The Evaluation Yard

On the west side of the Warder Yards you approach the Evaluation Yard. For some new trainees this is the first area they approach where their previous skills will be evaluated. To the east are the Sparing Arena and, beyond that, you see the Training Yard. Ahead and in the distance the Tower Battlements stretch from east to west protecting the Tower Grounds on all sides. Images of memories long past flood to the surface in your mind of previous battles of which many trainees in the Yards have yet to experience. You blink and look around; the earth, the color of hard-packed bronze, is nearly blinding in the noon day sun. The sun beats upon your back where you have been standing idly for a few moments. Behind you visitors sit in the shade underneath the eves of the Warder Hall on benches where cool pitchers of water await. They are watching you and a nearby evaluator. There are a few scattered Yellow Ajah members and aspirants on call on the chance of accidents which occur ocasionally. Vegue images of cavalry charges and metal flashing in the sun linger in the back of your mind, but now you seek evaluation for those experiences.