WOT Adv 86

--- The Wheel Turns ---
You sling the spear into the leather holder on your back and search among the fallen Seanchan for a bow with a working string and arrows with fletchings still fit to serve. Your own fletchings were burnt to dust from the Wise One's attack.

You see one, a sturdy bow with wood stained and lacquered black, lying half crushed under the weight of its previous owner. You heave the body over and pick up the bow. With the fighting still continuing in pockets around you, you strip the quiver off the dead man's back. Then rapidly straightening the fletchings, you nock an arrow and consider your options.

You could leave now. Leave running north or west into the darkness never to be seen again. South has its share of Seanchan. What binds you anyway to these wetlanders, you wonder to yourself? While these wetlanders are not of your clan, they are the closest thing you can find. You still have your honor and your "t'oh".

Maeslyn is probably safe. But Keb? If she's alive...

"Keb!" you shout and into the darkness. "Keb!" The sounds of rain, of so much wetness falling from this watery sky are all you here and then a faint reply.

"I'm here! The stables!" A dim shout reaches you. And then, "Die! Why don't you die, Burn you!"

She's alive. You smile. And she's still fighting it sounds like. You press your lips together in a thin line and scan the approach the rear of the stables, where you and Maynard first made the hole it what already seems to be more than a week ago. A lone Seanchan and villager fight in the darkness and two more Seanchan are battling Althair. The poor man is already deeply wounded, but he doesn't look like he's going to budge and he's giving out as good as he's taking with that curved sword.

If you could somehow kill the Seanchan, you could get through the back opening and in to help Keb. It would be a hard shot with the man locked in combat with the villager. You raise your bow ready to take aim on the Seanchan, ready to pull the string to your cheek. And then a terrible scream to your left. The villager with your hand axe wearing the enemy armor falls to the ground, clutching his face with both hands, blood gushing out between them, and one Seanchan raises his blade and, with a flash, beheads the man. Another Seanchan soldier stands nearby, his blade also bloodied.

They raise both blades and slowly start to circle around you. "No plan survives contact with the enemy..." That one thought seems to taunt you.