Fanfic:Gwyn's Survival Test
| Author(s) |
|
|---|---|
| Character(s) |
|
This is a piece of fanfiction. Only the original author(s) or Librarian(s) should make content changes to this page. |
Day 1
It is evening at the moment, and there is just enough light to write. It is three days ago now that I was taken away from the Tower. I knew this day would come, and I knew it would be soon, but there is no way I could always be prepared. Sholin Gaidin found me when I was between classes, having just finished history and on my way to law. In a way, he saved me from a worse fate, I suppose. After my recent encounter with Herinne Sedai, I'm not sure if I want to go to law class anymore.
He told me it was time to go and took me to the stable yard. I was, and am still, dressed in my formal uniform, the one I wear when attending Tower courses. They did leave me my bag of writing utensils, which is why I am able to keep this diary, and a small knife that isn't quite sharp enough to actually do much with. Still, my first day in the wild has been a great success.
When they left, I waited for three long minutes before removing my blindfold, a piece of coarse cloth which I stored in my writing bag afterwards. Although the scenery wasn't quite different from that around the Tower, it wasn't impossible to figure out where I was. Judging from the position of the sun, I gauged I was north of the Tower. The mountains are to the west, which means I'm on the eastern side of the Mountains of Mist. I suppose that if I go south until I reach the Two Rivers road into the mountains, I should find the Tower quite easily. Which doesn't solve the main problem, of course: I'm far away, on my own, with nothing of use except for a utensil knife and a quill.
Not knowing what else to do, I started walking south. It is really beautiful around here. I suppose I should be glad they are testing me in early summer - the sky is brisk blue, the wind is chill but the air is comfortable, the ground is healthy but dry. I had a small scare when a mountain cat crossed my path no more than thirty spans away, but the wind blew into the right direction and it didn't smell me.
I suppose I made good progress, and it is my luck that made me find fresh nuts and berries along the road, making a small but tasty meal. It is evening now, and I found shelter under an overhanging rock. Being so close to the mountains, this sort of shelter can be found everywhere. I know it's bad luck to disregard danger, but I daresay I will be all right. I can't wait to be back in the Tower, and to wear the uniform of a ji'dar!
Day 2
I slept late this morning, which cost me a part of a valuable day. Last night's bed was pure luck; a soft bed of pine needles and grass, almost as comfortable as my bunk in the barracks. On walking south, I had to cross a river that was somewhat too deep to stand in. Since I am in the wilderness and there is no one here to see me, I removed my uniform and bundled it, together with my other scarce belongings, and put it atop a log of wood that I pushed forward while swimming across. It went quite well - there were some wet patches on my breeches but they have dried up long ago.
On the downside, I haven't been able to find much food today. There are berry bushes, but their fruits are sour and small, I haven't found any nuts. My stomach is grumbling at the moment, but I'm sure I can deal with it. I've been through worse when mom punished me for mischief, after all.
There are some rather tough grasses around here, and I am trying to make a snare out of some blades of grass. It isn't going too well, but I'm positive that if I try hard enough, it will become something useful. Perhaps I will have caught some small game tomorrow morning - a good breakfast is hard to beat, after all.
I have to admit I am missing the Tower, and the Yards in particular, already. Had I been there, I would've trained with Warren today. I always liked training with him, he has a way of beating me without making me feel bad about it. I suppose that when I get back, I'll have to start training drin' myself. No idea which subject I'd like. Perhaps I'll do something on conditioning - I know I underestimated the importance of working on my condition. I suppose I could also teach about herbs, if mom will help me think of lessons.
Still, thinking of the Tower makes me wonder what they think of me. Most people are friendly to me, sure, but I can't imagine no one thinks me annoying. Herinne Sedai hates me because of my pranks, novice Genne adores me because of the same. I have often tried to convince the Master of Training that I never do anything that doesn't serve justice, but he doesn't seem to want to believe me. Justice is a bit askew in the Tower, if you ask me. I wonder if it will be different when I get back.
Well, I have something that looks like a snare, here. I'll put it on a narrow trail I saw outside, between two rows of dense bushes. A rabbit would be nice. There is something in the air tonight that makes me feel a bit tense. Is it just me, or do I hear thunder in the distance?
Day 3
No luck catching anything yesterday, and no luck finding food today. I left my shelter early in the morning, woken up by thunder clapping overhead. It seems the weather has shifted for the worse now. It's been raining all day, with varying intensity, and I'm so grateful my bag is made of oilcloth - my whole diary would be a wet mess if it weren't. As it is, everything else is soaked, my clothes, my hair, my skin - I can't remember ever feeling so uncomfortable.
I set the snare again as soon as I found this makeshift shelter - the rain has lessened, and whatever is still coming down is held away by the dense leafs of the trees covering me. I don't know if I'll be able to sleep here - the ground is muddy and if the rain gets worse, it will fall through the trees. There are wild animals around here - I heard wolves, and I saw a boar cross over a path, so I am afraid to go anywhere near where they might build their lairs.
