Link picked a bench on the corner of the training yard and sat down. Adolin was helping another swordmaster, Zahel, gather the "Windrunners", which Adolin had given up trying to explain to Link. A few other people were in the yard, training. Most were men, presumably soldiers. There were women among the Windrunners, but they were few. Apparently women weren't really allowed to fight, because of some Vorin thing.
Link watched rapt as a blade summoned from mist in Adolin's hand. Was that really what a shardblade was? Link suddenly remembered how he had a special sword back home. The Master Sword, a gift from the Goddess to be passed down to the hero of Hyrule. There was a spirit who lived inside named Fi, whom he'd actually managed to talk to once or twice. He would've freed her, but neither of them knew how.
Adolin finished giving the group a pep talk, and noticed Link sitting off to the side. He waved Link over, and Link got up. It couldn't hurt to practice for a little bit. Maybe he'd learn some new techniques. Not that he could remember the old ones. He found a wooden practice sword, and stood near the back of the group.
Adolin started to lead the group through some warm-ups, and Zahel watched, glaring, from the side. The man was always like that, according to Adolin.
As Link worked through the drills, he started to remember things. His father had taught him the same moves, though they were called different things. Soon he was flying through the drills, not far off from the ones he had learned.
After practice, Adolin came over.
"I saw you practicing. You really are good, for someone who's never seen a shardblade. Want to test those moves?" he said.
"You're on."
Since Link wasn't terribly familiar with shards, Adolin agreed to use wooden practice swords instead. It helped even out the fight too.
Link and Adolin circled each other in the ring. Adolin tried an attack, testing the waters. Link dodged easily and started to lunge forward. Adolin blocked his offense perfectly. Link would need to be even faster if he had any hope of winning. Link shifted to a different stance and attacked. Adolin dodged and got in a few blows. Nothing that would be considered fatal though. Link was sweating by now, and Adolin looked just as hot. Link dashed forward and lept at Adolin. His hit was slightly off balanced and barely missed Adolin. He would have won with that hit.
Shallan came running in. Everyone turned to watch her, even the Windrunners captivated by the spar.
"I've got news. Important stuff." Shallan was pushing people out of the way to reach the boys. Once she finally got there, she gestured for them to come off to the side.
"I think I know what happened to Kaladin."