull’s about in my yards. Now stand up straight, close your mouth, and tell me what you think your doing here?”

 

Sandre turned with his composure regained. Sky blue eyes met brown. You could read volumes in someones eyes. He was able to tell that this woman loved her life, her job, and the people in her life. Her mild frustration was at being in the cold weather and there were also signs that she was tired. Large work load was his first guess until he saw the ring. Untarnished and unscratched. Meaning it was a new husband, new husband and this job. Yeah that would wear anyone thin.

 

"Congratulations on your new husband. No excuses Mistress. I am here to honor the agreement I made as a child to Serenla Sedai and train.

 

Sandre handed her the stack of papers that had been sent to him. Serenla had said that it would look better on him if he wasnt just another work load on his first day as a trainee so Serenla had had his files already made along with a letter of what Sandre already had skill in. It wasnt much. He had trained to one day be a commander since he was old enough to have cognitive thought. Blacksmith apprenticing which gave him his shoulders, knife throwing, and academics. He wasnt great at knife throwing or a great smith either so it really wasnt much. He also thought that the details of their agreement were in there and the thought of that made anger well up inside. It quickly vanished along with the spark of life that it brought to his eyes. Leaving he look of desolation that had been his for these few years now.

 

"If it pleases the Mistress I do not wish to take too much of your time better spent elsewhere. Tell me what must be done and I will see it done."

 

Sandre felt it would not be that easy.

 

 

Heh..Thera made a small noise in her throat and suddenly had no issues summoning her sharper side. “I don’t need your thanks on my wedding day young man and its Mistress Thera to you.” Little did he know that her new found marriage was a touchy subject, well a few days in the yards and he should be aware.

 

"If it pleases the Mistress I do not wish to take too much of your time better spent elsewhere. Tell me what must be done and I will see it done."

 

Taking the papers from his hand she scanned them with a smirk on her lips. “You needn’t think that a few words from an Aes Sedai are going to make your life easier in my yards, nor should you disabuse yourself to thinking that any of this…” she waved the papers at him. “…will get you a short interview with me. You’ve saved me some paperwork, but did yourself no favors. Or I guess I should said.. Serenla Sedai did you no favors.”

 

Tucking the carefully written papers behind her belt she turned on her heel and headed back towards her office, expecting the boy to follow. She couldn’t put her finger on just what it was, but there was something about the boy that rubbed her the wrong way. Was it his confidence? Or his knowing eyes? Or perhaps it was just her own mood. Either way to day would not be first time she rid a child of their supposed “worldly knowledge”. She’d found that most of the kids that came to her thought they knew all about the world, and warriors and Aes Sedai and fighting. Only to come to her yards and found out they knew too little.

 

Holding open the stout wooden door she pointed to one of the chairs in front of her desk, and walked over to pour them both warm tea. It had been  left for her while she was out, in anticipation of her quick return. Putting a touch of honey into the child’s, young people did always like their tea sweet, she set both mugs on the desk and shrugged out of her jacket and tucked her gloves away.

 

“ So..Sandre was it? Tell me why you think you want to train in my yards.”

 

OOC: Sorry for my hasty reply's, but trying to get ready to leave is such a pain. We will RP properly when I get back :)

 

Sandre sat at Mistress Thera's command. Scanning the office he would have said it was disorganized had he not known better. Where there was a lack of neatness there was certainly a pattern. The equipment was well maintained and the mending on the arms and armor showed that Thera was a verteran at the very least. He was impressed. As impressed as he could be mentally as he felt no praise. He felt nothing at all.

 

“ So..Sandre was it? Tell me why you think you want to train in my yards.”

 

Sandre smiled. It was as though she had made a joke. Mentally the question brought irony to him which was funny. Yet there was no joy in his smile. Amusement maybe.

 

"Well... Mistress Thera. For years since I lost my freedom on an oath of honor to Serenla Sedai I had blamed her for the manipulations she had done to obtain it. After that day no kingdom wanted anything to do with me no army would take me and all because I was going to come here to train. All for honor of giving my word. Things I used to take for granted, enjoying the company of friends, being able to fall in love, or the touch of another human being have been gone for years. There is but duty and honor left"

 

He was telling her this only because these are things she would learn eventually. Best if it came out now. If she rejected him well... then his obligation would be fulfilled. He wanted to make sure that she knew that the man that she would get to train was one wounded already. Wounded by her very own Tower. He would train if accepted. Train as hard as he could. Trained until he collapsed. However as soon as his oath was fulfilled and he was released he would leave for the Blight. Why was he here? He came here to die.

