WOT Adv 124

--- The Wheel Turns ---
Maer dangled on the rope, for a few brief moments, studying the To'Raken above him. All he could hear was the constant flapping of the wings and when the wings stopped flapping and the beast glided, it was replaced by the rush of the wind. A numbing wind that made him tear and then froze the tears on his face. He shivered uncontrollably for a brief moment before he brought himself under control.

He was used to cold desert nights, but this wetlander cold had more moisture in it and flying at these speeds brought down the temperature considerably. He shivered and breathed on his hands and then held them under his armpits.

He spared a glance below him and saw flowing cloud formations that glimmered just below him in the faint starlight. If he didn't have such a forcible premonition of his own demise he would have called the billowing scene beautiful.

He studied the beast in flight and the soldiers for a few more seconds. His quick mind began formulating a plan. Not the best plan, but under the circumstances, there was only so much he could realistically do.

He saw that each basket containing the Seanchan bowmen was connected to the saddle with two straps. These straps wrapped around and under the baskets and then connected through the saddle and entirely around the beast's breast, allowing the baskets to remain snug and tight against the creature in flight. The To'Raken's rider, from Maer's vantage point, sat in a high backed, basket-like saddle but how or if he was buckled in he couldn't be sure.

Then Maer nodded to himself, clenched and unclenched his fists to circulate the blood, and then began climbing the rope. It was slow going, but the effort helped warm his hands and after a few moments, he pulled himself up to where the rope met the grapple. He saw it was fastened firmly to one of its large scales.

He paused a moment; he wasn't sure how the beast would react when he climbed atop it. But there was nothing for it. If he was to survive, he had to take matters into his own hands. He finished pulling himself up the grapple and bodily heaved himself onto the tail. The large tail moved from time to time in slow swaying motions. He lay flat on his stomach, disconnected the hook, coiled the rope as much as possible, wrapping and tying off most of the slack under his arms.

He kept the rope tied about his waist and crawled on his stomach towards the head of the creature, moving slowly and cautiously. Over the sides of the great lizard-like creature he could see the clouds below him. He peeled his gaze away from the mysterious clouds, and continued moving forward, his mouth set in determination.

One misstep now and he could fall to his doom. He had danced the spears many times with wetlanders and with shadowspawn, and had always come out on top. If he somehow managed to ever survive this, would he ever do anything else in his life that could top this? He hoped not.

The hook dragged a little on the scales, making slight scraping sounds with each motion forward. But he hoped the wind would cover his approach. For what seemed like an eternity he crawled like that, the wind whistling in his ears, as he made his way up the To'Raken's body towards the large basket-like saddle. About ten feet behind the rider in the saddle, he paused, moved into a crouch, and took the boar spear out of its holder.

Maer took a deep breath and slowly approached the rider. To his right, one of the bowmen happened to glance up and saw him, his eyes grew as wide as saucers and he began shouting, gesturing wildly to the rider, pulling out his bow and fitting an arrow.

Maer lost no more time and plunged the spear with both hands through the back of the saddle, into the man holding the reins. The man slumped forward and the beast trembled and began to glide down towards the clouds banking to the left. Maer clutched the spear and managed to balance himself.

"The Mora'To'Raken is slain!" The man with the bow pointed at Maer, and shouted, pulling the string to his cheek.

"What?" Another called. "By the Empresses' Throne! It's an Oathbreaker! Kill him! Draw blades and kill him!"

The baskets on both sides of the saddle erupted into commotion, with shouts and weapons being drawn. And it didn't help that the To'Raken was no longer under anyone's direct control. It was picking up speed and reacting to the commotion around it, banking in a wide arc to the left.

Maer ignored them, and with his left hand holding onto the spear, he pulled the coil of rope and reaching over the saddle, tucked two of the grapple's tangs under the snug strap keeping the now lifeless form of the rider in the saddle. Then still holding onto the spear for balance, he drew his large knife from his belt, intent on cutting a strap that was holding the right basket in place.

