Raekal walked down the path to the Master at Arms office with a slight
bounce to his step. His sword was strapped against his back, and Korl and
Ren flanking him as they escorted him in. As they entered the man's office,
he looked up in surprise at the three. "Hello, Korl, Ren," he said, nodding
to them each in turn. They bowed their heads back, and Raekal followed
their example. He smiled at the man and introduced himself.
"Sir, my name is Raekal Dunshain. I come down from the Borderlands, and I was looking for acceptance into the Tower to be trained as a Warder." He said it all in a rush, blurting it all rather quickly out, and wanted to wince. Some first good impression that was.
However, the Master at Arms grinned. "Of course, but, if you don't mind, may I take a look at your blade? It seems a part of you, but the hilt looks rather . . . unkept." Raekal handed over the sword, and he pulled the rusting blade from the sheath and winced. "You do not have the necessary tools for up keeping a blade of this caliber, do you?" Raekal shook his head, looking down. "Well, not to worry. Our smiths can restore this blade in no time and we can get you those tools. You do know what the blade is, don't you?"
Raekal shrugged. "My . . . father told me it used to belong to kings."
Korl looked at him in surprise, but said nothing. To Raekal. "He can use it too, sir. We saw him last night. He laid a man open from navel to jaw, and broke another's sword."
The Master at Arms grunted. "Many men can wield a blade when they come from the Borderlands." He looked over the sword again. "Your father told the truth, lad. This sword did belong to kings, at one time." He looked up for a moment, and muttered, to himself, "He really doesn't know . . ." Then shook his head. "My name is Archer, by the way. You can call me Archer Gaidin." He smiled, and laid the sword on his desk, then grabbed on from behind him and tossed it to Raekal. "In the mean time, I want to see how good you are with a sword in your hands."
Raekal smiled. "Of course, Archer Gaidin." He followed him out into the Yards, Korl and Ren following closely. The word seemed to spread like invisible fire, and before the two were done even warming up there was a ring of men leaning on practice lathes watching them. Raekal removed his shirt and stretched out good, then assumed his stance, sword sheathed, one hand hovering over the hilt, slightly turned so the sword faced away from his opponent. Archer stepped into a high guard, the sword held above his head. Ren dropped a white piece of cloth, and the fight began.
Raekal had not grown up learning to fight in sword forms. He had learned to fight by watching the opponent's blade and keeping his own in front of it no matter how it moved. He had a natural talent for reading fakes and throw-offs, so he was rarely caught by one. As Archer's sword blazed down at him, he spun to the right, drawing the sword in a smooth sweeping motion, and blocking the blade as it came at his side, not his head. Archer grunted in approval, and attacked again, moving through his forms like a graceful swimmer. Raekal backed up a step blocked his next stoke, and the third. He flowed as well, with a deadly lithe grace that had some men muttering "half man."
It was true . . . Raekal had learned how to fight from watching Fades fight. He had learned how to move my mimicking them, and now not a single movement ever seemed to disturb him. Even the wind seemed to loose its effect when he moved in a fight.
Archer attacked again and again, but every time Raekal blocked without effort, merely pivoting to put his sword in one place or the other, every time giving Archer a small grin as he stopped his blade again and again. Soon, Archer began to get frustrated, and he began to loose his fluidity as he moved against Raekal. Raekal still hadn't attacked, just defended, but seemed to take this as a sign that it was time to. In the blink of an eye, Archer went from offensive to defensive, backing away as Raekal spun, sliced, and stabbed at him, not giving him a moment's respite.
The end came quickly. Raekal spun inside the reach of Archer's sword. Too close for effective use. Archer tried to kick away, but Raekal reversed his move and instead Archer crashed to the ground. Raekal stood over him, casually kicking his sword away with one foot. "I think I win." It was a simple statement, but it completely silenced the Yards. The only sound to be heard was the clanging of the smiths' hammers in the distance, and the rumble of the usual town noise outside the walls. Raekal glanced around. Everyone was staring at him like he was the Dark One himself, but Archer rumbled a laugh as he pulled himself to his feet.
"Lad, you are definitely the first man to beat me in these Yards." He dusted himself off. "How did you learn to fight like that? That was . . . amazing. Simply amazing." He shook his head as if in disbelief.
Raekal shrugged, suddenly very uncomfortable. "I fought several battles during the invasion," he said softly. "I've killed more Trollocs than I can count. I've fought five or so Fades. Killed every one."
