Fanfic:A Trolloc Quartet

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A Trolloc Quartet
Author(s)
  • Crysthia (player)
Character(s)
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The quarterstaff whirled, sweeping behind the legs of an unprepared Drin, suddenly the young man found himself flat on his back, staring up into the face of the Ji'dar who had floored him. Corsedai offered him her hand. He glowered at her but took it and climbed to his feet.

"You must remember to defend. If all you do is attack you will find yourself spending a lot of time on the ground. Now ready yourself, we'll go again."

The Drin's attention shifted and Cor turned to see what he was looking at. A Gaidin stood there, face expressionless. Both Cor and the Drin saluted as was proper. He said nothing, not acknowledging their salute, and handed her a note before stalking off. Cor stared after him for a moment bewildered. A flutter of anticipation began to build in her midsection. She could think of no other reason for a Gaidin to bring a message.

Quickly she tore open the note and scanned the terse message.

Your presence is required at the south edge of the Training Yard. Please be prompt.

There was no signature, but it bore the Master of Arms seal. Oh Light, not yet, I'm not ready! A voice in her head shouted as she started to panic. She took a deep, calming breath. Now was not the time for this. She turned to the Drin she had been training.

"We'll need to reschedule this session, I have other matters that need to be attended to." She said indicating the note in her hand.

The boy nodded, probably quite happy to end early. It was not exactly the best feeling in the world to be knocked on one's back by a woman. Cor paid him no mind, hurrying towards the appointed area, staff still in hand, anticipation was coming to a slow boil in her gut. She was probably mistaken, it wasn't time for her test for fancloak, surely she was not ready for that yet, this was probably something else. Unfortunately what else it could be also caused her stomach to turn over, not with anticipation but dread. Could they have discovered that she had been bonded already? Surely not. They wouldn't have summoned her with a note if that were the case, they would have just hauled her bodily to the Master of Arms office more likely.

All too soon she had reached where the note had directed and shoving down the butterflies threatening to overwhelm her insides she calmly saluted the Gaidar who waited there for her. She ignored Cor's greeting and turned on her heels toward the Channeling Yard.

"Follow me." Was all she said.

Cor followed, growing ever more nervous. An Aes Sedai waited for them and she nodded to the Gaidar. A Gateway snapped into being, and Cor looked at it apprehensively. This brought back memories of the night they had Traveled to the blight to rescue Ysolde. The Gaidar clapped a hand on her shoulder and shoved her through the opening. She stumbled and turned and found the gateway gone.

She was suddenly very aware that she was nowhere near the tower anymore. Her awareness of Jerid had become much dimmer. She could still sense him of course, but this far away, his emotions and exact location were fuzzy.

"Oh Light." She breathed.

He would sense that she was no longer in the tower. Would he have the sense enough to realize what was going on? She hoped so for both their sakes. There was no time to think about her bondmate now. Cor looked around at where she was. The room was small, stone walls bare. It was empty save for a small table against the wall with what looked like some of her own things. Placing her staff against the wall she examined everything. Well whatever she was doing she would be prepared. She checked the dagger before securing it at her belt, put her cloak on and picked up her staff. She had no idea where she was or what was going to happen but she was as ready as she could be.

Cor wasn't sure if she was supposed to go through the door or wait. No instructions had been left. Before she could make the decision however the door opened and she was directed outside. Well at least she knew where she was now. Apart from knowing the general direction of the tower courtesy of the bond with Jerid, which had told her she was likely in or near the borderlands, her surroundings told her she was at the Citadel.

Her insides went still and she felt a chill run through her entire body as she saw who was waiting for her, the entire Warder Council and an Aes Sedai. Light this is really happening. She thought as her insides went numb and she fumbled through the ceremony.

"Who comes before the Warder Council?" the Gaidin Captain intones.

"I, Corsedai Tiamicova, Ji'dar of the Grey Tower, come before the Council."

The three Warders nod, and at last, the Master of Training steps forward. "You have trained in our ranks and have been deemed worthy of a final assignment, Ji'dar, you are called to prove yourself worthy of the fancloak in the wilds of the Blightborder. You have three chances to approach this task. If you choose to step down today, you may come before us twice more. Once you agree to continue your test, however, you may not turn back without immediate failure. Once you accept your test, you must complete the test or you will be put out of the Tower permanently. Do you wish to continue?"

