--Callana--

She listened to the siblings with a inward smile, observing so carefully
the small details that came with having brothers and sisters.  She,
being an orphan, was fascinated by all things familial.  The inner smile
showed in her eyes.

> "Get everything taken care of?" he asked when she moved to join them.
> 
> "Well, I met the Warrenlady and she did seem as nice as you said she 
> would be," Callana answered. "You teach everyone around here?"
> 
> She was pointing to the man and the woman dueling it out on the open 
> space in front of them. The woman, she saw was holding her own and 
> seemed to be besting the man who was slowly backing away.
> 
> "No, not really." he told her as his eyes returned to the two. 
> "Turner get your guard up. She'll have your head in seconds if 
> that's the best you can do!"
> 
> Then he turned back to Callana. "Those two and a few others who ask. 
> I don't mind teaching people if they're serious and are willing to 
> work at it. I see you wear a sword. You any good with it?"
> 
> His question was meant to act as an ice breaker between them. He 
> wanted her to feel welcome in the Warren and know she would have 
> friends here if she chose.
> 
> "I can hold my own," she said, her eyes meeting his.
> 
> "Shall we?" he asked and pointed towards the space that had just 
> become available when the other two had called it quits.
> 
> "Sure, why not."
> 
> "Hey brother, why didn't you tell me she'd be out for blood when I
> volunteered to help you out today," the other man asked as they 
> joined Farr'in and the girl standing beside him. His blue eyes 
> moved from the girl to his brothers, waiting for an introduction 
> as Lenna joined them.
> 
> "Callana, meet my brother Turner and sister Lenna, Blanchie's 
> rider," he told the girl. "This is Callana Blade, Slaire's rider 
> and the newest transfer to Cleft."
> 
> "It's nice to meet you," Lenna said and offered the girl her hand. 
> "Welcome to the Cleft."
> 
> "Thanks," the girl said as she accepted the offered hand. 
> 
> "Same goes here," Turner told her. "I'm one of those you might find yourself
> needing if you have problems with your new apartment when 
> you find one if you haven't already. I'm a doer around here since I 
> don't ride a dragon."
> 
> "Well if I find myself in need of anything like that, I'll be sure 
> to look you up."
> 
> "Speaking of helping someone to find a new place to live.... " Lenna 
> said suddenly as she began to pack away her weapons. "I need to be 
> going. I'm supposed to show another new transfer around the Warren 
> and help her find a place to settle in, before I meet B'rand for 
> dinner. I want to find out what he found out about that other thing."
> 
> Her striking blue eyes went from one brother to the other. They both 
> knew what she was talking about. B'rand had asked her to step back 
> and allow him to investigate something dealing with Dan'yar's attack 
> on his own and she'd agreed. (witch her brothers were shocked about 
> when they'd found out. Lenna giving in? Unheard of, they really did 
> need to learn how B'rand was doing it.) 
> 
> "Will you two be joining the family for dinner tonight?" Turner 
> asked.
> 
> "Maybe," she replied. "Will see how things go. It was nice meeting 
> you Callana, I hope you learn to like it here in the Cleft."
> 
> "Thank you," the girl smiled. "I'm sure I will."
> 
> After Turner too had made his leave, Farr'in turned back to the girl.
> 
> "Ready for your first work out?" he asked. "Or would you prefer to 
> start looking for someplace to live? I feel that I do need to warn 
> you ahead of time that the accommodations here are rather rustic. 
> We haven't finished laying the lines for fresh water or gas into 
> most of the upper apartments... or the lower ones for that matter. 
> But you don't need to worry about that for we do have a fairly good 
> cook here in the dining hall."

"Rustic," Callana repeated, as if testing the word for the first time. 
She looked around.  "This is rustic," she said, making it a statement,
whereas it could have been a question.  "You have very little idea what
rustic is," she finished quietly.  "No idea.." she muttered, half to
herself.  She looked up abruptly.

Farr'in looked curious, but when Callana didn't venture forth with any
more information, he only shrugged slightly.  "You should take Turner up
on his offer.  He's got some skill in making living quarters actually
liveable."

"I'm sure," Callana said.  "I may do that.  It's been a long ride," she
said, a smile hinting about her lips.  "I could use a stretch," she
said, patting her sword.  "Then, I believe, I would like someone to show
me to wherever the apartments are, and get myself settled in.  Perhaps,
if I have some time, go shopping for some furnture."

"I thought you had an apartment at Marrid," Farr'in commented.

