WOT Adv 301

Fiznak sat before the fire a long time, watching the embers, contemplating his greatest fears which were made flesh in Vaid. How ironic that Fiznak had shown no signs of channeling, yet Vaid had. He wondered where he had run to. What would he do now that he was on his own?

Fiznak rested the point of his dagger on the arm of the chair and contemplated the future. If he supported Vaid and protected him, would he be condemned by the white tower? It was more a question of if they would find out or not. Maeslyn didn't seem keen on bringing him before the tower. He loved her gentle nature. He thought about Vaid and what he must be feeling. He thought of his father and of his death. Would Vaid meet the same fiery end? Were the fires of this night just a precursor to an untimely death?

Fiznak looked down and saw that he had made a pit in the arm of the chair with his dagger. He ran his fingers over the hole and decided that sitting there thinking about Vaid would do nothing for him. He had to help him. He stood up quickly, resheathing his dagger in one swift motion. He had to help, but he wouldn't go alone. Hopefully maeslyn would still be up--there's no way she would sleep with all this on her mind. Fiznak had already set out once to bring back a lost comrade. He had almost died in the process and he wouldn't make the same mistake again. He took the stairs two at a time, quietly though, and gingerly rapped on Maeslyn's door...

The door opened a crack revealing Maeslyn in naught but her white shift, followed by a light-weight robe of pale blue she had hastily wrapped about her slender form. One hand held the robe shut, the other held a small oil lamp.

"Fiznak? What are you doing here?" She asked in a low whisper, concern in her voice. Her hair was slightly disheveled, but her eyes were alert as she scanned down the hallway before her green eyes fell on Fiznak's. "Is something wrong? I thought you'd be asleep by now. After tonight's excitement, you need your rest, as do I."

He shook his head, feeling melancholy and helpless. "I need to talk with you."

His tone took her aback, and when she said nothing, just looked at him, he pushed past her into her room, not noticing her raised eyebrow. She said nothing but softly shut the door and placed the oil lamp on the small desk in her room.

He spoke softly continuing to pace.

"I've been thinking."

"So I see," she sat on the edge of her bed and wrapped her robe more closely about her, warding off the cold.

"Back in Falme a few days ago. You said some things. Like you had a premonition. You said a storm was coming--I" he ran his hand through his hair and looked at here. "Light! I don't want to die going on some fool mission."

There was a long silence. "Is that what this this is? Some fools errand? You know who we chase. And you know why! They're plotting something against the Dragon Reborn. This is far from a fools errand, Fiznak. This is bigger than all of us."

He shrugged and leaned against the wall and clenched the pommel of his sword. He swore. "Blood and ashes, Maeslyn, I don't know what to think anymore. We're chasing after darkfriends, and the light knows what else...what if--what if we don't make it?"

"Light, Fiznak! You're going to be my Warder! You face that question every time you put your armor on. Everytime you draw your sword to protect me may be your last."

He shook his head angrily. "It's not about me!" He growled. "It's never been about me. It's about all of us.  First, we lost Thenlir. Light, I know he had a head little better than a caravan guard, but he was still part of our company. He was torn to pieces. Then there was Keb. I did what I could to help her, but I--" he angrily gripped the window sill and stared out into the night. "...I couldn't."

Maeslyn wondered at this side of Fiznak, studying his face closely. This self-doubt and introspection. It wasn't like him. It could be this light-blinded city and the shadow that seemed to cloak it. But perhaps this was merely a screen for what really bothered him.

Standing, she approached him, and gently touched his arm."My heart, what is this really about?"

"And now there's Vaid," he said, and the anxiety seemed to drain out of him as he rested his forehead on the cool pane of the window. "Vaid. He's out there somewhere. I didn't know him well, the Light burn me! But he was a good enough man! And now--Maeslyn, you know my father. What he was. I've told you what happened to him."

The man went out wreathed in lightning, fire, and madness, if what Fiznak had told her were true. She nodded sadly and sighed.

"But you don't understand what he felt. You can't. Not like I did. I--" he struggled within himself. "--I felt him. I became him, I had his thoughts. Light, they were my thoughts! Vaid is--" he pushed away from the window and walked to the door. "I have to help him. He is one of us." Fiznak had a stubborn set to his jaw that made her uneasy.

Maeslyn looked at him. "Even knowing what he is and what he's capable of, you still think that?"

"Don't you?"

"Fiznak, this is dangerous!" she pleaded, drawing near to him, looking up into his eyes. "What if he left to protect us from himself? What if he felt the madness coming upon him, and he did this to help us? What if he doesn't want to be found? Or worse, what if he thinks--what if he thinks I sent you? To--to kill him? Light! He certainly knows now that we know what he really is. He could strike out at you before you even get a chance to speak with him."

Fiznak only shook his head, stubborn determination written across his countenance now. "I must know."

She sighed. He was not yet her warder and was not bonded to her. Perhaps a direct command would keep him tied to her, but she didn't want that, would never want him to resent her in that way. There may come a time and a reason when she would do such a thing, but not now. Not yet.

She drew nearer and he embraced him. "Then go quickly and safely my heart. I would go with you, but I dare not. I fear both of us approaching him would be too dangerous. Be safe, my Lord Fiznak," She murmured into his chest, hearing the strong beating of his heart.

He kissed the top of her head briefly in answer, and gently pushed her away. After one final look and a nod of his head, he was gone, clattering downstairs in armor and weaponry, leaving Maeslyn standing in the room's open doorway.