A Dance of Fools [Attn: Cat]

[Jenny]

<< A Taste of Mischief Kaira

Slowly she began to pick up her normal activities. Painting returned first, followed by her interest in training with the sword. Then eventually Nasrin dragged her along for another silly prank, which Kaira thoroughly enjoyed. She eagerly participated in more. However, she continued to avoid the Ji’val quarters. The thought of drawing anywhere near where he lived reminded her of the yawning hole in her chest that did not hurt as badly as it once did, but had also never completely healed.

The blade flashed silver as she spun and parried. Clash! She used the rebound to draw back and attack again in three quick consecutive strikes. Clack clack clack! Sweat trickled down her back. Her hair had been chopped short and tied back into a short tail at the nape of her neck. And as always, a white piece of cloth hid her scar.

The training yards were filled with other students in this class. It was the first lesson, and the teacher had instructed them to pair up and spar so that he could gauge their ability. Kaira stepped back and abruptly her foot - the bad one, her right one, the one that she had twisted oh-so-long-ago - gave away as a rock shifted.

She stumbled and fell, right into the swinging forms of the training pair right next to her. A sword narrowly missed her shoulder. There was a cold rush of wind as it swept by her skin. She landed on her back. Then a second blade came, too quickly to dodge. Instinctively she brought up her sword across her body, supporting the flat side of the blade with her left hand, and braced herself.

There was a muffled curse. Miraculously, the incoming blow never came. She blinked up at the sky. Then she saw his eyes. Her face contorted with surprise and shock. It was luck! Pure bad luck! Oh Light, what terrible, blasted luck!

Quickly she sought the calm focus of ko’di and controlled her flailing emotions. She crawled to her feet, her eyes never leaving his face. He looked much the same. Well, his hair was longer, perhaps. And his expression seemed even stonier than she had ever seen, if possible. Before she could speak, the teacher called out.

“Switch partners!”

Their sparring partners paired off, leaving them alone. Kaira masked her dread. She brought her sword up into a guard stance. Then she crouched, silent and still, watching at him warily and waiting for the instructor to tell them to begin.

[Cat]

Johan

Johan had volunteered to help out with a class. He tended to do that now, preferring to fill his free time with things other than, well, free time, because free time usually meant that he was left with his thoughts, and that still wasn’t something he wanted. The guilt, even after all this time, had yet to fade. He had abandoned his family, he’d sacrificed them and put an Aes Sedai first. He’d left them. That made him the worst kind of person. Even though it hadn’t been real, it might as well have been; it had still been him making the decisions and the choices. He hadn’t been forced. It had all been him, and he had chosen to leave them behind when they had needed him most.

He pushed the thoughts away and focused instead on what he was doing, pairing off with a Drin. One form quickly flowed into another and then another, his sword flashing, striking, parrying and thrusting.

But soon enough the spar was over and he found himself facing the Novice Kaira. He stared at her, noticing her expression, and made no move to take up a fighting position. Instead, his sword remained by his side. He hadn’t thought or seen her since the prank that had gone wrong, but he knew she hadn’t been pleased with him, and those feelings had probably not changed.

“Hi,” was all he said with a smile, and then: “I can go find someone else. Darius!” The name of the Drin he had been sparring with.

[Jenny]

Kaira

Why would he want to find someone else? Was he really going to such lengths to avoid her? Or did he think that she was not worth testing? The insult sank deep. Kaira let the pain wash over and through her. And where it passed through, nothing existed. Nothing but her, focused and alone. She remained calm and looked him up and down expressionlessly, pretending to ignore that he hadn't even moved. She did not lower her stance.

"Why?" she asked. "Why find someone else when you're right here?"

Then she returned his smile with a mocking one of her own.

"I'm not afraid. Are you? Bring it."

[Cat]

Johan

Johan wasn’t sure whether to roll his eyes or let out an exasperated sigh. He wasn’t in the mood for a fight, and he once again made no effort to take up a fighting stance, his practice sword still lowered. On impulse, he then dropped it completely, and met Kaira’s eyes.

“I thought,” he said quietly, honestly, managing somehow to keep his voice even, despite the irritation that threatened to flare, “that since we ended on such a sour note last time that you wouldn’t want to have anything to do with me and would prefer to fight against someone else. That’s all. There’s nothing more to it. And I’m ‘fraid I don’t want to really ‘bring it’ either. I’m not going to fight you.”

And with that said, he moved to sit on one of the benches at the edge of training yard.

[Jenny]

Kaira

Kaira looked around and grimaced. Everyone else had already paired up. The instructor was glaring at her. Then he jerked his thumb over his shoulder at the wall. What? She hadn't done anything wrong! Johan was the one who had left. It wasn't fair!

