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Taymist

RP - LEGACY

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Posts posted by Taymist

    Just as she was beginning to think this would be a solo training session after all, other recruits began to arrive.  The woman looked relatively inexperienced though the the man seemed to know one end of a sword from the other. No-one else appeared and as they'd gathered their choice of weapons, the Sergeant began to speak.

     

    Elynde's eyes hardened at the tone though she recognised the sound of an oft repeated speech when she heard it. She'd been her own boss for so long that she knew taking that derision and condescension from another was not going to sit well. She was here to learn though and this man was one who could teach, who knew more than she did, so she gritted her teeth and listened, allowing no other outward sign of her inner thoughts, deliberately relaxing her posture.

     

    "Now, before we actually get on with this, I want you to tell me what rules there are in a fight," the Sergeant asked eyeing each of them in turn.

     

    Elynde waited, allowing the others to speak first. The woman sounded like she was repeating by rote, rather than experience. She tilted her head when they'd finished and spoke shortly.

     

    "No rules. Kill or be killed."

     

    Most fights were short and viscious. You did what you must in order to be the one who walked away alive. She had no intention of being anything other than the survivor and that was that.

    Niall was a very kind and gentle man, Rhya had decided, beginning to feel at ease around their host as he'd chatted away making her feel comfortable before showing them to their rooms. It had been a struggle to get back on her aching feet to climb the beautiful wooden staircase but the opportunity to soak in a hot tub had been too good to miss.

     

    The room itself appeared to be at the back of the upper level, away from any possible disturbance in the public room downstairs, while the furniture was of the same solid wood, the surfaces radiating a well burnished glow. Luxuriating in the warmth of the freshly poured water, she added some of the bath salts that had been supplied and the miseries of the past few days drained away, easing overtaxed muscles and emotions alike, though she didn't relax too much for fear of falling asleep. Drowning in the bath tub would not be the best way to thank Niall for his hospitality after all.

     

    Having dried off and dressed in fresh clothes, Rhya eyed her reflection critically in the small oval mirror on the dressing table. She felt quite human again, not to mention almost ravenously hungry. Spurred by the thought of food, she seated herself and began vigorously towel drying her hair then rummaged around in her pack for her brush to remove the usual tangles.

     

    Hmmm, I know I brought it with me. It was definitely there earlier, she thought, having no luck in locating the item, thought she recalled packing it. Maybe it got mixed in with Owen's stuff.

     

    Deciding that was the most likely explanation, she looked at the connecting door between their rooms, moved to wonder again just why Niall had felt that to be necessary or whether it was just accidental. Pondering for a moment, she finally stood and walked over to the door, knocking once and waited for a response.

     

    “Come on in Rhya, what can I do for you?”

     

    Stepping into the room, Rhya opened her mouth to speak.... and came to a dead stop as her gaze took in Owen's supine form in the bath tub. She heard the strangled squawk that issued from her throat instead of the words which had been hovering on her tongue just a second before and her face flamed red. She stood there, rooted to the spot, the blood just as suddenly draining from her face as her brain frantically tried to find some way to cover her unexpected confusion. She knew in some part of her head that she was over reacting but there was no time for analysing why right then.

     

    Nothing to see... just water... perfectly respectable... being silly... SPEAK for pity's sake girl.. her mind screamed at her while her body tried to deal with the unnerving awareness her newly heightened senses were conveying to her of the room's heat and the strong, distinctly male scent in the air. How long she would have remained like that was anyone's guess but as her eyes finally locked on Owen's, she could clearly see the mischievous humour on his face. The flash of temper that hit then had Rhya reaching her hand out for the nearest object on the chest of drawers to her right and lobbing it with no small force in the Ranger's direction.

     

    "Why you...!!

     

    "Hey now..." Owen barely flinched as the missile struck the water, merely laughing and fishing around beneath the soap bubbles. "I can see we'll need to work on your aim." Having located the item, he raised it in one hand, grinning broadly, and Rhya, much to her own chagrin, recognised her own brush!! Eyes glinting dangerously, she stiffened her spine and let fly with several choice expletives that left him in no doubt as to her current opinion, stalked to the tub, snatched the brush and marched out of the room, slamming the door behind her for good measure.