He ducked as arrow whistled past his head. Out of the corner of his eye he also saw a man climbing from the basket on his left, climbing up the harnesses and into the basket-like saddle, a curved sword swinging above his head. "You will die for killing the Mora'To'Raken!"

Maer dropped his knife, watching briefly as it skittered off the scales and out of sight into the darkness below. Then he yanked out the spear from the saddle and swung it at the soldier. The man grunted from the impact and screamed as he fell overboard. He grabbed at the reins as he plunged over the edge. The To'Raken's head gave a violent jerk downward and there was a sudden drop in altitude. Maer, clung to some straps on the saddle, his stomach in his throat for a long weightless moment. The beast pin wheeled down through some clouds and then finally stabilized itself. Maer glanced over the edge, and he could make out the dim shape of the soldier kicking his feet and screaming, struggling to put his arm through the loop of the reins.

Without his knife, he wondered how he would cut the straps. There was one soldier in the left basket and two on his right. One on the left and one on the right had bows out and were trying to fit arrows. The other on the right was just climbing out of his basket and into the saddle, his blade held in front of him. Light! Not another one! Maer pushed with the butt of his spear, hoping to send the man over board. But the man dropped his sword into the saddle and grabbed the spear with both hands. They struggled for a moment, pushing and stumbling and then with a massive push, the Seanchan sent Maer tumbling over the right side of the creature. He gave an involuntary yelp as he fell and then slammed into the side of the To'Raken. He looked up and saw the man grin wickedly down at him. The curved blade was again above the taught rope that was keeping Maer from falling to his doom. He looked for some way to escape, to live yet another day. He could see that the Seanchan who had been clinging to the reins had actually climbed up the reins and was now perched atop the creatures head, legs and arms wrapped about the neck. As Nimble as a mountain cat, Maer thought. It was strange the things you mind thought of when death was imminent.

The soldier's blade came down and the rope snapped, sending Maer plunging below. But at the last minute he kicked off the body backwards and fell bodily atop the outstretched leathery wing. From the weight, the beast banked to the right. Maer tried to skewer his spear into the wing, but found himself sliding off towards the wingtip instead. Arrows flew past him, one nicking his shoulder. And then his legs were sliding into darkness. "No!" He screamed and dropped the spear, clutching at the bony wingtip, the spear dropped out of sight, spinning away into the gloom.

"Burn you, spawn of sight-blinder! If I fall to my death, then you're coming with me!" Maer cursed, holding onto the wing with all his might.

The To'Raken could no longer lift his right wing. It shrieked in frustration, a loud and terrible sound, and then the entire beast and the soldier's atop it were screaming as it plunged downwards, spiraling out of control. Maer thought he could make out the ground now coming closer, ever closer. The frost covered grasses of the prairie were rising up to meet him.

Then he saw the beast's sinuous neck turn back and dart towards him, atop the horned head, the Seanchan soldier clung, his face a mask of fear. Maer tried to lift his legs to avoid the mouth, but felt powerful jaws close on his chest. The teeth sunk into his flesh, and he screamed in pain as the beast, snarled, and tore his grip from the wingtip. The powerful maw clamped down on him, he felt his blood oozing out and screamed in agony as several of his ribs snapped. The jaws remain clamped about him.

The man on the head, reached for his knife and tried to send the sharp point into Maer's throat. Maer blocked it with his right wrist.

"Never!" Maer shouted, calling up strength deep within him. He reached into his quiver and yanked out several arrows, spilling the rest. Then with a loud shout of pain and anger, he reached up and drove them deep into the creature's right eye. The To'Raken whipped his gnarled, ridged, head back in painful reaction, clenching his teeth harder, and more ribs broke. Maer could feel his life-blood oozing into the creature's jaw.

The reflex move of the head sent the soldier atop it sailing into the darkness, and, as if time slowed, Maer could see the large knife he had been wielding spinning in the night. He reached for it, and his hand was clenching the handle, even as the man's scream faded abruptly. Maer could see the man's still form on the prairie below.

