IC: The rhythm she was in was almost hypnotic. Back and throw, back and throw. Phinn prided herself on her throwing skills… she learnt as a child from her father. Though she was a little out of practice… she was still hitting the bulls eye most of the time. Phinn had about eight knifes hidden on her person. When she was done throwing them all she retrieved them and put them in their hiding places again. Then she would repeat the process.

 

Phinn was on her third or fourth time, she could not remember, when some one interrupted her….

 

Sandre watched as various trainees practiced throwing knifes at straw targets painted with a red eye in the center. There were not enough for all trainees so it came down to two choices. One was a young man who seemed to talk to everyone around him. Sandre frowned. He was not very good with small talk. His choice rested on the young woman. Others who were watching her seemed to be making the same consideration so Sandre walked over to her.

 

"Mind if I join you?"

 

Sandre watched as a dagger flew off and missed the target. (Yeah Sandre bother her as she was releasing and get someone killed.) The look on her face may have been anger or annoyance he wasnt sure. The target was at twenty paces. He had only thrown at ten. She stepped aside. (How hard could this be?) he thought. His first throw was less than glorious. The dagger came at a downward angle, struck a rock, and bounced up to go somewhere in the yard. With a yell he heard one of the weapon trainers screaming in anger. A crowd cleared around him and Sandre noticed the dagger had imbedded itself in a staff carried by the trainer... (I will pay for that one later.) He thought as he looked on with shock and horror in his face. He didnt want to turn and see the look on her face so he calmly said.

 

"Im a little rusty... its been a few years."

 

The second dagger nearly made a trainee retrieving his daggers into a female and the third struck the target next to the one he was aiming for. Frustration was evident. As he held that fourth dagger he began to mumble about velocity, and distance, and rate of decent. His fourth hit the target and so did those that followed.

 

He turned back to the woman who looked as though nothing had happened.

 

"Uhm... Im Sandre."

 

She was a pretty little thing. He was not sure where the thought had come from. (I am not here for that. I dont look at women in terms of beauty.) No sooner had he thought that, his cold demeanor returned as though the perfectly human male thought had never occurred.

IC: Phinn cursed under her breath as some idiot spoke to her while she released her knife. Her knife went off in a direction Phinn had not intended and stuck into a fence board.

 

Phinn turned her attention on to the bloody mindless twit that had interrupted her focus and gave him a look that said “WHAT IN THE HELL WHERE YOU THINKING!”

 

He had asked to join her so she stepped back to give him room. She was not impressed in the least with this guy. Shaking her head she leaned against the fence and watched him throw. She quickly decided the man needed pity. She bite the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing at the expression on his face when one of his knifes stuck into the staff of a weapons trainer.

 

When he was done with his “throwing” she stepped over to him and asked…

 

“Can I help you with your technique?”

 

Phinn managed to just smile instead of laughing… for which she was thankful.

 

 

“Can I help you with your technique?”

 

He could swear she wanted to laugh.

 

"Its lack of practice and a longer distance than I am use to more than anything. I think I have it now."

 

Stormy blue eyes met hers. She did want to laugh! She made no move to throw so he tried a second time. This time they all hit the target... the correct target even. (There... lets see her laugh now.) He ran his hand through his hair slightly nervous that he cared about what someone else thought about him. Maybe he had been avoiding people for too long after all.

 

"Your go."

IC: Phinn stepped back as the trainee looked at her and told her he could do it. HUmmmm she thought…I’ll let him take an other try.

 

She watched as he had another go and was surprised. With a raised eyebrow she wondered if he had been playing around the first time. If so it was not funny in the least.

 

“well…I see you have got this time. Excellent throwing…even if you do need some practice.” Phinn offered her hand “I’m Phinn..what is your name?”

 

Sandre shook the Phinn's hand and made eye contact as was polite.

 

"Sandre Kaldun... nice to meet you. Would you care for some friendly competition?"

 

Before she could answer he grinned and went to retrieve his knives. Looking at the marks on the target he could tell she was better at this than himself but he had never been afraid to lose.

 

Blowing a small amount of dust from one of the blades he came back and laid two silver marks on a nearby table. He would never see that silver again but it was always more fun with something at stake. He removed his shirt to free up his arms and because sweat was making it stick to his skin which agitated him. He was self conscious only or a moment at his light-just-starting-to-become-a-build compared to the bulky trainees who had been in the yards awhile but it lasted only a moment. (Who do I have to impress?) His grin returned and it was a grin of one up to no good.

 

"I will throw first. I will give you two to one odds."

 

Throwing his first dagger and seeing it sail right over the target he didnt think it was going to be a simple loss. It was going to be a humiliation.

