WOT Adv 85

--- The Wheel Turns ---
The strain of combat begins to take its toll on you. You shake the weariness out of your limbs, and seeing only the blackened end of the metal grappling hook lying on the muddy field, you pick it up.

A guard raises his blade to behead one of the wounded and dying. You see a spear at his feet and see your target. You take a step towards him and swing the object with two hands. He sees it too late and you bring the heavy metal hook down upon his head. He crumples.

Looking about you can see another soldier has his sword our warily move backwards out of the fight, guarding the two soldiers who rushed to assist the fallen Wise One. One grabs her feet, the other her arms and with the guard in tow, they trot around the east side of the inn, disappearing from sight.

Looking about the twisted bodies of the dead and wounded at your feet you can now see one of the two large spears, commonly used for hunting animals. Snatching one up, you give it a whirl and a thrust. Being a heavier weapon, it handles slower than the spear you are used to, but it is a spear, not some abominable wetlander blade.

You scan for those villagers who remain standing. There are so few left. Only two remain fighting for their lives on the line. One, a larger one is nearby and one you can barely make out in the rain to the south.

Suddenly a sword slashes across the far one and he drops. You curse bitterly. These men and women have fought bravely for wetlanders. Not well, but bravely. Now only one villager is left on the line. He is larger than many of the other villagers and is wearing the alien looking armor of the enemy. It is probably that which saved his life, although he is suffering from several wounds. Yet in his hands he wields your hand axe, attempting to crush the skull of the soldier opposite him.

"Retreat! To me! To the woods!"

The villager glances at you and nods soberly.

Other Seanchan, perhaps three or so are moving around you and rushing towards Maeslyn. You thrust your spear at one of them as he runs by but he parries your blow with his curved blade and continues running past you. Around Maeslyn you notice other grey tendrils of fog begin to sprout from the sodden ground, growing thicker.

"Maer! Let's go!" Maeslyn brings her hands in front of her, palms facing outwards, hands touching, then in a wide gesture she pulls her hands to her sides and then disappears.

You start and then murmur, shaking your head. "Truly a Wise One." It seemed as if the night simply swallowed her up. The fog is getting thicker and thicker. But you don't see Maeslyn.

Neither do the Seanchan apparently. "Where did she go?" one of them queries and then breathes what you guess would be an oath.

A throwing axe, tossed by Althair the Tracker, whirs out of the darkness handle over head, past a Seanchan guard. The Seanchan curses and begins moving towards Althair, who pulls out his scimitar and beckons them to come for him.

"The Light burn you!" He shouts angrily. "You have killed my kin and taken away all that I hold dear! You will not see me leave this spot, bloody outlander!"

"Retreat!" you shout again to the villagers as you search for where to go.

You consider your options. You could try to get to Maeslyn, or at least where you think she last was. The fog would make some good cover for an escape. At the same time, the route to the north or to the west of you seems to be free of any activity. But then again, it's possible that there is another outlying patrol out in the darkness somewhere.