WOT Adv 93 - Althair and the Charging Seanchan

--- The Wheel Turns ---
Maer veiled his face, giving Althair a hard look.

"No," Maeslyn whispered, pleading. "Don't."

Then Maer suddenly turned and strode off toward the mists to the north. He stepped only a few paces when the sound of thundering hoofs broke through the relative stillness, coming from the south.

"The Dark One take you, Althair" Thenlir bellowed. "They are coming!"

Maer jerked around and jogged back, his eyes scanned the darkness.

"There!" Fiznak pointed. Five shapes thundered across the open field, bearing down on them, torches waving wildly.

Althair just stood there looking down at his son, blankly.

"Althair, I am truly sorry; I truly did not understand if you wanted to live or if you wanted to die, and I wanted you to live. Your wetlander customs are strange to me."

Althair said nothing, he just stared at the still form of his son.

"Remember friend Althair," Fiznak added, loosening the sword in his scabbard as he spoke. "Who killed your son? Who held the sword? Who struck the blow? Not Maer, but these fiends we all fight. Many people have died tonight. Your friends, your kindred. Seek vengeance upon those who drew the sword and bow and drew the final breath from those you loved."

Althair stood in silence, but trembled, and then with a wrenching sob, he pulled out his bow and nocked an arrow, sighting down the arrow to the charging Seanchan.

"Thenlir, Fiznak," Maer continued. "Boost me up to the roof of the house. I will shoot the wetlanders from there while the rest of you make your escape. I suggest you hide low in the woods in case more wetlander patrols come into the area."

"Maer, your plan is risky at best," Fiznak said, aiding Maer to climb atop the roof. "But I think it is the only way at this time. If we fight, we must fight together. I would not be afraid to die with an Aiel at my side."

Thenlir also nodded. "We will fight together. I have little love for the Aiel myself, but together we may survive this new enemy, wounded as we are."

Althair said nothing, but nodded grimly. He whispered something but it was lost in the sounds of the approaching charge.

"Maer," Maeslyn said. "We are with you. Maynard stand nearby!"

Fiznak and Thenlir stood below. Fiznak with a shortbow, Thenlir with his cross bow. The five shapes drew nearer, nearly in range of the bowmen.

"Althair, if we survive, perhaps you can explain to me the customs of wetlander mourning, and I will mourn with you the death of your family. Until then, I trust you will do your best to keep my friends alive, as I was unable to do for your son. Aim for those torches!"

With that Maer drew his bow string as did the others and let fly.

Arrows coursed through the air, some missing, but many hitting the charging horsemen. Two slumped in their saddles into the muddy field, their horses running wide even before the other three in the patrol crashed into the line near the house. With a war cry, the three dropped their torches into the wed sod and attacked with Scimitar.

A boar spear tore through the chest of one man even as he raised his sword. The spear lifted him off the saddle. "For Tobin's Hollow!" Screamed the villager. The soldier's eyes were wide with shock.

And then there was a general melee of swords and axes, curses and cries of the wounded. The sputtering torches caused wild shadows to dance the wall of house and the nearby copse of trees.

Thenlir dropped his bow and drew out his axe. In a controlled arc he took a cut to his shoulder from the charging Seanchan's blow, but his own counterstroke took the man in his face, crumpling his skull and knocking him from his horse.

Maynard with his curved sword flashing in the torchlight slashed a man's face. He screamed and fell from his horse, getting trampled by another.

Without a clear shot into the melee below, Maer held his bow and Fiznak drew his sword to engage the remaining Seanchan who before was so confident fought to stay alive. Althair dropped his bow and with a wild fury, launched himself at the Seanchan, his own curved blade whistling through the rain and dark.

The Seanchan raised his blade to cut down Althair. When the point of a spear pierced his chest. He stood in his stirrups for a moment, his face full of awe and shock and then dropped.

"For Tobin's Hollow." The simple villager with his spear said quietly, and then added, "and for Althair's son."

"We did it," Maeslyn said sounding tired. Her face was pinched. "Well, you men did, at any rate. I'm afraid I overdid myself. I will not be of much use until I get some rest."

"Lady Maeslyn," Thenlir said, dropping his axe and going to her aid. "Lean on me."

She gratefully took his arm.

"We can use these horses to quickly get to Bryna's home." Maynard said, grabbing on of their reins. "Who is with me?"