Wheel of Time MUD

Aira stepped onto the gangplank in front of him, its wooden surface flexing ominously as she made her way onto the ship. Larry followed right after her. Soon, the ship left its mooring, its sweeps moving it out onto the river and sailed back upriver towards Cairhien. As the green vinyards slowly moved past, interspersed with large manors, they sat at the bow, where they could speak without being overheard.

'He is awfully close to Aringill. Close enough that I could even get the hired hands to grab him and take him by force, bundle him up into a sack on a ship bound for Cairhien,' Aira mused.

Larry's eyes flicked up as he was polishing his armor, but he did not speak.

'I could have him hauled before a Wisdom and force him into marriage with a dagger at his neck.'

Larry sighed and rolled his eyes. 'Really, Aira? The man is a great swordsman and fighter. He is as likely to carve up any Iron Fist that comes for him. He's also not an enemy you'd want at your back. Or in your bloody marital bed. I don't even know what you see in him! I mean, yes, he's pretty and an excellent fighter, but the man is insufferable. He will only do what is right. And doing what is right in case he was abducted and forced into marriage would be to kill you, or have you killed, OR have you tried!'

Larry realized he was shouting. He cleared his throat and looked around him.

'Besides, there are much better men out there. Ones that you won't have to force to marry you. Ones that won't get you killed. Ones that could actually bring a force of men with them to fight back these Aiel.'

Larry considered saying more, anything that would move her towards the other man in the Baerlon girl's prophecy, but he was at a loss on how. Prophecy or not, kidnapping Galad would be a monumental catastrophy.

Aira sighed and said 'Faraway, so close.' Then, her gaze became more focussed and her voice turned all business. 'I suppose I should send out a general call to arms to drive these savages back.'

A tall young man with dark eyes and hair gazed over the river, his humble patrol. He knew he was being wasted here, but he had his orders. His duties. He moved with cat-like fluidity towards the man who had just ridden up on a palfrey, carrying a message.

Lord Lieutenant Galadedrid Damodred,

I know not when or if this message will reach you, but I write from under the shadow of Jangai Pass. The Rising Sun, a handful of Children, and a disparate number of others hold a tenuous line against the Aiel savages. We are hard-pressed, Lord Damodred, and the Children due from the south have gone missing. I fear the worst for them.

In the meantime, my scouting indicates troubling signs of the Aiel intention to push further west, their forward scout movements perilously close to Andor’s borders. Should they overrun Cairhien and cross into Andor, I fear the poorly trained and complacent Queen’s Guard will be overwhelmed and the dominoes will fall from there. A breach in Cairhien would spell chaos everywhere.

Your station at the Manetherendrelle is vital, yet I believe the Light calls for your presence here on the battlefield. Your leadership and sword arm could turn the tide, rallying not only our forces but the hearts of the Cairhienin defenders who waver in despair. Few warriors of the Light possess the discipline and honor that you embody, and such qualities are desperately needed.

If this pigeon reaches you, I beseech you to ride to our aid with all haste and whatever forces you can muster. The auxiliary forces I have stationed in Murandy will receive another pigeon with separate instructions to send a contingent force to secure your location, to keep the river secure. The survival of Cairhien hangs in the balance.

May the Light guide your path.

For the Light,

Child Patter Reilly
Under-Lieutenant

The Lieutenant hesitated. He had not heard from high command in Amador in months, but had been debriefed by Child Patter on his way east weeks ago. He knew the importance of the man's mission and what failure might mean - the potential consequences were dire. He had a decision to make.

The dust continued to be thrown into the air, choking and clawing at Aiyhlo's throat, what he wouldn't give to rest and have a cool drink of water. *CLANG* a spear struck the side of his breast plate, with a roar Aiyhlo brought his greatsword down towards the aielman, who deftly dodged to the right. A quick step and the aielman felt an armored shoulder hit him knocking him to the ground, and at once Aiyhlo was bringing his metal clad fist into the mans skull cracking it with a sickening thud.

Through the dust glimpses of the Rising Sun crest could be seen either in the midst of combat or laying motionless on the ground. A number of these barbarians were also littering the area. With a huge swing to the right and the Sun Major felt his blade slicing deep into another aielman's side dropping him.

Two blasts from a horn and a war cry was heard. "For Cairhien, for the Rising Sun!!" and a party of the Rising Sun rode into the fray.

As the remaining aiel raiding party fell to the Rising Sun reinforcements, Aiyhlo removed his helmet and surveyed the battle ground. He reached into his gauntlet to pull out a cloth with a small charging boar stitched onto it, a memory of days long past, and wiped his brow.

More good men and women fell today, more than should have. Cairhien needed an answer, they needed more brave and women to face this threat.

Some had come, he had bore witness to a clever ambush set up by a former illuminator. He had also had word of a force of the Children of the light riding to Cairhien to assist. An advance party that had arrived earlier. He hoped it would be enough but knew in his heart more was needed... if the aiel kept forcing their way through the pass it might be another aiel war.