If Yarin would see me now, he would be so amused. We used to play with waterbags in summer, when we were both children. I normally won, because he is too large and too slow to dodge my attacks, he makes a much better target. Now I am the one looking like a soaked kitten.
I'm still hungry, but at the moment I think sleep will have to come first. I'll try to close an eye or two. Tomorrow will be better, I'm sure.
Day 4
I hardly slept last night; the rain grew stronger again and the wolves came closer, I'm sure. Tired, hungry and miserable, I set out for another day of misery. If there's anything I've learned in the yards, though, it is to never give up. It was halfway the afternoon when the rain stopped and some sun broke through the clouds. My hunger was starting to take its toll - I was growing dizzy, fell over from time to time, and for a while I was quite sure I would never make it back to the Tower. Light, but I'm glad I didn't give up!
There was a whole bush of ripe berries blocking my path when the sun started to lower, and if I hadn't known better I would've completely glutted myself on them. Instead, I ate two handfuls and picked as much as I could for later. I'm glad - my stomach was protesting despite the small amount of food, and more of it would've made me sick for sure.
I found this cave when it was starting to go dark, and as if the Light is truly shining on me again, there was a wounded rabbit on its entrance. I ended the poor creature's suffering and skinned it, it is now hanging up to bleed before I cook it. I am eating the rest of the berries now, and I don't think anything has ever tasted so good. It is dark outside, but the wolves seem further away and I'm sure my fire will keep them out anyway. They aren't malicious, after all, and I'll be quite content with a live-and-let-live situation.
If the tales are true, it will take less than three days now before I am back in the Grey Tower. I'm sure I'm going the right way, although I may have strayed a bit too far east. Nothing to worry about right now.
There are some sounds by the entrance of the cave. I think it must be some kind of wild animal, I'll go and check it out.
Day 5
Well, in short, it was a bear. A large, brown bear, about four times my size, and hungry to boot. Blast me for being foolish and not exploring the cave further! I suppose I can't blame him for being angry at someone occupying his home... I ran back into the cave when he spotted me - foolish, perhaps, but there is no way I was going to risk my sparse belongings. I was terrified when I heard him come after me, grabbed everything I have and pushed myself to the wall of the cave, hoping he wouldn't notice me. Such foolishness - bears watch with their nose as much as with their eyes, and I know it!
The angry animal tried to kill me. Hungry, angry animals are dangerous and those of such tremendous size even more. I managed to hold him off for a moment by brandishing a burning stick, but he threw it away with one slash of his mighty claws. I screamed - not ashamed to admit it, unarmed and vulnerable as I was! - and tried to run away, dodging the bear's powerful claws and jaws. I barely escaped.
There was a terrible, bleeding gash in my right ankle when I came to senses again, having run far on my hurt leg and cringing in pain. The bloody animal could've killed me, I should be glad for getting away with such a light injury. Still, I am afraid worse will come of it. I ran for close to two hours with the wound open and bleeding, who knows what kind of dirt has entered it and how badly it will fester?
Luckily, I found a patch of dogwort on my way. I ground it as well as I could and mixed it with fresh water from a small current, creating a decent poultice. Light, but I'm glad I kept the blindfold! It will serve its new purpose well, I hope... I washed the dirt out of the wound as well as I could, then bandaged it with the dogwort mixture. It is a matter of waiting now. Dogwort helps to knit the flesh, but it doesn't clean the blood. I think I have a light fever, and if it isn't broken by the morning my problems might be worse than I have ever imagined. I would kill for some healall, but this will have to do.
Day 6
The fever is gone, and so is most of the pain. I can walk, although not as lightly as before. The prospect of being in the Tower again tomorrow is even more appealing now than it was to begin with. I was born to live in a city, among walls, among people. The wilderness isn't my element - I am lonely and miserable and strangely determined to get me out of this.
On the positive side, I have reached the road. It seems I have strayed quite a ways to the east, but I should be able to reach the Tower by sunset tomorrow. I'll have to run a part of the way, I suppose, but I can live with that. Perhaps there will be travelers who can give me a ride. No one told me I wasn't allowed to accept kindness from strangers!
Day 7
Ah, so much has happened, I do not know where to begin! I don't think I have felt so whole in my entire life. I am in the Tower now, in a single room in the barracks. A room of my own. There is a large window and a rug on the floor and, best of all, a hook above my bed where I can hang up my rapier. There is a hearth with a fire burning in it and it is all so large, so comfortable. Especially after last week's hardships.
I did find someone to give me a ride yesterday. Unfortunately, they weren't kind travelers looking for a nice conversation. They were thugs of the worst kind, who hit me unconscious and hauled me along for hours. I could've been anywhere by now. I could've been dead, or worse. Instead, they took me to their hide-out two miles east of the Grey Tower and they forgot to remove my knife, which I had hidden in my boot.
