"I saw that sigh," Eldren grinned. "It's saying, "why him again?'" Hannan tried to stop his frown, but that, too, was impossible to hide from the eerie merchant's son. Is it because he comes from a family who makes a living off being suave and sly? They couldn't yet afford a house among the old aristocracy, but they were comfortably situated in the inner parts of Haven. They were probably masters in the art of reading people, judging from their son. The scary part was that he wasn't even a Thoughtsenser.

Eldren was, of course, right on the money, so to speak. Today they were paired off to try their hand against the Weapons Second as a team. Although Hannan tried his best to situate himself next to Alys (and then maybe even ask her), he failed again in procuring her as a partner-losing this time not to Elyssa, but Kerchen. When she picked him, Hannan thought his fears that she would fall for him were realized-but Alys clearly indicated her continuing affection for the Weapons Second, so he figured that there was nothing between them. Although that isn't much better..

They paused their casual practicing to watch as Alys and Kerchen were called up to spar with the Weapons Second. After Dethor gave the signal to start, it became clear that the match was going to be more of a comedy act than anything else. Alys, whose mind was not on battling Alberich, began to swing her stave randomly in Alberich's general direction, and was soon met with a whack on the side, the head, or any one of her appendages (since none of them were guarded very well). Kerchen would step in from there, hoping to catch the Weapons Second unaware after his attack on Alys, but Alberich never let him get even a glancing blow. As the quick-footed former assassin (no, I have to stop bringing that up) put up a laudable defense, Alys would sit in a dreamy daze for a bit, entirely useless in the "team" effort. The Trainee without his head in the clouds would spar with everything he had-though perhaps he had taken his solo act too far. He didn't account for his partner at all, and more often than not ran into Alys (still swinging haphazardly) while trying to avoid an attack. If he managed to avoid her stave as well, then at worst they would both tumble to the ground; if he didn't, then he received a heady blow (the only type of blow Alys was landing). Aghast after each instance of this, she would try to pick up the battle from there-still hurting her partner more than Alberich, either hitting Kerchen in the gut with a stray swing, or otherwise running into him in clumsy attempts to evade.

Hannan forgot to close his mouth as he watched the fiasco unfold before him. At one point, Kerchen had fallen after catching a blow from Alys's attempt to hit Alberich. Immediately after, she raised her stave so hard that it whipped backwards and smacked him in the head just after he picked himself off the ground. She didn't even manage to hit Alberich. Neither did Kerchen manage to get up. The Weapons Second, realizing that this team was going to need a bit of extra practice, let them "die" several more times before he finally dropped his weapon in disgust.

"Terrible!" he spat, as Dethor sighed with similar irritation. The Weaponsmaster walked towards them with such resignation, Hannan had the crazy impression that it was their funeral.

"How well you two did, as I hope we all know, can go unsaid. Trainee Kerchen, you must learn how to fight alongside your allies-if not another soldier, then at least your Companion will be fighting with you. The way you are now is a disgrace, and the best you could be on the battlefield is worthless. And Trainee Alys-where exactly are you swinging your stave? Did you even know who your opponent was? I'd rather have you as an enemy than on my side!" After this warm up, he began a tirade at the duo as Alberich moved onto the next pair of students, and even Alys noticed his palpable ire past her general dreamy gaze. She looked guiltily to Kerchen, but the latter was too busy seeing stars to return the look. Hannan had no doubt that he had just seen the worst routine of the day and just stared with apprehension and disbelief.

"Eldren," Hannan gulped, "I'm worried." Eldren sniggered.

"They make a good pair," he chuckled. "If they weren't Trainees, they could probably be a comedic duo in a troupe." Hannan tried to laugh, but all that came out was despair in foreign syllables. Unlike Eldren, he knew that there was a Karsite war on their heels, and sending Alys and Kerchen in their current state...well they might as well kill them now. Ideally, Alys would not get her Whites until the war was over, but that wasn't something to count on. Eldren continued, running a hand through his straight hair. "This is the last class before the Midwinter break-isn't it good your mentee has made a friend?" Hannan spluttered.

"Y-you knew I was his mentor?" He instinctively looked to Elyssa out of fear. Luckily, Elyssa was still singlemindedly improving her already formidable stave skills on a dummy, oblivious to any kind of fraternizing with Karsites that Hannan was doing. She didn't even spare a glance in Alys's direction after picking up her weapon-a slightly disturbing habit she had acquired in the last few days. Eldren gave a sly smile looking askance at Kerchen.