 

(I will not die without honor.) he thought.

 

So you see Mistress Thera. I know nothing of this world. My knowledge has been limited to one subject. I am not here to take back what I have lost. I am not here for friends or love. I am here for duty. Have you ever felt that way Mistress Thera?

 

He would not make an easy student and he wondered if she saw the potential to be great that Serenla did. Rage boiled in him at the thought of Serenla. Only his eyes gave away the tell tale sign when his pupils became needle points. He had been honest though. Honest when he should have been dishonest and said how it was his life long dream or how he met a warder or Aes Sedai and was so impressed that he wanted to be a warder himself. He had also showed how little he actually knew of the world. Less than even the common peasant. That he wished he could have kept secret at least. Revealing a weakness that large put him at a tactical disadvantage in both the battlefiend and Daes Damar.

 

Before she answered the rage had gone. Leaving before Thera the hollowed man who lacked the light in his eyes of one who valued life.

 

OOC: Whenever you can get to it is fine :) Enjoy your vacation. Also I know that you determine WS after this storyline but honestly he should start as low as possible. He doesnt know a thing about weapons, verbal communication, or even that humanity has redeemable qualities. He has a lot to learn beyond just weapons. Just my two cents :)

Thera’s caramel eyes almost seemed to draw inward as she listened to Sandre talk. How could she tell him that this would not be the only , or the last time the Tower would wound him to his bones?

 

She had come to the Tower searching for a place where she could be accepted for what she was, a woman and a warrior, and even while Tar Valon and the Tower were her home, this place had caused her mortal wounds. Some of which she would never heal from, but…things such as that were not shared with new recruits. They would be lessons for him to learn in his own time and in his own painful way.

 

So you see Mistress Thera. I know nothing of this world. My knowledge has been limited to one subject. I am not here to take back what I have lost. I am not here for friends or love. I am here for duty. Have you ever felt that way Mistress Thera?

Her normal response to such a question would have been to tell him that this was no time for idle chatter, or perhaps she would have barked at him that is was she that asked the questions, but the road he’d traveled to Tar Valon tugged at her heart and she found herself answering honestly.

 

“ Every day of my life Sandre.” The words burned her tongue, even as they helped to heal. “Duty will be ingrained in you from the first moments of your training; Duty to the Tower, to your fellow warriors and to the Sisters above all else. We are here to be their sword and their shield, putting their lives before even our own.” A few years ago she would have stopped there, to let the gravity of her words sink in, but the new Thera spoke the whole truth as she saw it. “While I will hold you to that duty, just as your teachers and the Aes Sedai will remember,…You are a man, a flesh and blood man. You must hold onto that..you must.”

 

There was more she wanted to say, she wanted to tell him that it was possible to balance love, work, and a bond. But those were not truths, they were assumptions that she lived under or her new marriage would already be damned.

 

“I understand your reasons, and you fulfilled your promise by coming to me today. I can turn you away and your vow will have been held and no honor will be lost.” She searched his eyes, looking for the answer that he might fear to give. “Why should I not send you away Sandre?”

“Why should I not send you away Sandre?”

 

Here it was. Whatever answer he gave would determine where his life went from this point on. Problem is he had never thought of it himself. Why shouldnt she?

 

"Mistress Thera.... a warder may save his Aes Sedai's life. The things that I know can save many. Do I want to be here? Honestly up until today no I didnt want to be here. Until I went through Tar Valon itself. The cities are clean and the people friendly. They do not live in fear and the streets are safe. Do I think those people are worth dieing for?... A hundred times.

 

Sadness came across his face. The only emotion he had showed openly since the interview started.

 

"I do not like Aes Sedai though Mistress Thera. Just the people they rule over. I have seen nothing but the bad side of them. I have enough gold to start an army right now. One way or another the Shadow will pay for generations of slaughter. So there it is then. Does your sense of duty allow the luxury of turning away a man who will assuredly save some of the lives of the people you serve?"

