Tomas’ mind wandered, as it sometimes did while working his sword forms. He squared off against another Green’s Gaidin… Dugray, I think that’s his name.. . But the sword was ingrained into Tomas’ subconscious, leaving the rest of his mind free to wander. Wind over the Plains met Water in the Wheels. The faint clack, click of the practice swords barely offered any distraction. How did I get here? he wondered, not for the first time, and most definitely not the last either. My mother was the best baker in Saldaea, and my father… Heron Takes Flight against Fire Climbs High. His father had been a touchy subject, even to his love… his life bond… her emotions were a faint jumble off in the corner of his mind. Doe at the River met Hummingbirds at Play.
His father had been a soldier once. Long ago it seemed now, but the memory was still fresh in his mind. He could still remember practicing the sword on the battlements of Saldaea, his father forcing him to learn as quickly as possible. Tomas should have realized the reasons behind that, but paternal love is always blinding. Waterfall Cascades Softly defended against Dolphin Splashing. He could remember nights when he was supposed to be asleep. I would creep down the hall, as silent as an Aiel, or so I thought, and listen at my parents’ door. More often than not, Mother would be crying. Father was in one of his moods again. Another person would’ve noticed that as a sign as well. Kingfisher on the Line pushed his muscles to the limit, barely sweeping Dugray’s sword wide.
One day, his father had just up and disappeared. He had asked Mother what happened, where Father had gone, but she just inhaled sharply, and continued to furiously beat on the dough in front of her, sending a cloud of flour into the air. He did not come back that night, nor the night after that. An entire fortnight passed… I went to the battlement alone that day, to practice my form. I should’ve stayed with Mother… A surprised yelp escaped his lips as Dugray’s sword passed mere inches from where Tomas’ head had been. Wind in the Willows…
The night wind in my hair… I can remember it even now, as clear as yesterday’s memories. I was working on my balance. From downstairs, I could faintly hear my Mother sobbing again. Hawk Hunting Prey flashed furious blows towards Tomas, but he easily countered that with Rainbow Curves. Mother stopped weeping suddenly, but I still worked my forms. I guess I thought that if I drove myself hard enough, I might be able to escape my own tears. Suddenly she was screaming so loudly that half the neighbors woke up. I ran downstairs, but I was too late. My father was laughing his head off, a bloody dagger in his hand. He was haggard, his cloak half rags with a rictus smile on his face, even as the tears ran down his cheeks. Wolf Leaping against Flamingo in the River. “Tomas,” he said, voice sounding as tired as the rest of him looked, “You were not supposed to see this, Tomas.” I don’t remember quite what I said in answer to that, but his reply is burned deep into my mind. “Why…? Because I am the Dragon! Lews Therin Kinslayer reborn! Now come to me, my son… let me teach you your final lesson!” His father’s laughs still haunted Tomas’ dreams at night.
With an inhuman snarl, Tomas launched into the brute strength form Lion at the Hunt, easily swatting aside Dugray’s feeble defense and stabbing furiously at his heart. “Fortune prick me, Tomas…” Dugray said in that thick Illianer accent, rubbing his bare chest. A huge welt was already beginning to form, “You’re really going to hurt someone one of these days, that do be truth.” Tomas casually wiped the one lock of his light brown hair that always escaped his ties out of his sight, and offered Dugray his hand. Muttering under his breath, the other Gaidin took the proffered hand, “You have got to be the best swordsman here, or I do be a slack-witted Tairen. You’ve just got to hold back just a little bit, this do be practice, remember?”
“Forgive me, Dugray. My mind was elsewhere…” Peace, my mind is almost always elsewhere… “I’m sure Teresa Sedai can Heal your wound for you.”
“Nah…” Dugray denied, still rubbing the spot on his chest, which was slowly turning a bright red. “She do have more important things to use her powers on, to be sure. Besides, it no is something I cannot handle on my own. Good day to you, Tomas,” he called over his shoulder, walking toward his chambers in the Tower.
“Peace favor your sword, Dugray…” Tomas called after him. How did I get here, indeed… I need to talk with Karistina. There has to be something she can do about these daydreams. The wolfish gait came naturally to Tomas as he stalked off towards where he expected Karistina to be, that walk that belied his warder status seeming at once to be an easy stroll and at the same time as if the sword would leap out of his sheath any moment. Outwardly, he was all smiles, his easy-going attitude hiding the inner anguish as his mind played the scene again. A fortnight’s growth of a beard on his chin, droplets of spittle caught in the scraggly growth. The dagger dripping with his mother’s blood. His mother laying crumpled at his feet. “…I am the Dragon!”
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