The Wheel Weaves A Chance Meeting

[Edwin]

Ignis Caleum

Ignis stood in his stance and he summoned the flame and the void.  As a borderlander, this was something ingrained in him.  There was no emotion - only calm. Even so, he could feel Kira through the bond, and he even noticed now that they had some distance, that he knew exactly where she was.  It was more than just a simple he knew she was there.  He could feel it in his head. The fight began and they moved into the sword forms with the grace of those that were well practiced.  Ignis wasn't as in practice, however, as his opponent.  Ignis had spent far more time honing his skills against the occasional bandit, and Shiro likely fought with some of the best trained fighters day after day.  They started slow, Shiro taking attacks and watching as Ignis blocked and countered. Even though he was the stronger fighter, Ignis could see in Shiro's face that he approved.  Ignis at least had some skill.

Then Shiro began to press harder, his strikes becoming quicker and more powerful.  The crowd watched in anticipation, but Ignis kept his focus where it belonged - on Shiro Gaidin.  Practice swords clashed together, their strikes rhythmic and their moves a dance. Ignis made mistakes.  He knew he did even if he didn't flinch as he saw them.  He was well aware that Shiro noticed them too, and was ignoring them.  This wasn't a lesson - it was a test.  

Shiro put the pressure on, increasing his intensity with each strike.  Ignis was mostly on the defensive, but he went for the attacks as he saw them. Shiro was still ignoring the slight mistakes in Ignis's forms.  That in intself was a mistake, and one Ignis was willing to exploit.  Ignis saw the approval in he Warder's face as he did so.  He was fighting as he should.

All pretenses then faded.  The bout had gone on long enough, and Shiro released his true skill.  Ignis was tiring.  The other Warder seemed completely unphased.  A high attack came and Ignis blocked.  The practice sword in his hand shattered at the attack.  The crowd reacted with a gasp.  Ignis rolled to give himself space, throwing the destoryed practice blade to the side.  He was left with one sword.  The reach was less that that of Shiro's.  This would be the end, but still Ignis could end it on his terms.  He moved into a high guard stance - an aggressive stance that would leave him vulnerable, and as Shiro approached, he moved forward.

The fight ended in surprised silence. Shiro's practice blade was at Ignis's side.  Had it been an actual blade and Ignis not compensated for it in his movements, he would have been impaled on the blade. Ignis's was at Shiro's throat. Anyone trained in the sword had heard of this form.  Sheathing the sword was only meant to be used once.

"You still lost," Shiro said to Ignis quietly.

"There are no winners or losers in battle.  Only live men and dead men. We are both dead men," Ignis matched his tone.  The move had been more than a trick to win or lose.  It had been a message - to Shiro and everyone there. He felt Kira's mood shift from surprise to understanding.  She had gotten it too. "I made an oath, Shiro Gaidin, and I intend to keep it."

That was enough for Shiro.  He dropped the practice sword to his side and then took Ignis arm in a shake. "Welcome to the White Tower, Ignis Gaidin."

People began to talk again, mostly trying to figure out who won what bets.  Ignis turned and walked beside Shiro as they headed towards their Aes Sedai.  Ignis thought he saw a glint of gold disappear into Kira's pouch as he approached.