Maer was finding breathing difficult now and he struggled to remain conscious. He could feel darkness closing in around him.

"For Maeslyn and the Light!" He shouted, and plunged the knife into the other eye. He heard a shriek and then felt himself falling and then he was lost to darkness.



----

"I think we should keep moving," Fiznak said, shaking his head at Maeslyn. "Going back now and we may run into patrols. It's risky."

"Aye. Let him die if that's what he wanted," Thenlir growled. Fiznak raised an eyebrow.

"Well, I didn't say I wanted him dead," Fiznak added. " I just think there's a good chance we'll all end up dead if we run into those patrols. I saw we continue west."

"Nay Fiznak!" Maynard said emphatically. "I shall go after him! I saw him battle Lord Timak's forces at New Ridge. I saw him risk his life for me. I saw him fall in battle there. I will not simply stand by while he goes to his doom now. I for one shall ride!" With that, he turned his horse around and started after the beast, in a dead gallop.

"I'm with Maynard!" Keb said and she turned her horse to follow.

"Then we all will go," Maeslyn said quietly, relief in her voice. "Long has he stayed by my side. I would not abandon him to death now." She turned her horse and followed after Keb, Finzak and Thenlir following after.

For several moments they rode at a gallop until a faint shriek was heard from somewhere above them. Fiznak looked at Thenlir, who was beginning to reach for his crossbow.

Ahead of him he saw that Maynard had pulled rein and was getting out his bow. Keb followed suit.

"What is it?" Fiznak asked.

"There!" Maynard said. "What do you see."

"By the light! It's coming back!" Fiznak reached for his own bow. "The To'Raken returns!"

He peered into the darkness and could see far above him, the large shape and something in it's mouth or on its head. And then he heard a scream and saw a man fall, screaming until the impact with the frozen ground ended the scream a hundred feet or so in front of them.

"Light. Someone just fell!" Keb startled.

"What of Maer?" Maeslyn's voice was taut with concern. "Is he alive?"

"I don't see him."

"It's getting closer!" Thenlir placed a bolt in the crossbow and pointed it at the To'Raken. It was still flying high, but slowly moving lower as if seeking for a place to land.

"For Maeslyn and the Light!" She heard the sound far above him.

"Blood and ashes!" Fiznak cursed. "He's in its mouth!"

"Take it down!" Maeslyn commanded. "Kill it!"

The beast came lower and Fiznak saw the still form tumble from its mouth. "It's Maer! He's falling!"

As one they let their arrows fly toward the beast.

---

Maeslyn ignored the arrows and the To'Raken. She calmed her mind and imagined a rose in sunshine. She opened herself to the True Source, to Saidar as she had learned how to do. And it filled her with life, and light, and with a rush of exhilaration to which there was no comparison.

Quicker than thought she let the power flow through her and weaved that power into a pattern of thought, a pattern of air. Weaves of air, combining with other weaves of air, forming a tiny thread of air, and then a yarn, and then larger and larger, and then a rope, and still larger. Then several ropes, and then a net. She knitted them all together, pushing the flow into each one. In a matter of heartbeats, the air around her falling friend solidied, gelling about him and then hardening completely in place, keeping him suspended in the air.

Was he alive? Light! She wasn't sure. If she hadn't returned... if Maynard hadn't galloped at that minute... if she had gone the other way, would Maer be lying crumpled on the ground, like that other man?

So many ifs... she sighed and tied off the weave. Perhaps he was dead already. She had at least stopped his fall and there he hung, some fifty feet above the ground. No time for it now! She turned her attention back to the battle.

---

Their arrows flew up into the night. Whether or not they had any impact Fiznak couldn't tell, but he could see the beast was coming in awkwardly toward the ground and some arrows were protruding from its wings and chest. It wasn't acting very graceful!

