WOT Adv 90

--- The Wheel Turns ---

"Fiznak of the Shienar," Maer responded with a nod. "You are welcome to share our shade for a moment, but I have friends who are in dire need of aid, and I seek to help them."

Maer gripped his spear and eyed the stable to the east and then returned to address Fiznak, anxious when the sounds of fighting reached his ears. "You may seek shelter in the fog, if you wish," he continued. "But I have some companions trapped in a stable just east of here. If you wish to hide in our mist, put away your weapons, enter a few paces, and ask for the warder Maynard. Tell him I sent you. I hope to return shortly."

Then, before Fiznak could respond, Maer nocked an arrow and jogged south around the corner of the nearest building and then turned east towards the stables and disappeared from sight.

Fiznak stood alone for a moment with the rain dripping around him, considering.

"I must prove myself to these new allies of mine if they are to help me," he grunted to himself "In Shienar all must earn trust and loyalty. I remember these teachings well, and I know what I must do."

He gripped his bow, and then ran deeper into the darkness to follow Maer.

---

Thenlir stood in the stables doorway facing two Seanchan soldiers, his heavy two handed hafted axe whirled inches above the soldier who ducked the blow.

He cursed and parried a blow from the man's curved sword.

"Hurry up, Maeslyn!" He growled. One of the soldiers started to circle around behind him.

"She's badly hurt," Maeslyn said with worry, placing her forefinger to her temple and concentrating on something. A large puncture wound was pumping blood onto the stable floor.

"Light Burn these invader!" Thenlir spat as he parried another blow, his heavily muscled arms moving the axe with ease. Suddenly two arrows thunked into the door frame next to him. He breathed out a curse and took another step back into the relative protection of the stables.

"Light, they've got bowmen!" Then he squinted into the darkness to the south east. He thought he could make out two shapes. "Wait a minute, it's that flaming Aiel man you keep around your finger," he cursed to Maeslyn. "And someone else. Blood and ashes, they're going to get us all killed!"

Suddenly Maynard appeared, his back to Thenlir and Maer, rolling under a burning beam as the flames licked higher up the walls, his curved blade held high. "For Tar Valon!"

Then with a complex sword form he brought the blade from behind his back and slashed it across one man's face, sending him rocking back, blood gashing from a wound.

"We need to leave!" Maynard said simply, dancing forward on the balls of his feet, his blade a whir.

"Talk to the Aes Sedai," Thenlir grimaced and with a grunt he angrily brought his axe down with a sickening crunching sound on the wounded man's skull, cutting through helm and head like a melon. The man fell backwards.

His follow up attack nearly caught the other soldier's chin, but was barely parried.

Suddenly Maynard was on the remaining soldier, his blade flashed in the firelight, making a humming sound, biting into flesh. In a matter of moments the lone soldier fell back into the flaming debris and a portion of the room caved in atop him.

"Go! Get out." Maynard yelled.

Thenlir dropped his axe and helped Maeslyn pull Keb out of the burning building. The rain cooled their skin.

Two shapes emerged from the shadows.

"You almost hit me, burn you." Thenlir growled dangerously at Maer, not evening noticing Fiznak. "You and this young whelp you've got here."

"This," Maer says by way of introduction. "Is Fiznak of the Shienar." The heavily man stands as large as Thenlir, both hands clutching a bow, his dark eyes darting from shadow to shadow.

"Honor to serve," Fiznak replied. "May peace favor your axe friend Thenlir."

Thenlir eyed him up and down for a moment. "Whatever," he said and let it drop turning his back on the Shienar with a grunt, moving to assist Maeslyn.

"How is she?" Maer asked, his eyes darting from Keb's still form to the lights and sounds emanating from the inn.

"Bad." Maeslyn says with a sigh, brushing a strand of wet hair from her face. "I've managed to stop the bleeding..." she sighed. "For now at least, but she won't live the night if we don't get some shelter soon."

"Maer, can you carry her?" Maeslyn asked.

"I'll take her." Thenlir volunteered with a frown towards Maer. "I'm stronger. Besides, it's better to keep him up in front where his bow points away from the rest of us."

"No," Maeslyn countered. "Maer is in no condition to fight, although it looks like he can still walk and possibly carry Keb. Thenlir, we may need you, Maynard, and Fiznak to still fight our way out if we happen to run into any Seanchan patrols."

"Couldn't you just get out the same way you got us in?" Thenlir asks, but he looks nervous about it. "You bended the light and made it so they couldn't see us."

"Aes Sedai," Fiznak breathed in awe, taking in the soft curve of Maeslyn's face.

She eyed him sharply. "Accepted only, friend Fiznak of the Shienar." she said and then turned her face back to Keb. "For some time, I may be able to keep us hidden from the enemy," she answered Thenlir. "But I am weak. I can barely grasp the source now and if I channel more Saidar than I have strength for, the results could be disastrous."

Thenlir finally surrendered. "Fine." Then he finally looked at Maynard.

"Who's this?"

"Maynard," Maer told him. "The Wise One's warrior."

"Burn me. A flaming warder!" Thenlir spat into the ground.

Maynard had blond hair and, though not as heavily muscled as Thenlir or Fiznak, moved like a striking viper when his sword arm had a mind to. He turned cold eyes onto Thenlir until Maeslyn addressed him.

"Maynard?" Maeslyn asked. "Where is Megda Sedai?" Looking back at the burning stables she gulped. "I hope that she is well."

"She lives. I can still sense her." Maynard responded politely to Maeslyn with a bow of his head.

"More are coming," Fiznak said, looking towards the inn. The sound of voices could be heard coming nearer.

"I've done all I could here," Maeslyn said, with a weary sigh, and brushed the blood off of her hands absently on her dress. "Let's go. Maer, take Keb. You others, keep your weapons out. We're not out of this yet."