The Wheel Weaves A Chance Meeting

[Cadence]

Kira Valyrios

Kira was amused by Shiro's interaction with Ignis.  Shiro was of course being the protective fatherly figure that he was.  Shiro was a good man, and had helped Kira overcome her trauma of abandonment when she had arrived at the tower.  He had introduced her to Aranea Sedai, who had pursued her mental healing as much she did any of her patients in the infirmary. Kira considered Shiro to be one of her closest friends - behind Faedre.  Inwardly, Kira smiled at the thought of sweet Faedre.  She would have to find the other woman soon to catch up.  Kira missed her.

Shiro led Ignis to the practice yard and Kira found a spot by the fence that surrounded the area, ready to watch her Warder in action.  She could feel the bundle of emotions that was Ignis inside full of excitement and anticipation.  It had been long since her Warder had fought what he would consider a worthy opponent.  Of course, Kira understood this was no mere spar. Shiro was testing her Warder and seeing if he deserved the title of Warder.  The potential of a spar with a newcomer collected the attention of a crowd and Kira saw some beginning to pull out coin purses and wagering on the outcome.  A woman in a yellow dress approached and Kira looked that way to see Aranea approach.

"Aranea Sedai," Kira said, bowing her head in deference to her Yellow sister. "It is wonderful to see you again."

Aranea smiled. "To you as well, Kira Sedai," Aranea took the spot next to Kira to watch her Warder test Igins. "Tell me Kira, have you heard of the flame and the void."

Kira nodded, but kept her gaze on her Warder as he got into a fighting stance. "I have," Kira answered.

Kira's attention was drawn to the fence post as she heard a coin clink on top of it.  Aranea's fingers moved to reveal the Tar Valon mark she had placed on the fence post. "A mark says Shiro breaks him."

The bet had surprised Kira even if the wording on the wager did not.  This wasn't a fight about winning - it was a test - and as Shiro tested Ignis, Aranea was testing Kira.  The bet spoke of Aranea's true question - would Kira stand behind her Warder as she expected her Warder to stand behind her.  With a brief smirk Kira pulled out a mark and placed it next to Aranea's as the spar began.

[Legione Sumus]

Faedre Sedai, Blue Ajah

---

Her world changed, years of hard work culminating – finally – into the tangible promise of recognition, only to crumble the moment right before Faedre had been about to grasp it all in her hands. And Kira had not even been here to see it. The night after her Test had felt hollow no matter how Faedre prodded her emotions for a reaction. There had been no oathrod upon which to make her vows, and she felt a schism where she had wanted to feel a welcome among her new Ajah. The Blues had been stripped of their power, their women shattered by the new Red Amyrlin’s rise to power. All three of the Blue Sitters had vanished in the turmoil, Rikela among them, and many Sisters had followed in the nights after. New women sat in the Hall, serenity to paper over the cracks, and the most loyal and promising of the Blue Aspirants had been funnelled into the testing, Faedre among them. But it felt wrong without the oaths to bind. A lie. She saw it in every Aes Sedai who glanced her way.

Word had reached her swiftly about Kira’s return to Tar Valon. Much had changed in Faedre since she was a child in the Panarch’s Palace, but not the way in which she listened to the world around her – and this was news she had been waiting for. Whispers led her to the training grounds, where spectators gathered around a sparring pen. Shiro Gaidin and a stranger – Faedre knew as such before she’d even taken a step outside her Ajah halls – though even as she approached she could see neither with her own eyes, owing to her short stature and the amount of Tower denizens clamouring for a glimpse of the show.

The size of the crowd dismayed her. Faedre hadn’t wanted to share the moment of reunion, though neither had she wanted to wait for Kira to seek her out. Disappointment carved a small, hard shell in her chest as she chose instead to linger back. She’d still been in the banded hems of an Accepted the last time she had seen Kira, their friendship severed by the Yellow fringe of Kira’s new shawl, at least until Faedre attained her own. Had she been thinking she might also have realised that Shiro’s presence inevitably meant Aranea was here. That burned too.

[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.