Andrae fiddled with a knife as she waited for trainees to assemble on the slight slope in front of her- the Kandori looking all the world like a young woman some beau would want to court, were it not for the Gaidin's cloak tied lazily to one side as light gleamed off of the long knife she played with. The sun was out and it was clear- probably the worst weather for what she was going to have them do. They've got to learn some day.

A row of targets backed by boards stood off to one side. A rack the size of a long dinner table turned on its side filled with various sized knives stood behind her. She rolled the knife on her knuckles, honey brown eyes watching the trainees. They look so young. She knew she wasn't old in any sense of the word, but the faces of the trainees were fresher than any of those she had seen in a while. Well, you have to start somewhere. The serious looks of a good number of them said that they were ready for it. She smiled her half smile and moved to speak with them.

"Greetings, my name is Andrae Dircan. I will be your instructor in knife throwing today." Her voice was friendly, she thought. "First thing's first- who has used a knife before?" Hands went up unsteadily until eventually every one trainee had their hands in the air. "Fantastic, then you know what you like and I can trust you not to stab yourselves. The day's looking better already." A few trainees laughed uncertainly. "The first thing I'm going to ask you to do is grab yourselves three knives each and line up in front of a target. What you'll be looking for in the knife besides a nice point is a nice balance. Keep that in mind." She paused and watched them watching her. She kept on her half smile as she noticed some looking at her with obvious mixed feelings- being a woman Gaidin she evoked a hand full of those one an hourly level and had grown used to it, as had the other women in the Yards. "Well. Go to it."

They wasted no time picking out blades and lining in small groups of three or four in front of her six target boards.

"Knives are useful pieces of equipment. They can help you in close range and in distance fighting. If you take no knowledge from this lesson but the fact that a knife on your body will help indefinitely then this is worthwhile and I will consider you better off in the world.

Knife fighting is an art on its own and I will not overload you with that yet. So let's start on basic throwing." She gripped her knife. "Depending on the knives you've chosen there are different grips. Hopefully you'll learn both today. The first is particularly good for one sided blades; Grip the blade, with the dull side on the palm of your hand, blade on the outside. Be sure you are relaxed while you do this. Nervous people with knives never helped anyone." She looked at a few trainees. "Alright. Good. Now for the second. In this the knife acts as a straight extension of your arm. Pinch it like so," she demonstrated, holding the knife between her thumb and two fingers. "good."

"Alright, when it comes to throwing, you want a constant movement. Watch me carefully." She threw her knife into the nearest target five paces away. She changed her grip and spoke as she threw another. "Just keep in mind a flowing form that you can always come back to each time you release." Both knives sat side by side in the inner most circle of the target. "Okay, do as I do and listen to what I say..."

She had them throw and retrieve on her release in the bright sunlight until she thought they were ready for the next stage.

xxxx

Lain slowly walked with the other Trainees, surprised at how much his body had gotten used to the intense physical training that was now his way of life. There will still many days when he went to bed and woke up sore, but the pain was less, and there were days he didn't ache at all. The Master of Arms would probably say I wasn't working hard enough... he thought to himself with a grin.

Once arrayed on the slope, the group began to look around, taking in the targets, and rack of knives. Throwing knives, by my guess... Brushing his hair from his eyes, he stood stiff-backed, facing the woman. He hadn't seen a woman Gaidin before, but he knew they existed, and she looked no different than Lain had expected. Muscles corded her frame, a testament to the training she had done, and most likely still did,

"Greetings..." Lain listened attentively as she spoke the explanation and instructions, raising his hand when asked if he had used knives before. Moving with the throng, he selected three of the knives before him, checking the balance with his finger. Satisfied, he nodded, moving to a line in front of a target. He nodded as she talked; he had heard some of it before. The way of holding the weapon was new, however.

Chuckling with the others at the clumsy attempt of the first person when Andrae Gaidin signaled, he tested the ball of his thumb on his blade, raising an eyebrow when a thin line of red appeared. At least I don't have to worry about it falling out of the target, he though wryly. Suddenly, it was his turn, and he took his place before the target. Holding the knife carefully in one hand, he adjusted it with his other, positioning the fingers.

"Release!" Lunging forwards onto his other foot, he brought his arm back and forwards. Lain grimaced as the weapon flipped awkwardly a few times in the air, hitting the target dull side first. He picked up his second knife, adjusting the positioning slightly. This time, on the command, it flipped smoothly, sticking in the wood for a few seconds before falling to the ground. More power, fool! he scolded himself.

"Release!" Leaning smoothly forwards, he snapped his arm and threw the knife, watching it slice gracefully through the air. Lain hid a smile as the point dug into the target. Not quite the middle; actually, not even close. But he had hit the target, and it had stuck. It was a start.