"I did."  She shrugged, and looked away.  "When I didn't come back, it
was put to better use.  Some kid, down on his luck, probably got it.  I
don't mind.  I've got a couple of years worth of back stipends to get
myself aquainted around here."

"Of course," Farr'in nodded.  "And dinner?" he added, trying to sound
nonchalant and unpressing.

"Oh," Callana said slowly, startled.  The smile disappeared.  "I believe
I would like a day of grace to settle myself in, and then, I would be
glad to take up Lenna's offer."

"Fine by me," Farr'in grinned.  "Now," he said, nodding towards the
practice ground, which was mostly clear by now.  He took up his own
sword; Callana could see that it was weighted and balanced just for him.
She wondered; perhaps he had made it himself?  Certainly, a common
weaponsmith could not forge a regular blade so accurately for one
person.

She drew her own in one fluid motion, reaching across her back and
grasping the hilt.  It slid free with a smooth, gentle easiness and
rested in her hand.  It was nearly four feet long, about five inches
across the widest part on the flat of the blade.  It gleamed softly with
a cold radiance that came with being made of metal.  She held it
one-handed, although the grip was long enough to be held by two.  It was
wrapped in leather, the guard quillions of simply chased silver.  The
pommel was carved with some sort of crest, but it was faded.

"Very nice," Farr'in nodded, eying the blade with an expert eye. 
Callana only nodded her thanks, as she seemed to take on the aspect of
her sword; cold, distant, as she eyed him keenly, trying to asess his
skill.

"Shall we?" she asked, saluting him with a broad sweep of her sword.  It
was Farr'in turn to nod as he batted Callana's sword out of the way.

The blade, being so long, gave Callana a great reach.  Yet being so
long, there was so much steel to control.  Farr'in took advantage of it,
using his sword to wrap around her own, trying to disarm her.

Callana pressed him backwards as their swords locked, but he, being
heavier and stronger, added his own weight.  Just as Callana felt
herself being pushed backwards, she let go in a sudden feint, and came
in behind him.  Farr'in felt the flat of her blade smack into his ribs,
and knew he'd be bruised later.  Callana spun away, meeting his rapid
counter-attack of three slashes- two high, in rapid succession, forcing
her to step back, and one low, catching her off guard.  Callana winced
as Farr'in's considerable strength, backed by his skill with a sword,
thunked into her hip.  She could feel her leg give, and she tripped to
one knee.

She rolled, tucking her sword beneath her.  She came up even with
Farr'in's waist.

"You should have thrust," Farr'in grunted as she leapt away.

"Didn't want to stab you," Callana returned, lunging to her feet.  She
didn't press her attack again, though.  Instead, she circled  him,
watching him again.

Farr'in returned her wary gaze.  "You're pretty good."

"I'm out of practice."

"Excuses, excuses," Farr'in laughed.  Callana growled something, and
lunged at him again.  He could see it coming easily, being a good
fifteen paces away.  He feinted, preparing to feint to draw her away. 
Callana closed, watching him shift his gaze first to her, then slightly
to one side.  She stepped left just as he did, both of them raising
their swords at the same time.  Callana dropped hers swiftly, trying to
step around his blade.  She felt his hit her shoulder just as she hit
the small of his back.

"Put more muscle behind it.  That should have knocked me to the ground,"
Farr'in chided.  "And get your guard up faster!"  To emphasize this, as
Callana whirled away from her hit, she found her path blocked by his
sword.  She looked up, and pushed her hair out of her eyes.  Farr'in
grinned down at her.

She started to raise her sword, to step backwards, but Farr'in followed
her with incredible speed.

"Ah-ah," he sighed, shaking his head.  "I could spill your guts."

"But you wouldn't," Callana returned, her voice full of cold confidence,
shifting her grip to two-handed.  She raised her sword, just as Farr'in
pressed his.  She stopped, her blade resting on his shoulder.  She could
have severed his neck, even as she felt his own sword flat against her
stomach.

"That's suicide!" Farr'in said, shocked.

"For both of us," Callana noted.  "Shall we name it a draw?"

------------------------------
NRPG:  Tag, Barb!  If Callana can find someone to go shopping with her,
she'd have time to go to dinner with the family.  If she has to find her
own way around, it may take more time, as she doesn't know the lay of
the land quite yet.  Also, she needs someone to show her the apartments.

Submitted by,
Keri Rodgers
Callana Blade & Slaire