Cor swallowed. She wasn't ready. She wasn't sure she'd ever be ready. But they thought she was, else why would she be here? And then there was Jerid, how disappointed would he be if she refused this test, or worse failed it? Would he come with her if she were put out of the tower? Light that was a ridiculous thought. No she must go through with this, she wasn't going to fail now.

"I do." She answered simply.

"You are called to protect this Aes Sedai, the symbol of your desired duty. Return with some token of your struggle; do not return to this fortress until you can bring some proof of your protection before the Council," he says simply. "If you return without such proof, or if you fail in your protection of this Aes Sedai - if she falls under your defense - you will be put out of the Tower permanently."

Cor nodded.

"Light guide your staff, and may your test be one of enduring strength."

Everything was ready for her, and soon she and the mysterious Aes Sedai were on horses and heading into the Blight.

Journey begun Cor began to relax a trifle. Not much, they were in the Blight after all and she must remain on her guard, but having begun it was easier to continue. She looked over at the Aes Sedai. She had not really seen her before now, having been too focused on the Warder Council and what was to come, but now she studied her charge. She had not met this Aes Sedai before.

The woman wore an Indigo fringed shawl, so she supposed she would likely see her again once she was openly Jerid's Warder and didn't have to sneak around the Indigo halls to see him. Light if she passed this test that would be very soon wouldn't it? She shook her head at foolish thoughts. She had to get through this test first.

"May I ask your name Aes Sedai?" she said politely.

The woman swiveled her head to look at Cor, sapphire eyes seeming to bore a hole through her before she answered. "I am Jyrdana Sedai." The accents of Ghealdan were strong on her tongue.

Cor wondered if the woman would be allowed to help with any danger they ran in to or if it would be entirely up to her to fend off anything that they found. In a real situation, and in the Blight this was a real situation, an Aes Sedai or Asha'man was not likely to stand aside while shadowspawn cut down their warder so Cor supposed that should the need arise the Aes Sedai would not be completely useless. She hoped.

They rode for some hours, and Cor's bottom was starting to feel saddle sore. She hadn't ridden on a horse in some time. Not since... not since before Sarkaska had taken up with the White Sister. She couldn't even look at a horse without remembering when he had tried to teach her to ride. That had been an interesting trip. They had been married, sort of, and she remembered wondering if she had been somehow sent to the pit of doom before it was over. Still there were parts that were almost enjoyable. She smiled slightly at the memory, her cheeks going faintly red.

Focus girl! A voice in her head shouted at her. You're in the Blight not the Gardens, now is not the time to be thinking of men.

Shaking herself she looked at her surroundings, and was just in time to notice an arrow whizzing by. Light! It's lucky Trollocs have poor aim. She growled to herself as she hopped off her mount.

"Get down!" she yelled at the Aes Sedai, who complied immediately. Cor was already moving, she had a hold of her own horse's reins and reached out for the Aes Sedai's as well, surrounding herself and the Aes Sedai with the horses as a kind of shield. She could sense the trollocs nearby now, a gift of the warder bond, an advantage that most who took this test would not have. Still it did her little good right now, that arrow had been what let her know they were coming.

The horses smelled the trollocs and fidgeted. They were well trained borderland mounts, but still they were uneasy with the smell of the trollocs so near. Surprisingly there was only four of them. Four against only one of her, but better than a full fist. There would have been no surviving that unless Jyrdana had tricks up her sleeves she was willing to use. Still Cor was unsure she could handle even one trolloc let alone four. Time to put all that training to good use. She thought as she stepped away from the horses and swung her staff.

The first swing impacted a trolloc's skull and it went down. She had just enough time to see that it was a ram-horned monstrosity before she pivoted, staff whirling in The Butterfly's Wings. She managed to catch one, with the head of a wolf in the chest and the other, a goat, a glancing blow to the side. Spinning on her heel Cor brought the butt of the staff down quickly in Dropping Anchor, to slam hard into the foot of the fourth trolloc, this one some monstrous bird though it's feet appeared humanish and it began hopping on one foot.

She might have laughed were the situation not to dire. She pivoted again, sweeping the staff into The Heron's Wing. She was just in time to catch goat-head as it rushed her. The movement had angled her just out of harm's way and the staff caught at the things neck. She heard a gurgling sound as it fell.