There was a collective intake of breath, but this time it was with an impressed air. Archer shook his head again. "Welcome to the Tower! But . . . I think you need no training." He laughed. "Impressive. Very."
The next day, Korl and Ren took him up to the Tower. "You don't know anything about Aes Sedai," Korl said, in disbelief. "You've killed more Shadowspawn than any man alive, but you know nothing about them."
Raekal shook his head. "Nope. Natta. Nothin."
Ren laughed and clapped his shoulder. "You are full of surprises, my friend." He laughed. "Well, there are several Ajahs, seven of them. Red, Blue, Green, Yellow, Gray, Brown, and White. Each Ajah has a different belief. Like the Reds, for example, hate men. Especially those that can channel, but the ones that can't channel they hate too, so don't even try to get cozy with one of them."
Korl continued as they walked up the steps. "The Greens are called the Battle Ajah. They're preparing for battle against the Dark One at Tarmon Gaidon. They like men . . . they like men very much." He laughed. "Yellows heal; they're the healers and doctors of the Tower. Whites are logical, they think about things all the time. Blues are like a pleasant mixture of everything, almost. I'd almost call them politicians. And Grays study. And study. And study some more. They're obsessed with studying everything that they can, and Browns like to read and study to." He laughed again. "The Tower is full of politics. You've of the Game of Houses in Cairhein? Multiple it by three and you've got one of the Ajahs."
Raekal shook hi head as they entered the Tower at long last. Two Aes Sedai looked up sharply. One's face softened an inch. "Korl, Ren. You two better not be up to trouble this time."
Korl winked at her. "No ma'am. Just showing a new Gaidin that just got accepted around. He needs to meet a few Aes Sedai."
She nodded, her face hardened again already. Raekal didn't like the ageless serene face she had on. "Okay, but keep away from our Novices this time, eh?"
Ren pushed them past the two and into the depths of the Tower. "First, we'll take you by Elayne. She's a pretty young thing that just got herself raised to Aes Sedai. She's Green, but she won't let men even talk about bonding around her." His face let up with an evil smile. "She says she wants to fall in love with the man she bonds."
Raekal nodded. An honorable goal, he thought. They rounded a couple corners and almost ran smack into a young-looking lady in a beautiful clinging green gown. Raekal smiled at her first, and, surprised, she returned the smile. Korl and Ren both bowed their heads, and Ren kicked Raekal for him to follow suit. "Elayne Sedai," both muttered, and Raekal muttered it even quieter afterwards.
"Gaidin," she acknowledged. "May I ask why there are three of you wandering the halls of the White Tower? Aren't there enough Recruits to be teaching?"
Ren blushed, but Korl said, "Elayne Sedai, we would like to introduce you to Raekal, um, Gaidin." Raekal blinked. It was the first time anyone had called him that, and it took him completely by surprise.
Elayne nodded at him. "Raekal Gaidin."
"He's new to the Tower. He was just accepted this morning by the Master at Arms," Korl continued, and Raekal tore his eyes from her beautiful face, framed by her lovely dark curls.
"Is that so?" she asked. "Well, congratulations, Gaidin. Although, if you don't mind me asking, how were you raised so fast?"
"I-" Raekal began, but was cut off by Ren.
"He beat Archer in a spar. Only man to ever do so."
She glanced at Ren. "Oh, and can he not speak for himself?"
They both blushed, but Raekal looked back at her. "I can, um, Elayne Sedai."
She smiled, taking them all by surprise. "Well, that's good. I was beginning to worry. Come, tell me about yourself. Why don't you two scamper along and find a Novice to torture?" Their eyes lit up. "No, don't actually find a Novice. Go teach a class or something." They moped off, but not before shooting Raekal victory glances. He was afraid to know what they were thinking. He looked back at Elayne and smiled again.
"What would you like to know about me, Elayne, um, Sedai?" He still staggered over the official title, but it was already beginning to come easier, slip out more smoothly.
"Where are you from, for one," she said, and began to walk again, him falling into step next to her.
"I'm from the Borderlands. Shienar." He hesitated. "Well, not originally. I was born in Caemlyn. But we moved up to Shienar when I was five. My mom and I, that is. To find my father, but we couldn't find him. My mom dumped me off with another family. I've never seen her since."
She paused for a moment. "What did you say your last name was again?"
"Raekal. Raekal Dunshain."
