Drill Practice
Blog entry

05/13/05

Kharie'l had business elsewhere this morning (something about repairs to his house) and asked Torlinque to run training/drill practice at the field this morning. It is done every morning. Any Adrastai of a certain rank and below not then on patrol or working guard duty shifts are required to attend. Torlinque and a few high ranking others have the option of attending practice or they may practice on their own. Usually, Torlinque practices very early in the large meeting room at the front of the house rather than going to the field.

Today he was at the field though, at his father's request. I hadn't planned on attending myself (I had a 9 am meeting and several things to do at work on this plane), but it happened that Torlinque called to me in the Send just after he'd started them on a free fight. It was good timing, so I went. I got there and he asked me to pull enough energy so that I was visible to everyone. I did it, but only to please him. I figured he had some motive he wasn't immediately telling me about. Elves are like that. We generally don't lie, but we might not tell you all we know immediately either.

There were about 50 Adrastai there, about half were new faces to me (but I've not retained memories of all those I trained either). He called them all to attention while I was slowly coming into phase. Then he dropped onto one knee, head bowed and arms spread out, palms downward - giving me the formal salute. I didn't look, but I could feel the reaction of the other Adrastai. Apparently, there is some lack in belief in my continuing existence among them that Torlinque wished to correct. Some of them thought I was an apparition of the Goddess at first, I think. At least that's what I "got". He stayed down and waited. I didn't move.

When the first few in the front row dropped, the rest quickly followed. Torlinque waited and Sent to me to wait until they were all down. Then he said so they could hear, "Esi 'Lesia." And I said, "Ki'avonyen ali'l." and made the sign of blessing just like I always did. Then they all stood up.

Really, I think that was entirely unnecessary, and I never would have agreed to it if Torlinque had told me that's what he was planning, but I am not going to argue with him over it. He's rather a traditionalist, and there would be no point.

After that, Torlinque smiled and turned the proceedings over to me for a bit. I gave the commands to them for several different drill positions. Might as well get a look at them while I was there, ne? There were 2 who were just shy of fast enough. I called them up front and had them run the positions until they were, then put them back in line.

Next, I gave the opening commands in a certain magickal tone of voice I use for certain things. I wanted to see how well the Maidens are doing building the right pathways into them. They did fine with that.

Then, I heard the thoughts of one blonde Elf in the left flank who was thinking I was a projection of Torlinque, that I was some figment of his imagination or something. This annoyed me. All he does for them, and this one thinks he's mad.

I walked over to him and grabbed him by the chin, pulling extra energy into myself at the same time so I was as solid as I could manage. I saw that this one did not even believe that he was living in a remnant world inside a grid. "Not real am I? A projection am I?" I said, pressing my nails into his skin to make him feel my solidity. "Deyash nektar. (Walk with me.)" I said and immediately took that Elf out of phase with me, dropped him down through the soil and plunked him down on the base of the grid surrounding the realm. He landed on his back, and was rather freaked out. Good.

I explained to him that this was the protective grid surrounding what was left of the place, that K'antor and I had put the spells in place that had created it and moved the realm when the Gate failed, that if it weren't for me, he wouldn't be alive right now. I showed him what is left of the physical Selar (not pretty). I explained to him the importance of his job as Adrastai and told him that if he wished to continue in it he should change his head around immediately for I would have none of it and will not tolerate his disrespecting his superiors.

Then I took him back up to the field, brought us both back into phase, and shoved him back in line. He resumed the drill run with the others. What else could he do? But his eyes told me I had shaken him up. I walked back over to Torlinque's side and I asked him that blonde Elf's name. "Esi Khia'ru." he said. I told him to keep a sharp eye on him for he may be trouble later. He nodded.

It was then I noticed an Elf with dark red, almost wine colored hair and green eyes a little darker than Torlinque's a couple of rows back in the right flank. He was running the drills with the others just fine, but his mouth was tightly set and there were tears on his cheekbones. When I probed him, I realized he was in some pretty significant pain in his right back/shoulder. I also felt great devotion to the cause and resolve to succeed as Adrastai no matter the personal cost. I "got" that he was the only one there from his village and wanted to make them proud of him. I have fond memories of many boys like this one.

I stopped him and bade him come forward to me. He towered over me. No surprise, all the boys do. "You're in pain." I said. "Ta, 'Lesia." he said. He told me the Healers hadn't done much for him. I bade him take off his uniform jacket and kneel down on the grass so I could get a look at him. Torlinque walked away toward the left flank to check on someone.

There was a long angry purple/black scar down the right side of his back. I don't know what gave this Elf his injury but it had been there for some time. I told him I'd have to reopen it to heal it properly. He told me to go ahead. I did it as quickly and gently as I could. I didn't give him a full sleeping spell, but I used a white pain block at the base of his neck. He cried out once when I first opened the wound, but after that he didn't. The Healers had closed it, but hadn't really healed the muscle properly. It was functional, but left him in pain when he moved. I can't have that. I need them all in top shape because I have so few of them. When I was done, there was just the thinnest of silvery lines on his skin. I noticed the coppery under color typical of the Kesperi'oni. He stretched, picked up his jacket, and smiled at me. I nodded at him and he got back in line. I told Torlinque not to work him too hard for a day or two until the healing completes.

I looked at him and asked Torlinque, "Clan Kesperi'oni isn't he?" Torlinque confirmed that he was. "Any immediate relation?" I asked. "Only that of Clan." Torlinque said. "We don't get too many Kesperion do we?" I said. "We get enough." he said and projected the added feeling that enough of his Clansmen had died as Adrastai already, thank you very much. "Sorry." I said, quietly. Then I asked his name. "T'rith." Torlinque replied. I generally don't probe people for their names, it's a little rude. It's easier just to ask.

I hung out there until practice was over around 11 and then walked back to the house with Torlinque where he was to meet Tolirion. Tolirion had worked very early today and they want to spend some time together and have lunch before Torlinque's shift at the Temple. I left when Torlinque got in the shower. He'll want a fresh uniform and to be clean for his shift at the Temple this afternoon.