IC: Watching the knife fly over the target was to much for Phinn..she laughed so hard that she bent double. She did not mean to be rude...but it was just so funny. After a minute..Phin stopped and walked over to Sandre.

 

"I'll throw a couple.. how 'bout you watch and see if you can get the right form and technique." She winked at the guy and turned to the target...

 

Holding the knife in her usual way she calmed her mind and almost with out thought her arm came back and forth in a blur. The thunk a second later made her grin.

 

"So...not just the physical form is important...also the mind. You have to clear your mind of everything but the target. Does that make sense?"

 

Phinn hoped she was not over stepping herself...she just wanted to help this guy. He seemed like he wasnted to learn and maybe even needed a friend?

Seeing Phinn laugh at his feeble attempt made him smile. When she offered to show him he simply folded his arms and motioned towards the target. She told him to watch and winked at him which made his grin even bigger. He watched her "form" as she threw and his memory began to take it all in... in more detail than he was comfortable with. Frowning at himself he was not sure why he should care if he remembered what she looked like so detailed. Shaking his head he watched as she threw a few more.

 

She explained how knife throwing was mental. He had remembered long conversations with his father while he practiced. He wasnt thinking about the target at all then and had done rather well. He stepped up to the target.

 

("Ok clear your mind Sandre, you have done this before...")

 

As he began to imitate the form she used and began recalled what muscles she used when she threw his mind was clear at that point.

 

As he was close to release ("She is really nice...") the stray thought would have made him jump were he not throwing. Instead every muscle he had tensed sending the dagger flying at a blur. It struck the post that held the target and buried to the hilt.

 

Blushing he fumbled for an excuse. "I uh... got a chill?" he finished almost in a question. He didnt look at her and hoped that his red face would be taken as embarrassment for such a lousy throw.

 

Taking up position for a second throw he decided that his mind could remain clear as long as he pictured a target he would want to hit. He pictured the Aes Sedai that got him in this mess. As he threw at the last moment he realized he did not hate her that much and twisted his wrist. The dagger landed beside the target. Twice now it had been close to release that he failed.

 

The last time he threw he made a perfect shot with no small amount of strength, dead on the target. He stood stunned for a moment and if Phinn said anything he didnt hear. That time, he had pictured himself...

 

OOC: Hes not going to be putting any moves on. Phinn is just going to be a distraction to him to make him do clumsy things. We planned the other RP in the forge so for that he might hammer a thumb or something... that sort of thing

IC: Phinn watched as Sandre tried again. The first two times he missed but the third he hit the target with great accuracy.

 

Something bothered Phinn though. She saw his face and he seemed as if he had seen a ghost. His face blanched and a second later he shook it off. It happened in a flash and if she had not been watching him she would have missed it. Sandre seemed to have some problems. Phinn being the type to want to help decided she would be his friend. Maybe she would see if he wanted to go have a drink and just chat. He seemed like he might need to talk to a friendly face.

 

“Well...you got it the third time at least.” Phinn spoke with a little laugh.”you just need some practice!”

 

She walked over to Sandre and patted him on the back.

 

“How about we forget this...I was going to go to the barracks at get a mug of ale..wanna join me?”

Sandre frowned at the target as though he were angry with it failure to move in the way or his daggers. He let Phinn start to lead him off towards the barracks and recovered his silver and knives along the way... well all but one of them anyways.

 

As he walked he was all to conscious of the place on his shoulder Phinn had patted him. He was not use to human contact and the spot tingled. His senses went on high alert since the only human contact he had had in the last few years was aggressive. He couldnt decide if he liked the soft side of a person or not. In order to avoid making it awkward he began to try and think of something to talk about.

 

"I dont think I have had ale before... just wine."

 

It was said as though more to himself at first. Finally he rested on a topic.

 

"Do you think you could get that kind of distance on an underhand throw? I would be reluctant to try it since I throw with my left hand when I am right handed."

IC: “Well My friend...you are in for a treat. Ale is a wonderful drink. Your first one will be on me.”

 

With a laugh Phinn lead Sandre to the barracks. The Barracks where full with warder and the trainees. Laughter from the back corner had Phinn notice a dart game where some one just won and was collecting their wager. Pipe smoke made a smell that tickled her nose..but one a few where smoking. Phinn caught site of a free table so she picked up a couple of mugs filled with ale and passed one to sandre as they made their way to the table. Once they where settled Phinn asked..

 

“So where are you from?”  and took a sip of her drink.

“So where are you from?”

 

Sandre tried the odd tasting drink and decided that while it wasnt bad... he would stick to tea and wine... or perhaps just water. However he kept drinking it almost unknowingly

 

"Andor... mostly... the Kaldun house was formed from an Andor house and Shienaran house so its in both places. The Andor side has extensive mines and farms so it supplies iron for both Andor and Shienar... not all of it, just a lot for both. We also send food and fresh recruits to the Shienar side so every single man at arms in the Kaldun house has fought in the Borderlands."