She nodded. "I thought so. So you came to the Tower for the claim, right?"
"Claim? No, I came because I had nothing left in the world, and I wanted to learn more about the world. Become a Warder. Maybe learn some things." He stopped in thought for a moment. "What claim do you speak of?"
"You don't know, do you?" she asked, and he remembered Archer saying something very similar.
"Know what?"
Elayne was not one for sugarcoating things, obviously. "That the Tower has been hunting you since you left Caemlyn. That you are a very important man."
He blinked. "I'm what? Me? I've been hunted? I haven't been hiding . . ."
She shook her head. "You may not of been, but your mother was running and hiding. She didn't like us 'Tar Valon witches' getting anywhere near her heir."
"Heir?"
She shook her head. "I've already said far too much. Look, the Amyrlin, if she doesn't already know you're here, will want to speak with you. Follow me, and please, do not over react to anything she says."
"Over react? I'm still not sure what you're talking about!"
"Just don't explode on her or anything. I wouldn't her to hurt you or anything."
"Hurt me?" he was beginning to get worried. "What . . . what's going on? Yesterday I was a poor bum on the street, today I've been hunted for years by the White Tower! Light! Tell me, what is going on here?"
Elayne stopped and turned to look at him. "You are one of the most important people in the world right now. Well. Maybe not in the world, but in the eyes of the Tower, you are very important. You, Raekal Dunshain, are the heir to the throne of Manetheren."
He staggered. Manetheren? Tales told about the legendary country, long dead and long forgotten, the line shattered by Shadowspawn and every thing to do with it shattered. He felt light headed and weak, and if Elayne hadn't caught him, he would have fallen to the floor.
"It has been foretold that Manetheren will be brought back from beyond the grave in our lifetimes, but that very difficult times will accompany it's returning. The Dark One has no love for Manetheren, and therefore no love for you. He wants you dead."
"The invasion," he muttered.
"Was aimed at you, most likely. We've all been blind. Come, we must get you before the Amyrlin." He shook his head. "Come. You cannot refuse the Amyrlin a meeting that she desires. She would have you thrown in prison . . . or worse." She hesitated. "I want you to be my Warder someday. I would not like it if you got thrown in prison first."
He felt light headed all over again. Now he was being asked to bond already. By someone he hardly knew! Light! This was insane! He felt the sudden urge to run, to get away from her and the whole Tower, from the Light blinded Aes Sedai. To get away. Very far away.
"Sir, my name is Raekal Dunshain. I come down from the Borderlands, and I was looking for acceptance into the Tower to be trained as a Warder." He said it all in a rush, blurting it all rather quickly out, and wanted to wince. Some first good impression that was.
However, the Master at Arms grinned. "Of course, but, if you don't mind, may I take a look at your blade? It seems a part of you, but the hilt looks rather . . . unkept." Raekal handed over the sword, and he pulled the rusting blade from the sheath and winced. "You do not have the necessary tools for up keeping a blade of this caliber, do you?" Raekal shook his head, looking down. "Well, not to worry. Our smiths can restore this blade in no time and we can get you those tools. You do know what the blade is, don't you?"
Raekal shrugged. "My . . . father told me it used to belong to kings."
Korl looked at him in surprise, but said nothing. To Raekal. "He can use it too, sir. We saw him last night. He laid a man open from navel to jaw, and broke another's sword."
The Master at Arms grunted. "Many men can wield a blade when they come from the Borderlands." He looked over the sword again. "Your father told the truth, lad. This sword did belong to kings, at one time." He looked up for a moment, and muttered, to himself, "He really doesn't know . . ." Then shook his head. "My name is Archer, by the way. You can call me Archer Gaidin." He smiled, and laid the sword on his desk, then grabbed on from behind him and tossed it to Raekal. "In the mean time, I want to see how good you are with a sword in your hands."
Raekal smiled. "Of course, Archer Gaidin." He followed him out into the Yards, Korl and Ren following closely. The word seemed to spread like invisible fire, and before the two were done even warming up there was a ring of men leaning on practice lathes watching them. Raekal removed his shirt and stretched out good, then assumed his stance, sword sheathed, one hand hovering over the hilt, slightly turned so the sword faced away from his opponent. Archer stepped into a high guard, the sword held above his head. Ren dropped a white piece of cloth, and the fight began.