"I tutored him for a bit in Gift classes-he's already quite good at Farsight, so the real instructor has already taken over him. A pity though-he returned my focus stone in class rather than in my room."

"Wha-!" Hannan's jaw dropped, trying to think of a rebuke. Despite that Kerchen had never once asked for his help, Hannan still felt it distinctly wrong that Eldren should try anything on his ward. Unfortunately, he still wasn't good with words, so only stammering actually came out of his mouth, even while Eldren was clearly scrutinizing Kerchen's unwontedly vulnerable frame. Gods, if I could just find the words! And then say them. The latter, as usual, paid no mind to Hannan's inner conflicts.

"It's a pity, but perhaps he'll loosen up one day, be curious-hey, isn't he leaving with Alys?" Following Eldren's sight, Hannan turned around to catch Alys and Kerchen walking off the salle grounds.

"W-wait, why-"

"Well Hannan, because we're just sparring off with Alberich today, once we're done we can leave right af-"

"No! That's not what I meant," Hannan said, aware that "whined" was probably more accurate. "They've been paired a few times here, but otherwise they haven't met each other. Why would they just leave together like that?" Eldren raised an eyebrow.

"Have you been doing some stalking of your own, Hannan?" He tried to hide his guilty look, but that was impossible. Gods, if Elyssa knew that I studied in the dining hall to keep an eye on the Karsite..

:I think she would approve, actually,: Erron supplied. :Well, provided you were watching for suspicious movements, rather than for-dare I say it?-his sake. Otherwise, she wouldn't be pleased with you, no. By the way, have I told you that you really must get over your fear of her?:

:I'm not afraid of her!: Just girls in general-no, adding that wouldn't help his case any. Regardless, Eldren decided not to pursue this topic and instead put a hand to his chin in thought.

"Kerchen tends to ignore new people, so I don't believe they just met. Perhaps they met at her tavern, then? If Trainee Alberich goes, then why not other Trainees?" Only Eldren would refer to the Weapons Second as Trainee Alberich-but that aside..

"You think they're meeting at her tavern?" Hannan gulped, wondering what kind of conversations he'd been missing. While he had been hoping for his ward to befriend someone, he had specifically wanted him to befriend someone else...

:I'm selfish, aren't I,: Hannan mourned.

:No, you're being logical,: comforted Erron. :The kid's a knife wielding justice serving scarred and rugged Karsite with a heart of gold and a complicated past, just like her current obsession but actually her age and able to hide his scars, somehow. If she gets to know him and crack his icy shell, why wouldn't she fall for him instead of Alberich and by default you-:

:You're saying this just to be mean, I know it!:

"Close your eyes," Kerchen instructed Alys, who obeyed dutifully. While he would not have guessed he'd be doing this a week ago, he took it in step anyway. Since setting foot in Haven, he started doing a lot of things that he never would have imagined otherwise. For a thinner look, reproduce the effect of contours by darkening the cheeks-thin the nose-bring out the front-

:Dieder's right, you do enjoy this,: Alvira commented coyly. Was there anything wrong with it? Kerchen was starting to get the impression that there was something, but Valdemarans were unwontedly roundabout on a strange assortment of subjects. No matter-he had to concentrate on the task at hand.

After a few disastrous attempts herself, Alys had decided that she wanted Kerchen to apply her cosmetics, so for the last few days, he had been coming to her room after the last class of the day. He wasn't sure if this was something normal to do, but he supposed it couldn't hurt. Her room was drastically different from his-since moving in, Kerchen had augmented his room with nothing more than school supplies, a handful of books, and an apple or two. Alys's room was piled with cushions, mountains of patchwork pillows and blankets everywhere-he had the impression he was trodding on a fluffy assortment of various clouds. He had to leave his boots by the door, but that was fine since he always kept some knives in his sleeves.

"Hey Ker', what other friends do you have?" Alys piped up. He wasn't fond of Alys's habit of talking while he was working on her face, but he had since given up trying to tell her to stop. She wasn't stubbornly perverse more than scatterbrained, but the latter was worse in some respects.

"Only Dieder." Hannan only looked after him because he was his mentor, and-while he wasn't exactly sure what Eldren was thinking, he was fairly certain it wasn't camaraderie.

"Now you have me too!" she pointed out brightly. Kerchen had to smile at her enthusiasm. Given the same line, Dieder had only shot him an uncomfortable expression.

"For that, I am thankful."

:Hey, what about me? I'm not your friend?:

:Didn't you say that Companions were better than friends? How can you be both?: Alvira reluctantly conceded with a hint of regret.