Unfortunately she had no time to celebrate as wolf-snout caught her around the middle, knocking her to the ground. Her staff fell out of her hand as the wind was knocked out of her. The thing smiled toothily at her as it pinned her, then grabbed her by her braid and started to haul her up. Cor screamed with pain, if it pulled much harder it would rip all her hair out. Unfortunately the trolloc's error was to try to pull her up. It freed her arms and she was able to grab her dagger.

The dagger, in reverse grip slashed diagonally upwards, before she drew it back and sank it into the things chest. It let her hair go and fell away, unfortunately taking her dagger with it. She really had no desire to retrieve it, instead she scrambled over to where her staff had fallen and turned in time to see the bird-headed trolloc closing in on Jyrdana.

"Oh no you don't." Cor yelled at it.

Confused the idiot thing turned, forgetting its quarry. It screeched at her and lumbered forward with a slight limp. Breathing hard Cor took a step back and into a defensive stance. She thrust the staff out as the trolloc rushed her, catching it in the stomach. It doubled over and Cor was quick with The Hammer Falls, catching it right at the base of the skull.

She sighed with relief as she looked around. Three trollocs lay sprawled on the ground. Wait... three? Hadn't there been four? With the reflexes of a cat Cor immediately dropped into a crouch, the trolloc's blade passing over where her head had been only seconds before. Still in a crouch Cor pivoted, swinging the staff with Maid Sweeps the Floor to catch ram-horn behind the knees. It went crashing to the ground and she was instantly up, grinding the butt of the staff into the things neck before it could move.

Now it was finished. First she retrieved her dagger from wolf-snout and then tried to figure out what she could take back as proof of this encounter. She had no desire to try hauling the trollocs back. Something glinted in the sun and she noticed the badge indicating what band the thing belonged to. All four had badges with the horned skull of the Dha'vol. With some slight revulsion Cor quickly relieved each of the trollocs of their badges and headed back to the waiting Aes Sedai.

"I think we can head back now Aes Sedai." she said climbing on to her horse, the Aes Sedai nodded and followed suit.

Cor looked over at Jyrdana as they neared the gates of the Citadel. The woman looked as serene as she had when they had set out. Not a hair out of place. Cor was sweaty, dirty, and wisps of hair stuck out randomly in her braid. But it was over, she could have a bath soon. Light... it was over.

The gate swung open as they reached it, and they rode inside where the Warder Council waited.

"Dismount, Ji'dar." The Master of Training said stepping forward. "Do you come bearing proof of your success?"

Cor immediately dismounted, and fished out the badges she had removed from the trollocs. She held them out to the Master of Training silently. He nodded and stepped back. A tower servant stepped forward and motioned for her to follow.

Hoping that her proof was sufficient Cor followed the servant to a bathing room and she nearly crowed with delight at seeing the ready bath. Just what she wanted.

After the bath she was given clothing, and led back to the courtyard, where Gaidin and Gaidar present have arranged themselves.

"Come forward." The Master of Arms said, and Cor did so immediately. "Kneel."

"Do you come before your assembled brothers and sisters with a noble and just heart, wishing to join us as a Gaidar of the Tower?"

"I do."

"Do you promise to uphold the Light in all you do, to live a life of duty, truth, and goodness?"

"I do."

"Do you swear to serve and guard the Grey Tower faithfully?"

"I do."

"And finally, do you vow to devote your life to this cause, to swear yourself to the Light, the Tower, and the pursuit of justice?"

"Under the Light, and by my hope of salvation, I do."

Someone handed the Master of Arms Cor's quarterstaff, which he took with both hands.

"May the Light bless this staff and its bearer, and may the Light illumine the path of this warrior." He said and then handed it to her.

"Rise." The Master of Arms was handed another bundle, this one from the Warder-Channeler Representative.

Cor took a deep breath and stood. He held the fancloak, which he was spreading out.

"I grant you the title of Gaidar; you are a Sister of Battle, and a Warder under the banner of the Grey Tower." He stepped forward and draped the cloak over Cor's shoulders and hooked the clasp at her neck. "Welcome."

The Warder-Channeler Representative stepped forward then. "By the power vested in me by the Amyrlin Seat and M'Hael of the Grey Tower, I acknowledge and witness the raising of this Gaidar of the Grey Tower. You are entrusted to protect one Aes Sedai or Asha'man of your choosing to fulfill your destiny."

Cor smiled. She had done it.