Raekal had not grown up learning to fight in sword forms. He had learned to fight by watching the opponent's blade and keeping his own in front of it no matter how it moved. He had a natural talent for reading fakes and throw-offs, so he was rarely caught by one. As Archer's sword blazed down at him, he spun to the right, drawing the sword in a smooth sweeping motion, and blocking the blade as it came at his side, not his head. Archer grunted in approval, and attacked again, moving through his forms like a graceful swimmer. Raekal backed up a step blocked his next stoke, and the third. He flowed as well, with a deadly lithe grace that had some men muttering "half man."
It was true . . . Raekal had learned how to fight from watching Fades fight. He had learned how to move my mimicking them, and now not a single movement ever seemed to disturb him. Even the wind seemed to loose its effect when he moved in a fight.
Archer attacked again and again, but every time Raekal blocked without effort, merely pivoting to put his sword in one place or the other, every time giving Archer a small grin as he stopped his blade again and again. Soon, Archer began to get frustrated, and he began to loose his fluidity as he moved against Raekal. Raekal still hadn't attacked, just defended, but seemed to take this as a sign that it was time to. In the blink of an eye, Archer went from offensive to defensive, backing away as Raekal spun, sliced, and stabbed at him, not giving him a moment's respite.
The end came quickly. Raekal spun inside the reach of Archer's sword. Too close for effective use. Archer tried to kick away, but Raekal reversed his move and instead Archer crashed to the ground. Raekal stood over him, casually kicking his sword away with one foot. "I think I win." It was a simple statement, but it completely silenced the Yards. The only sound to be heard was the clanging of the smiths' hammers in the distance, and the rumble of the usual town noise outside the walls. Raekal glanced around. Everyone was staring at him like he was the Dark One himself, but Archer rumbled a laugh as he pulled himself to his feet.
"Lad, you are definitely the first man to beat me in these Yards." He dusted himself off. "How did you learn to fight like that? That was . . . amazing. Simply amazing." He shook his head as if in disbelief.
Raekal shrugged, suddenly very uncomfortable. "I fought several battles during the invasion," he said softly. "I've killed more Trollocs than I can count. I've fought five or so Fades. Killed every one."
There was a collective intake of breath, but this time it was with an impressed air. Archer shook his head again. "Welcome to the Tower! But . . . I think you need no training." He laughed. "Impressive. Very."
The next day, Korl and Ren took him up to the Tower. "You don't know anything about Aes Sedai," Korl said, in disbelief. "You've killed more Shadowspawn than any man alive, but you know nothing about them."
Raekal shook his head. "Nope. Natta. Nothin."
Ren laughed and clapped his shoulder. "You are full of surprises, my friend." He laughed. "Well, there are several Ajahs, seven of them. Red, Blue, Green, Yellow, Gray, Brown, and White. Each Ajah has a different belief. Like the Reds, for example, hate men. Especially those that can channel, but the ones that can't channel they hate too, so don't even try to get cozy with one of them."
Korl continued as they walked up the steps. "The Greens are called the Battle Ajah. They're preparing for battle against the Dark One at Tarmon Gaidon. They like men . . . they like men very much." He laughed. "Yellows heal; they're the healers and doctors of the Tower. Whites are logical, they think about things all the time. Blues are like a pleasant mixture of everything, almost. I'd almost call them politicians. And Grays study. And study. And study some more. They're obsessed with studying everything that they can, and Browns like to read and study to." He laughed again. "The Tower is full of politics. You've of the Game of Houses in Cairhein? Multiple it by three and you've got one of the Ajahs."
Raekal shook hi head as they entered the Tower at long last. Two Aes Sedai looked up sharply. One's face softened an inch. "Korl, Ren. You two better not be up to trouble this time."
Korl winked at her. "No ma'am. Just showing a new Gaidin that just got accepted around. He needs to meet a few Aes Sedai."
She nodded, her face hardened again already. Raekal didn't like the ageless serene face she had on. "Okay, but keep away from our Novices this time, eh?"
Ren pushed them past the two and into the depths of the Tower. "First, we'll take you by Elayne. She's a pretty young thing that just got herself raised to Aes Sedai. She's Green, but she won't let men even talk about bonding around her." His face let up with an evil smile. "She says she wants to fall in love with the man she bonds."
Raekal nodded. An honorable goal, he thought. They rounded a couple corners and almost ran smack into a young-looking lady in a beautiful clinging green gown. Raekal smiled at her first, and, surprised, she returned the smile. Korl and Ren both bowed their heads, and Ren kicked Raekal for him to follow suit. "Elayne Sedai," both muttered, and Raekal muttered it even quieter afterwards.