 

He knew it wouldnt. He knew that the Thera would want to set him free. Save at least one who had the honor to fulfill and obligation he hated. One of many that the Aes Sedai had under their thumb. However not many had the luxury he did. To be raised with your entire life dedicated to saving the lives of others through tactical knowledge. Yes still he had so much to learn. Not even a tenth of the knowledge he could have of the subject and everything he would need to learn was right here in the Tower. How many others he wondered, have come to Tar Valon to train and said "I want to protect the people of Tar Valon." rather than the Aes Sedai. It was not confidence in his ability either that led him to say what he did, but rather he had a 10 year head start on anyone who came here to learn how to be a General.

She didn’t like her sense of duty being called to question. The boy was presumptuous and pompous to boot, but somehow she couldn’t turn him away.  Part of it might have been a slightly masochistic desire to see him fail, or it may just have been the chance to correct his behavior; whatever it was she pulled out the large book from her bottom desk drawer and opened it to the most recent page.

 

Scrawling his name with little flourish she sanded the page and slammed it shut sending small motes of dust up into the air.

 

“I will thank you not to ask questions of my honor Sandre, and it will do you well to moderate your tone. I cannot think anyone else would put up with it as far as I have.”

 

“Your name is in the book now which means you are sealed to your fate, and there is nothing to be done for it now. The only way out before we are done with you is accidental death or to step far enough out of line to be thrown out and….well I do not think I will be done teaching you a few things about the world anytime soon.”

 

She was not angry, as much as she was frustrated and annoyed. Since marrying Jasine very little could ruffle Thera for long. Still her eyes were caramel ice as she waited to Sandre’s next remarks.

 

Sandre stood from the chair. He was not sure how he was making Thera more angry. It all seemed a straight logic to him. He wanted to see Thera's ideals and hence the way of the Tower Guards. Do they choose the faster path to lead down, one that is fast but lacks water. Doing so would mean that some would be lost on the way. Or do they take the long path going from lake to river all the way to goal. Obviously this was not the place to learn it. He just got here and already he had made someone angry. Though he wondered if it was really at him.

 

"I am sorry Mistress Thera for whatever I did to draw your ire."

 

He did mean what he said. He had spent too much time away from society it seems to have the first person he talked to angry with him. He meant it though. The stone cold resolve had left his face. He was reluctant to say anything else at all to her since it only seemed to make her more upset.

Thera rolled her eyes and folded her hands on her desk. “I am not angry Sandre, you just must learn not to be such….” Her brain fumbled for the right word, struggling to moderate her tone. “you come off as presumptuous and an attitude like that will get you beating from any number of willing hands. You may not believe it, but I tell you this not to insult, but to save you the trouble. Getting your head cut off is not a good way to start your first week in the yards.”

 

“Do you understand at all Sandre?”

 

He understood. Too well. His anger had got him into trouble these last few years. Part of the reason he had alienated himself was that he didnt want to hurt anyone else.

 

"I understand Mistress Thera... my anger has been a constant problem... mixed with logic..."

 

He shook his head. Logic had no room for another's feelings. Logic was a right and direct course but was also without mercy to the damage it could cause. When used with anger it was worse.

 

"I will do as I am told and keep quite until I find a way to release its hold... I swear it."

 

His oath had to have merit. He was here after all. He was not sure anymore what to expect from the woman's mouth. Perhaps he was being presumptuous. Negative about what to expect for sure as well. Perhaps he came with the feeling that his life was ending and this was nothing short of an execution. It seemed natural to go to ones death snarling.

Thera look a deep breath and broke the young man’s gaze. “Well then, if you understand then I see no reason to discuss this further.”

 

She knew that this young man would trouble her further, but it was one of the hazards of her job. Plus he was far from the work she’d had come through her door.

 

“Do you have any questions that I can answer for you?”

 

“Do you have any questions that I can answer for you?”

 

Sandre shook his head in a silent answer. There was nothing more in his mind to go over. His future had been laid out before him. It was just time to make the best of it.

 

OOC: Sorry about the short answer. It was kind of a yes or no answer.. that and I cant seem to think with this cold I have.