     

    Flopping on to the soft embrace of the bed covers, her temper dissipating equally as quickly as it had come, Rhya began to drag the brush through her knotted hair and screwed her eyes shut as though to wipe out the last few moments. What in the Light had possessed her to act like such a fool? It was utterly out of character. She dropped the brush to the floor, hoping that her inability to speak had gone unnoticed by Owen but even as her lashes brushed her cheeks, sleep overtaking even hunger, she somehow knew that was unlikely.

     

     

     

     

     

    Kiyi moved hesitantly into the room, not quite sure what to expect and found two women, seated on the beds opposite each other. A cursory glance told her that one of them, a pretty woman running to plumpness, was a Novice like herself. The other, who displayed an air of vagueness, wore one of the banded dresses that marked her as an Accepted and sat amongst the rumpled sheets of Kiyi's own bed. She flinched on noticing that.

     

    Recalling the rules that Nynaeve Sedai had recited, Kiyi said nothing, folding her hands at her waist after closing the door and dropping a curtsy, waiting for the Accepted to speak first. She felt her throat close over again at being faced with two complete strangers and didn't think she could speak anyway if her life depended on it. It was difficult enough to simply keep breathing past the restriction and she felt the blood drain from her face for the second time that day.

     

    "Ah, you must be Kiyissalle. My name is Melianna and this is your roommate, Esther," the Accepted pronounced rather distractedly before looking at her expectantly. Knowing she would have to respond, Kiyi coughed discreetly, one hand flying to her throat and then swallowed, trying to ease the pressure on her aching throat muscles.

     

    "A pleasure to meet you both," she finally murmured softly, cringing at the sound of her voice as it rasped in her ears. Trying for a friendly smile she moved her gaze to the other Novice, "Hello Esther, I apologise for the mess. I'm afraid I only arrived a few hours ago and just had time for a quick nap before I had to see Larindrha Sedai. I thought I was late so I left rather hastily. I'm not normally untidy."

     

    Kiyi stopped, clamping her lips shut, knowing her sudden loquaciousness was down to nerves.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Kiyi looked up, startled out of her daydream by the return of her mentor and passed her sheet of paper over as bid. She wondered at that still present air of sadness that surrounded the Yellow as she waited for a response, half expecting to be told off for writing so little. The row never came though. Instead a slight smile crossed the woman's face at some private thought and Kiyi breathed a soft sigh of relief. The next words to hit her ear had her smiling a genuine smile.

    "Oh yes, thank you Nynaeve Sedai, I should like a tour very much," she said politely, taking in the information about the proposed class. Her curiousity was piqued further at the mention of a special chore and she hoped it would be something enjoyable at least.

    Nynaeve Sedai dismissed her then with an almost absent gesture towards the door and Kiyi hastily curtsied and left the room, more eager than ever to get some sleep. The journey had been a long one and she feared her reserves of energy had not been sufficiently restored by her earlier nap.

    It took a few moments until she got her bearings in the warren of hallways and figured out how to get back to her room. The corridors seemed busier now and she passed many women who must be Aes Sedai judging by their faces as well as girls who looked much the same age as herself but who wore dresses banded with colour. Ajah colours, she thought. They must be... what was the word? Ah yes...Accepted.

    As she neared her room once more, her pace quickened in eager anticipation of falling between soft sheets and into welcome oblivion but just as she reached out to turn the handle, the soft murmur of voices reached her from the other side of the door. She paused thinking she may have the wrong room. A quick glance around the hallway reassured that she didn't however and she opened the door, bracing herself to face yet more strangers.



    Continued HERE on Esther's thread.



     

    Elynde took time tying her hair back out of her face. She much preferred to have it down but since there was a training session that morning, having loose hair flying around for someone to grab wasn't the best idea. She was still impressed at how organised this place appeared to be. Considering she'd only arrived the previous night, being assigned training already was fast work. Not that she minded being awake so early. She'd always risen before sun up, it had been the nature of her jobs thus far, and she'd barely slept anyway. Whether it was excitement or apprehension she hadn't yet decided.