"Look out!" Fiznak yelled, shooting another arrow and then spurring his horse on, just as the beast crash landed. It tore one wing it the frozen ground. It would never fly again. When the frost and the grass cleared from the air, Seanchan soldiers were climbing from the baskets, their bows in their hands. They spotted Fiznak and the others and began shouting and shooting their arrows.

Fiznak galloped his horse out of the way of the To'Raken as it darted its head back and forth. Then it launched itself in Keb's direction.

Keb looked up and saw the To'Raken flapping its wings above her. Blood seeped from its eyes. Keb kicked her horse into a run and turned over her shoulder to loose an arrow. Still the thing came after her.

Fiznak growled and drew his last arrow. It was so dark, he wasn't sure he had hit anything. This one better do something! He let it fly into the To'Raken and felt some satisfaction as the beast gave a loud shriek and turned around in confusion. It reared back on it's hind legs and then came at Keb again, it's bloody maw darting into the frosty ground as it struck at her again and again. "Light!" Keb shouted and jumped from her horse, dropping her bow and wrenching out her rapier. "Someone take it down."

"Arrgg!" Thenlir ripped out his axe and bore down on the creature, his face a mask of rage. Arrows sped out of the darkness to hit him. Two arrows thudded into his breastplate, but he still ran on, the axe above his head.

Maynard trotted on his horse, guiding the horse with his knees. And using his bow shot an arrow through the To'Raken's already wounded eye. In a heap the beast collapsed, red blood pooling and steaming on the ground.

An arrow hit Fiznak's lower leg. He gritted against the pain, threw down his now, useless bow and drew his sword and then charged the Seanchan soldier.

Thenlir arrived first, his large axe crashing down onto the poor man's skull. The motion continued and he sent his mighty swing into another Seanchan, crumpling that one as well with another bone-sickening crunch.

There was only one man left. "Ha!" Fiznak shouted and urged his horse on. The man held up his bow screaming, as if to parry the blow. Fiznak's sword chopped through it and beheaded the man. He surveyed the scene. All the Seanchan were dead and the beast was slowly bleeding out the rest of it's life onto the grass.

It was over. He sheathed his sword and headed back to Maeslyn.

----

Maer opened his eyes. It was a pale, cold morning and the light hurt. He sat up and looked about. He lay on his bed roll, thick wool blanket was on him. He gingerly touched his ribs. They didn't even hurt. Some of it seemed a dream. He was more tired than he could remember, but he was alive. Must be the Wise One's doing.

"He's awake." Keb announced and then turned to him. "That's twice you've nearly died on us. Mule headed man! Try not to always act the hero. You don't do a very good job of it. Who ever heard of the hero in stories always having to be fixed up by women? Now, come on and get some food."

Maer hobbled over to the others and settled near a fire. Maeslyn smiled at him. "You are lucky to be alive. Very lucky." Her smile faded and her voice took on a tone his mother used to use with him when he hadn't been doing his chores. "And very foolish! Brave? Yes. But also foolish! Had we stayed together I believe you would have fared much better!"

"Apprentice Wise One, I only sought to--" Maer began but at Fiznak's slight shake of the head, he let it drop. What was the use? The wetlander Wise One had the same type of viper tongue the others had back in his sept. "Apprentice Wise One. I shall obey." He nodded and gave a slow smile.

"He learns quickly, doesn't he, Keb?" She said, smiling again.

"We can always hope." Keb added.

"Next time, if you must be brave, use more wisdom and less sheep brains!"

At the sound of horse hooves, Maer started to stand, feeling very weak, but casting his eyes about for a weapon.

"It's only Maynard." Maeslyn said. "He has been out scouting."

"Lady Maeslyn," Maynard began. "We had best be moving soon. One of the patrols has found the dead To'Raken and may begin investigating. While they are a few hours off, it would be best to not be nearby."

"I don't see any reason to wait any longer," she conceded. "Lets pack up and leave for Falme. With luck we'll be there before dark. On the way, perhaps Maer can regale us with tales of his many brave and heroic deeds." She smiled at him and Keb giggled softly.