 

Sandre beamed a smile. The Borderlands were almost completely supplied by trade agreements and such but not many could claim nobility in two countries. Minor house it was. That and with Borderlands trained men at arms in Andor, the house would not be rolled by a larger house any time soon. The moment of pride came and went as Sandre remembered he had abandoned that life.

 

"So how about you Phinn? Where are you from?"

IC: Phinn staled by taking a drink from her glass and swallowing slowly. She kept her eyes down for amoment and then look at Sandre. She smiled and said...

 

"it is hard to talk of for me...but i come from Murandy. Hard life there...i left it because i knew i could find something better."

 

She took an other swallow from her glass...She did not see the need to tell him the whole truth. She kept truth in the story.. but not one hundred percent of it. Hiding and a little lying was keeping her safe.

 

"so tell me..why did you come tot he tower to train with the warders?"

"so tell me..why did you come tot he tower to train with the warders?"

 

"I didnt have a choice in the matter really... I made a bet with an Aes Sedai whom I didnt know was Aes Sedai at the time. I lost and this was her payment. Now that I am here I am not sure why it was so important that I be here."

 

He shook his head. Not so grand a story and searching for fame and glory, or revenge, or love, or to escape any sort of past or poverty. Just a plain stupid mistake.

 

"You have used knives before for more than just training it seems." Seeing the look on her face he added. "No. Im not going to ask why. Its none of my concern. Share what you like and withhold what you dont. Who you are now will determine where you stand with me and the others you encounter here."

IC: Phinn nodded agreement.

 

"that is true. I will tell you though that my father taught me the knifes from a early age. I always wanted to know weapons and he let me learn knifes." She smiled at the memory of getting her first set of knifes from her father..."I was so happy I grinned for a week straight when he gave me my first set of throwing knifes. My mother on the other hand was horrified." Phinned said with a chuckle.

 

"So do you want to become a warder one day?

"So do you want to become a warder one day?

 

Sandre shook his head. "No that is not for me. They would expect strict obedience even when they are wrong... Im not the type to let someone be hurt over someone not wanting to be outdone by her body guard."

 

The drink suddenly tasted bitter.... well... more bitter than before.

 

"How about you?"

Phinn Nodded in understanding.

 

"I think that obedience would be hard to get used to...but them thats why you look for the right sister, one that you get along with." She smiled "I personally want to be a warder. I just hope i can find the right sister to bond with. Untill then I'm happy to be training and to guard the tower."

 

Phinn took a sip of her drink and continued.

 

"I think maybe a Blue or Green sister would suit me." She said with a chuckle.

Sandre nodded.

 

"Blue I could see... Green though... arent you a little worried about the rumors of exactly how close they like to be to their warders?" He said it with a grin.

 

There were plenty of those rumors around the Tower and unfortunately, some of them by appearances seemed to be true.

 

"If they are a Green wouldnt be the worst fate considering the nature of the work doesnt allow for too many close relationships."

IC: Phin smirked and said "Well i guess its all about what your tastes are.." And winked.

 

"Yes being a Warder would be hard and it would pull you from your friendships...but all in the tower i'm sure understand that and don't take it personally. So are you going to stay in the Tower Guard or move on after your training?"

"Well i guess its all about what your tastes are.."

 

Sandre had some ale go down the wrong tube. Quickly he recovered himself.

 

"Yes being a Warder would be hard and it would pull you from your friendships...but all in the tower i'm sure understand that and don't take it personally. So are you going to stay in the Tower Guard or move on after your training?"

 

"I will stay a Tower Guard. Im not stupid though... I wont let a stubborn Aes Sedai who will accept no other as her warder die because I dont want the job. If it would benefit the Tower then I would bond... but it would take a grey to negotiate a decent set of oaths out of me and I... would want to feel something for that Aes Sedai and have it returned... I know that sounds foolish and impossible but there it is."

 

He was red with embarrassment yet at the same time sad. Staring in his mug he thought of something that made him smile.

 

"If you bond green the two of you would have your choice among the men of the tower who would bond just on the chance those rumors are true... you have to promise to tell me about the interesting attempts of the males to impress the two of you."

IC: With an other grin Phinn answered "Sure...I'm certain there will be some good stories."

 

Looking at her drink she saw that she was finished. Phinn needed to meet with her teacher for some lessons and to make it on time she would have to move fast.

 

"It has been great meeting you..I hope we can have a drink together or practice again soon. I have to move quick to meet a teacher." She offered her hand..

 

Once they shook hands and said their goodbyes she trotted off out the door.

 

OOC: well this was fun! We shoudl RP again sometime. *nods*

OOC sounds like a plan :)