WOT Adv 97 - The Fall of Maynard

--- The Wheel Turns ---

"No!" Fiznak shouted and half stepped towards Maynard, meaning to leap out to his aid.

"Get out, lad!" he yelled, his blade darting with skill but obviously on the defensive against this well trained Seanchan. "Go while you still can!"

"We'll go together, Maynard!" Fiznak whipped out his dagger. "Through the window! Follow me!"

With a sudden flip of his wrist he threw the dagger at Lord Timak. Timak saw the flying blade at the last instant and turned his body. The dagger scratched his armor and then fell to the earth. He considered Fiznak gravely.

Maynard used the distraction and leapt at him, his curved blade whirring and in a slashing move he drew blood in a deep gash down Timak's cheek.

"Die Tar Valoner!" Timak said with a controlled anger and with blow after blow, sword rang on sword, he once again forced the warder up against Bryna's wall. Maynard parried a well executed overhand swing and then a thrust. Blood soaked his tunic.

Then, with a complex spinning move Timak switched hands holding the pommel of his sword behind his back, and got inside Maynard's guard, plunging the sword into his chest.

Maynard's eyes went wide and looked at Fiznak trying to work his mouth. But no sound came out. "Run!" he mouthed. And then slumped against the wall.

"No." Fiznak whispered in disbelief. He had heard stories of warders ever since his childhood. Near mythical warriors who alone could defeat scores of the Dark One's forces. And when Alena came with the Amryln Seat to Fal Dara he had witnessed their near unmatchable strength of arms against trollocs and a fade who had entered the keep. But now. Now this new threat stalked the earth. This Seanchan army with their Lords, their beasts, and their strange channelers. He took a step backwards through the window into the house, still in shock, looking at Maynard's dark blood pool into the dark shadows of the trees and the house.

Timak slowly drew the blade out of the fallen warder, gave the still form a salute with his blade and then pointed it's bloody point at Fiznak. "Kill him." he said simply and turned and walked away.

That was enough to snap Fiznak out of his shock. He turned and ran for his life, jumping over shelves, chairs and ducking out under the ruined door. He darted around the south east corner of Bryna's house and then cut north. The sounds of pursuit were hot on his heals.

Men cursed as they tripped and tumbled over the debris inside of Bryna's home.

Two men swung around the house from an urgent barked order and managed to swing at Fiznak as he ran. He ducked under a blade and leapt aside of the other, and then his long strong legs pumped up and down until he reached the trees.

They were still following him, but he was losing them. His lighter armor allowed him to easily outdistance them.

He spared a glance back and could see Lord Timak walking toward the inn as if on a Sunday stroll, another form was bending over Maynard's body.

"Light, no!" he scrubbed the back of his hand angrily at his face. "A warder. How could he slay a warder?"

The sounds of shouting caught up to him and he kept running.

Eventually reaching the horses he leapt astride his and pulled wrapped the reins of Maynard's around the pommel of his saddle. Then with a vicious kick in the beast's side, he plunged into the darkness.

For several minutes he rode at a gallop, sorrow and fear competing with his desire for vengeance.

Eventually he pulled short and got his bearings. The horses sides heaved and steam blew out his nostrils. Maer said to meet at the south east bluff. His eyes swept over that direction and he saw a small rise in that direction. He patted the neck of his horse and then kicked it forward.

---

A few moments later as he neared the clearing, he pulled back to a trot, nearing the top of the bluff.

"Halt!" Maer's voice cried out and an arrow slammed into the tree trunk next to him.

"It's me!" Fiznak growled and dismounted.

"Apologies friend, Fiznak" Maer smiled and stepped out of darkness, his spear at the ready. Althair stepped out behind a nearby tree, his bow at the ready his hand reaching for another arrow.

"How did it go?" Maer asked. Then he noticed the warder's empty saddle and his face grew serious and he studied Fiznak's face.

"And what of Maynard, the Wide One's warrior. Where is he?"