I came to senses late in the afternoon. I was in a small cell with no windows and a locked door. There was a candle in the corner, giving me some sparse light. They had taken my jacket and my bag, and my head was hurting so badly I could hardly stand the little bit of light coming from the candle. On that moment, I knew why they call this a survival test.
I tried to stand, and when I felt steady enough I knocked on the door, demanding something to eat. It is to my advantage there was no window or other opening in the door, so they had to open it to answer me. I suppose they were planning to sell me to a slaver, or something like that - I'll never know - but in any case, they thought me important enough to feed me. Big mistake.
I readied my knife and thrust it at the throat of the man who opened, forcing him back to the wall. He was carrying a long dagger, but hadn't drawn it, so I could take it from him. We struggled for a moment, but he didn't dare move, my knife was too tight on his throat. I locked him in my cell and sneaked through the hallway, trying to find a way out. It was too late to go unnoticed of course, the first man was shouting and screaming already, and although I tried to hide in the shadows of a small alcove the large man that burst into the hallways saw me almost instantly.
I held the dagger in reverse grip and took a defensive stance, ready to parry whatever the man was going to throw at me. When he glared at me, I realized he was the driver of the cart that I naively halted to hitch a ride. "Vermin," he hissed, and he slashed at me with his cutlass, an attack that I could easily dodge by stepping aside. Apparently, he hadn't counted on meeting a trained opponent.
Although the men were crooks, I didn't intend to kill any of them. My situation was bad enough as it was, and running past them would serve me perfectly well, and if I could take one of their horses on the way out, so much the better. My opponent was a vicious fighter, but not a trained one. I dodged a few attacks and blocked a few others, finally grabbing an opportunity to block an attack with a shield and catch his wrist between my blade and my own wrist, locking it so that I could disarm him. The Light thank Lord Sigmund Gaidin for teaching me that sly move! I won't repeat the words he used, but they weren't pretty. At the points of a dagger and a cutlass, he was ready enough to join his friend in the cell.
The third and last of them was waiting in the stables. He was a lanky fellow with bloodshot eyes, likely a bit deaf or he would've heard his fellows. I must admit I got furious when I recognized him - those eyes had been the last thing I saw before I lost consciousness in the cart. He looked incredibly surprised when he saw me, but that surprise quickly made place for angry determination. Unlike the others, he was a trained fighter. Using a broadsword, he quickly hacked the cutlass out of my right hand and I was back to dagger combat. I think it was my speed that made up for the disadvantage, that, and the fact he wasn't expecting a girl like me to be able to fight.
His style was strong and to-the-point: he launched an infinite series of hard slashes at me and all I could do was parry and dodge, all the while avoiding the lethal steel. It is strange, when I think of it now. The scene in the small hut was my first real combat, yet it hardly felt different from training. Focused and on an edge, I took his attacks, misdirecting them one by one and all the while looking for a weakness, a single flaw, a chance to win. My parries became more and more difficult, because the impact of the blows I blocked was wearing my arms out. He felt it, and I suddenly knew how to proceed.
It's easy to feign weariness. Breathe slightly louder, let your knees wobble once or twice. He fell for it like a stone - brigands aren't usually very smart and he was no exception. With a malicious grin on his face, he brought his sword up above his head for a last, fatal blow. But he forgot about the true and false times, and stepped in before he attacked.
They say one's first kill will stay on their mind's eye forever. I know it is true - when I close my eyes, I can still see the disbelief in his bloodshot eyes, see how his broadsword fell from his hands and hit the ground as my dagger found its way into his heart. Disgusted, I threw the dagger away and I stole a horse while still in the daze of combat, not coming to my senses until miles later.
I was on the back of a brown mare, and on the horizon the Grey Tower stood, alone and shimmering, my beckoning home. A drin' - I can't remember who it was, though I am sure I must know him - took my horse and I followed my heart's path into the Yards. Under the setting sun, I passed the rows of Warders and trainees standing guard on my ceremony. I was Raised by the Master of Arms himself, and when I raised my eyes as a ji'dar I saw my father's proud eyes, my brother's smiling face.
Yarin came to me when the ceremony closed, holding a small package in his large hands. It pains me each time I see him limp, but now that I am rising in the ranks of the Grey Tower it's starting to get bearable. Whenever I wonder why I'm going through these hardships, all I have to do is remember him, that I'm doing this for my dear brother, and all makes sense again. He held a package wrapped in the same blue silk he had wrapped my other gift in, eight long years ago. Smiling, he handed it to me and I reverently removed the cloth, finding a promise of shining steel inside.
They call it a swordbreaker, although it functions as a dagger as well. Along one of the edges, a dozen slits have been cut out, forming malign teeth to disable an opponent's weapon. Although it's unlikely it will truly break a sword, it can keep one caught in its teeth for seconds, the difference between life and death in a combat situation.
So here I am now. Gwyn Daesuro ji'dar, owner of a rapier, a swordbreaker and a brown mare with no name, owner of a new arsenal of memories, joy and pain. I suppose I should go to the infirmary tomorrow to have them take a look at my leg. Not now, though. Now is time for sleep.