But there was no arguing. She would only be in the way of the class. As she left the grounds, her foot hit something - oh right. Johan had dropped his sword. Kaira picked it up, and then went to sit by the wall where the instructor had pointed. She settled down with a sigh and propped up her knees. Then she leaned her cheek against her hand and watched the other students practice.

The bench was not far away, but she made a point of ignoring him. If he wanted his sword, he would have to come get it himself.

[Cat]

Johan

Walking away was probably the wrong thing to do, but Johan found that he didn’t care. He didn’t want to get into an argument or deal with hostility when he didn’t know what he had done to deserve the apparent wrath. It couldn’t all be because he’d turned the prank back on her. If it was because of the towel-? Well, he didn’t lend his things to anyone. It wasn’t personal. People tended to steal your things. It wasn’t that big of a deal. He hadn’t done anything that could have caused such a huge issue. Ultimately, he just didn’t know what she wanted from him. She obviously wanted something, but what-?

The instructor shot him a look, but he simply shrugged his shoulders, and the instructor took it no further. He’d already helped with one of his other classes; it was perfectly fine to need a break. Johan lay on his back on the bench, his hands crossed over his stomach. He shut his eyes. Maybe he could have a nap this time. He still wasn’t sleeping well at night.

[Jenny]

Kaira

Doing was much better than watching, but there were still things to learn by observation. Malia was too timid, for instance, always resorting to defensive stances and therefore predictable. Or Darius, who often committed too much strength behind his attacks, leaving him wide open for a counter. Kaira knew that she had her own weaknesses; for example, she tended to favor her right side. As she watched, she considered ways to disguise her vulnerability. It took her mind off the young man stretched out on the nearby bench.

Eventually the lesson drew to a close.

"Water break!" the instructor called.

Kaira picked up both swords and wandered over to the break area to pick up her canteen. As she returned, she noticed that Johan had stretched out on the bench. She couldn't help but to peer at his face. He appeared to be asleep. The sun beat down from above. He was going to get sunburned, she thought. She let her shade fall over him, and then tilted a few drops of water from her canteen to hit his cheek.

And before he could speak, before he could flee, she blurted out her apology.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “I’m sorry for waking you. It looked like you were going to get burnt. The sun, you know. It can burn your skin and make it peel. It can be quite painful, though the infirmary has an ointment that can help. I don’t quite recall the name, but it’s green… and... um…”

She was rambling. Oh, Light. Her cheeks flushed pink with embarrassment. This wasn’t quite going according to plan, but she was in too deep to stop now. She took a deep breath and steadied herself.

“I’m also sorry about the pie. And for calling you names. And for, oh, for everything. I’m sorry for being a bother. I wish that we could just talk. And I wish that I could get to know you better. I’ve done a lot of thinking over the past few weeks and just can’t bear this anymore. I can’t stand pretending that nothing ever happened. You saved my life, Johan. I can’t forget that. And I thought that… maybe we could try to be friends. You said that we hardly know each other. That might be true, but why can't we try? I think that there are lots of things that I can learn from you. And even if you don't want to be a Warder, maybe there are still things that I can help you with too.

“But if you don’t want to, then I understand. If you don’t want to be friends with me, then I won’t bother you anymore. Ever. Here. Want some water?”

She held out her canteen.

[Cat]

Johan

Sleep didn’t come, but it was nice to be able to close his eyes and relax, even if just for a moment. He wondered if this was how the Void felt, but he couldn’t imagine being so detached during a fight. It was emotions that kept you alive; feelings that kept you going. But, still, it was nice just to have a blank mind for once, and the sun even managed to feel pleasant against his skin as he tuned out the clack, clack, clack that was the constant background noise of the training yards and just focused on his breathing.

He felt, rather than saw, someone approach, but he kept still, hoping that they would think he was asleep and would therefore leave him alone, but that was not to be. The feel of water against his cheek made him shoot up, and he found himself face to face with Kaira. Again. He kept his expression perfectly neutral, held his breath, and waited.

The apology came as something of a surprise, but his only reaction was to blink. He didn’t know what to say. He didn’t know what he was supposed to say. He pulled his legs up to his chest and tucked his knees under his chin, and wrapped his arms loosely around them.

“I’n fine, thank you,” he said to the water, shaking his head, and then he paused, again wondering what he was supposed to say. He paused for another moment, before he continued, hesitantly, “What do you want from a friendship? When-? I can’t…” He stopped, and then started again. “I don’t know... It’s something that just happens,” he ended lamely, shrugging his shoulders.