"Gaidin," she acknowledged. "May I ask why there are three of you wandering the halls of the White Tower? Aren't there enough Recruits to be teaching?"
Ren blushed, but Korl said, "Elayne Sedai, we would like to introduce you to Raekal, um, Gaidin." Raekal blinked. It was the first time anyone had called him that, and it took him completely by surprise.
Elayne nodded at him. "Raekal Gaidin."
"He's new to the Tower. He was just accepted this morning by the Master at Arms," Korl continued, and Raekal tore his eyes from her beautiful face, framed by her lovely dark curls.
"Is that so?" she asked. "Well, congratulations, Gaidin. Although, if you don't mind me asking, how were you raised so fast?"
"I-" Raekal began, but was cut off by Ren.
"He beat Archer in a spar. Only man to ever do so."
She glanced at Ren. "Oh, and can he not speak for himself?"
They both blushed, but Raekal looked back at her. "I can, um, Elayne Sedai."
She smiled, taking them all by surprise. "Well, that's good. I was beginning to worry. Come, tell me about yourself. Why don't you two scamper along and find a Novice to torture?" Their eyes lit up. "No, don't actually find a Novice. Go teach a class or something." They moped off, but not before shooting Raekal victory glances. He was afraid to know what they were thinking. He looked back at Elayne and smiled again.
"What would you like to know about me, Elayne, um, Sedai?" He still staggered over the official title, but it was already beginning to come easier, slip out more smoothly.
"Where are you from, for one," she said, and began to walk again, him falling into step next to her.
"I'm from the Borderlands. Shienar." He hesitated. "Well, not originally. I was born in Caemlyn. But we moved up to Shienar when I was five. My mom and I, that is. To find my father, but we couldn't find him. My mom dumped me off with another family. I've never seen her since."
She paused for a moment. "What did you say your last name was again?"
"Raekal. Raekal Dunshain."
She nodded. "I thought so. So you came to the Tower for the claim, right?"
"Claim? No, I came because I had nothing left in the world, and I wanted to learn more about the world. Become a Warder. Maybe learn some things." He stopped in thought for a moment. "What claim do you speak of?"
"You don't know, do you?" she asked, and he remembered Archer saying something very similar.
"Know what?"
Elayne was not one for sugarcoating things, obviously. "That the Tower has been hunting you since you left Caemlyn. That you are a very important man."
He blinked. "I'm what? Me? I've been hunted? I haven't been hiding . . ."
She shook her head. "You may not of been, but your mother was running and hiding. She didn't like us 'Tar Valon witches' getting anywhere near her heir."
"Heir?"
She shook her head. "I've already said far too much. Look, the Amyrlin, if she doesn't already know you're here, will want to speak with you. Follow me, and please, do not over react to anything she says."
"Over react? I'm still not sure what you're talking about!"
"Just don't explode on her or anything. I wouldn't her to hurt you or anything."
"Hurt me?" he was beginning to get worried. "What . . . what's going on? Yesterday I was a poor bum on the street, today I've been hunted for years by the White Tower! Light! Tell me, what is going on here?"
Elayne stopped and turned to look at him. "You are one of the most important people in the world right now. Well. Maybe not in the world, but in the eyes of the Tower, you are very important. You, Raekal Dunshain, are the heir to the throne of Manetheren."
He staggered. Manetheren? Tales told about the legendary country, long dead and long forgotten, the line shattered by Shadowspawn and every thing to do with it shattered. He felt light headed and weak, and if Elayne hadn't caught him, he would have fallen to the floor.
"It has been foretold that Manetheren will be brought back from beyond the grave in our lifetimes, but that very difficult times will accompany it's returning. The Dark One has no love for Manetheren, and therefore no love for you. He wants you dead."
"The invasion," he muttered.
"Was aimed at you, most likely. We've all been blind. Come, we must get you before the Amyrlin." He shook his head. "Come. You cannot refuse the Amyrlin a meeting that she desires. She would have you thrown in prison . . . or worse." She hesitated. "I want you to be my Warder someday. I would not like it if you got thrown in prison first."
He felt light headed all over again. Now he was being asked to bond already. By someone he hardly knew! Light! This was insane! He felt the sudden urge to run, to get away from her and the whole Tower, from the Light blinded Aes Sedai. To get away. Very far away.