     

    Running a hand over her scalp to smoothe down stray hairs, she strode purposefully across the training grounds following the directions she'd been given, her eyes scanning the area till she found what she sought. An older man working out in a quiet, sand covered area fitted the description of Sergeant Ronas and Elynde changed direction towards him. No-one else was about yet and she thanked the Light for her early rising habits. Being late would not have been a good start and she suspected that here, as with the merchants' caravans, a woman would have to work twice as hard to prove her right to be there. Her eyes hardened further at the thought as determination stiffened her spine. She had no intention of leaving.

     

    She came to a quiet halt within the Sergeant's line of vision not wishing to distract him from his moves. To her surprise, he said nothing, merely directing her to a solid looking table, a few steps away covered in a variety of weapons, with the slightest nod of his head. Elynde took her time looking them over. There was a mind boggling array of replicas sitting there and she hefted one or two that looked a suitable length. In the end, rather than take a risk, she settled on a short sword similar to the one she'd arrived with. It felt familiar in her grasp and of a compatible weight, the leather hilt soft under her fingers. Deceptively so, as she knew to her own detriment. A good work out would cause calluses on the hands no matter how a sword first appeared.

     

    Having made her choice, she stood patiently, watching the Sergeant carefully as she waited for the other trainees to arrive. He was patently a veteran fighter judging by his skill and control, which was only to be expected of someone in charge of training. His weapon looked like a natural extension of himself, a sure sign of experience and ability. A little taller than herself but not overly so, she noted, wondering just how bad this session was going to be and how many bruises she'd be sporting at the end of it.

    Rhya found herself suddenly nose to nose with an older man and had to crush the urge to take several steps back. His eyes were kindly though and Owen had said he was a friend. She smiled warily as he gently ushered her through the door to the building's interior.

     

    That wariness lasted all of two seconds until Niall said the magic word... tea!! Rhya almost groaned in ecstasy. A proper mug of hot tea... sitting down and out of the snow. She'd have given her first born child for that tantalising promise right then. Moving forward more eagerly, she found herself being propelled towards a comfortable looking chair in front of a very large fire. Gratefully dropping her pack and shucking off her cloak, she collapsed into the chair and closed her eyes as Niall spoke to Owen. She ignored the murmur of their voices, letting the heat seep slowly back into her bones.

     

    Note to self. Don't ever pester Owen to take me anywhere again, she thought, slightly surprised that she could still find humour in the situation. The past two nights had been rough, far rougher than she'd been prepared for. Owen had badgered her that first night, not allowing her to sleep, forcing her to stay conscious lest she fall pray to the freezing temperature. She'd found the will power from somewhere to heed his words and now, she silently thanked her own stubborness and the persistence both he and Shadow had shown. How they had survived the following days, she knew not. Her mind had all but shut down from sheer tiredness. Even Owen showed signs of flagging and that worried her more than anything else. The sight of the inn had been welcome in more ways than one.

     

    Opening her eyes again, she wiggled her toes at the fire, eventually kicking off her boots to gain greater benefit as she thought over Owen's story. He seemed to spend a deal of time helping other people for all his general tendency to be solitary. And who helps him? The question popped into her mind with a concern that had her sitting up straight and shaking her head. What business is that of yours? she asked herself silently, her gaze flying to the other two figures in the room. That of a friend. It's natural. He gave me a home and a welcome when none other would. Nodding briefly in satisfaction at the answer she'd come up with, she relaxed back into the chair once more, ignoring the slight sense that she was somehow deceiving herself and unwilling to follow the thought any further.

     

    She looked round the room wearily, admiring the solid craftsmanship in all the wooden furniture and the small homely touches that had been added here and there, until the two men returned to the fire. Niall held out a decent sized mug to her and Rhya lifted it to her mouth, blowing a little on the hot liquid and savouring the taste as it slid down her throat, warming her insides.

     

    "My deepest thanks. You have no idea just how much I needed that," she told him, smiling a genuine smile for the first time.