Something Demandred said that confused me?

I would think since they gave daggers for dueling names (Aran'gar and Osan'gar) that for those from AoL it was becoming a blademaster for dueling purposes, not for actual battles...at least not until close to time for when they sealed the Chosen up in the Bore.

 

Fencing was a sport in the AoL. I would imagine that the sport was a remnant from a time when people actually did use swords for battle. Much like we have fencing as a sport today, even though the sword isn't exactly used as a weapon very commonly (at least not here).

 

I don't remember which Forsaken said it or which book it was in but one of them says to Rand "Do you remember when we took the game of Swords and learned how to kill with it?". I take that to mean it was similar, as others have said, to our fencing and that many of the Aes Sedai were very good at it and that eventually they thought, "Hey look. Another way to kill someone!".

 

That was Be'lal in the Heart of the Stone.

 

Poor Be'lal, he deserved more story time.

 

His death was his own fault, what villan engages in an extended monologue. Fair enough for Rand, I mean he wants Callandor, but when Morraine comes in it should be a case of zap the undertrained "aes sedai" turn back to Rand and continue. Did he not even see that stupid ter'angreal?