:Still, because I'm your Companion and I saved you from certain death, I think I deserve special treatment. For example, you should count me as a friend too. And Companion, of course. Perhaps mother, sister. Partner. Master-:

:Alright, I think you've gone far enough.:

"Where did you learn how to put on makeup?"

"A mentor of mine taught me." He wondered what Adelinne might be doing now-

"How are you doing in your classes?" Still with the non sequiturs..

"I am in a good position. Hold still, I am working on your eyes." She made an effort, but still couldn't help fidgeting.

"Where do you come from?" Kerchen froze. He could refuse to answer, but unlike King's Own Talamir, Alys didn't seem like the type that would let things slide. Lying was out of the question, but he wasn't sure she could keep his secret-or if she would understand why it was a secret at all. It would leave a bad taste in his mouth, but he could just say he was from the Border...

If you didn't want her to know, then you shouldn't have approached her in the first place, a side of him pointed out. Look at you, in the heart of the White Demon's lair, so to speak-and still assuming White Demons are dangerous. Clearly you're ready to put some faith in your fellow Trainees, so just take that next step and try it.

:I agree with your logical side,: Alvira added. :He says some good things.: Kerchen scowled. For some reason, her praise of his "logical side" never seemed flattering. Nevertheless, he had to admit it was true-although he hadn't been avoiding the Trainees, he did try to discourage conversation precisely so that he would be asked similar questions. Eventually, he noticed that he no longer had to try. While it was more practical and had been the result he was trying to achieve, there was a part of him that hoped to know more about his peers.

Actually, I already know quite a bit about them. Just because they had been trying not to pay attention to him didn't mean the opposite was true. It used to be my job-I should be proud for being able to be secretive while still out in the open.

Well, it was easy because no one wants to talk to you.

You stop that. Since it was himself, why couldn't it say something nice once in awhile? He should feel proud of the result, and perhaps he was a little bit, but the feeling of wanting more was simply greater. Wanting what? I suppose it's to-to join them? Or something like that. But how could I, being from Karse as I am? Even Alberich doesn't mingle with the Trainees. He stays with Dethor, who understands him at a professional level. And he was fairly certain there weren't any other Trainees that had shared his previous occupation, there was no point in wasting his time hoping-he wouldn't fit in, and he would get by just fine. He already had Alvira and Dieder, so what more did he need? One shouldn't get too greedy. But what about Alys? Shouldn't I trust her by now? Well, he was already here; he could at least try and hope she wouldn't recoil-or worse, tell everyone she knew.

"I come from-"

"Karse right?" Dumbly, Kerchen dropped the cosmetic pad, which landed powder first into her trews. Though he had meant to say that, he certainly didn't expect to hear it from her mouth first. If I had, I wouldn't have spent so long worrying about it...

Alys continued, oblivious of Kerchen's expression. "I thought you looked a bit like Weapons Second Alberich, but the other day you did that funny verb changing thing that he does, so I just knew!" He was a little tongue-tied to reply, but that made sense. "Oh, also Elyssa told me to stay away from you-since you're such a nice guy, obviously it must be because you're from Karse!" Elyssa Hasenhower. Yes, her hatred would be the clincher there... He had been paired with her in weapons class once-while it had been the most technically rewarding of his practice bouts, in fact didn't even feel like a practice, he wasn't sure if he wanted to work with her again. She had said only two words to him-"I know"-but her tone had said a lot more and her stave everything else. "Kerchen? Can I open my eyes? Kerchen, I don't think my trousers need any makeup."

"Oh, I sorry am-I mean, I'm sorry-" Alys laughed as Kerchen cleaned up the residue. Powders were expensive and messy, and he cursed his clumsiness. Even after he scraped and salvaged what he could, that must still be a few copper bits laying uselessly on her cushions now. To make such a mistake-he had to be losing his touch. Alys put a hand out to stop him from wiping the rest up.

"Don't worry so much! My room isn't the cleanest thing anyway-actually, it could do with a bit more color." He looked down to see that the cushion was now, indeed, a different shade of tan in some places. Well, it was true enough-if the clothes had to be that dull by design, then at least the room could have some touches to it.

:Your room is hardly the most artistic thing out there either,: Alvira pointed out.

:I hardly have time to think about decorations between classwork and your obsession with riding. You know I've never even tried to ride my mule before-:

:And now you're much better at riding, thanks to my expert and intensive tutoring!: Alvira finished with satisfaction. Well, he couldn't deny that he'd improved, if out of necessity. Alys piped up again, heralding yet another torrent of questions.

"How is it like in Karse? Is it really different from here?" He sighed. Different-well, where to begin on that one?