Aiyhlo began to collect the black veils from the aielmen he had slain today... trophies for the war weary soldier.

Blood splattered on pure white.

Child Patter noticed the streak painting his white cloak but paid it little mind. He raised his shield just in time to deflect a stone spear aimed at his head. Spinning on the ball of his feet, he drew a knife from his waistband and hurled it in one fluid motion. The blade buried itself in the Aiel spearman’s forehead. Before the body hit the ground, Patter was already sliding on one knee, ducking under another spear thrust, responding with a knife placed into the arterial cluster underneath the armpit of the second Aielman. Without getting up, he ripped the knife free from the first fallen Aielman’s skull and raised his shield again, parrying a third attack.

He kicked this warrior’s legs out from under him and raised his blade to strike, but froze as movement through the smoke caught his eye along the scraggy treeline at the edge of the field. His breath caught. Instead of thrusting down, he grabbed the downed Aielman’s body and rolled, cursing. A volley of arrows streaked down, striking the unfortunate man-turned-shield. One pierced clean through and tore into Patter's no-longer-white cloak but caused no harm. The Creator was merciful.

Pinned beneath the lifeless body, Patter stared into wide green eyes above a black shoufa, now dulled as life fled from them. Revulsion churned in his gut, but he shoved the corpse aside and scrambled for cover.

The ambush had been a success, a small blow against the Aiel advance. Patter squinted and sighted the bodies that lined the western fence of the farmhouse. He could not see the man in sight, but the former Queen’s Guard had kept his word. The farmhouse was now being flanked by archers, and the strategic value of this position had been exhausted. Flames from the trap they had set roared in the distance, adding to the chaos that had ensued after the Aiel had followed Arjuna into the killing zone. Ducking low, he moved, and kept out of sight until he was far enough away from the farmhouse. His mount awaited him behind a small rocky escarpment, and made little noise as he mounted.

Through the haze and smoke, Patter’s eyes darted south. He still had faith that his fellow Children, who at this very moment were marching in force toward the pass, would arrive when he anticipated. But until they arrived, there was work to be done. And not much time to do it.

He glanced back east, even as he spurred his mount westward. The sun was rising over Jangai Pass, its golden light cutting through the smoky haze. 

Something had seemed strange to Arjuna about the contract, but he couldn't put his finger on it.

It was an absurd amount of silver, but he knew the reputation of the contract's patron and the vast extent of their wealth -- even this sum of silver was but a splash in that sea. A rather large and lovely splash, perhaps, particularly for a rogue Illuminator who seemed more intent on hiding in a desolate cave in the wilderness than creating problems for anyone of import. But then again, the Illuminators were known to jealousy guard their secrets and Arjuna understood that tendency better than most, maybe even better than the Illuminators Guild themselves. Every odd aspect of the contract had a potential explanation that followed its own internal logic. And yet, this nagging feeling remained...

It was Da'es Daemar. He knew that, because he knew that everything was Da'es Daemar. Especially in Cairhien.

But Arjuna was no stranger to the Great Game. In his time he had been both piece and player. He had learned of the Great Game as a street urchin and petty thief. By the time he was a Lieutenant and Special Advisor to the Queen of Andor he understood the Game on a level that could not possibly have been explained to that young and cocksure street urchin. And now, in this chapter of life that had come after his abrupt resignation from service to the Andoran crown, his perception of Da'es Daemar had become another thing entirely...

Whatever this might be about, Arjuna was confident in his ability to navigate the webs of the Great Game. Particularly if the price was right (and the price was right). And so he set out on a cold night for a mountain pass east of Cairhien.

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His first surprise was that the rogue Illuminator had already been slain. His second surprise was the culprits -- veiled Aiel. And by the look of them, advance scouts for a raiding party. Concealed in the morning shadows, Arjuna watched as the Aiel continued to arrive. He watched and he waited.

At sunset their numbers were still pouring in, and the dread in his chest had grown to eclipse any thoughts about the strange contract that had led him here.

From his hidden vantage, Arjuna observed that the raiding party was led by an Aiel chieftain of some repute. His great tent was pitched in the center of the camp and it was apparent to Arjuna that the fool was confident in his position and his raid on Cairhien. By the time he realized the price of his hubris, the blood was already spurting from a deep gash in his throat and Arjuna's hand was clasped tightly over his mouth. Cradling the rapidly cooling body, Arjuna laid the corpse out on the cold earthen floor of the tent without so much as a sound.

Automatically, Arjuna scanned the tent for valuables. His eyes lit upon a large but unremarkable leather sack. It was filled with war trophies, tokens of the chieftain's people meant to symbolize their strength and victories. Arjuna felt a sudden stab of disappointment. The bulky sack would surely slow him down and make a stealthy escape all but impossible. He could hear footsteps softly treading closer to the tent. There was no time to linger.

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Exhausted, heart pounding violently, Arjuna dug his heels into the sides of the stolen stallion, urging one last burst of speed. The bulky leather sack he had strapped to the saddle jingled as he approached the abandoned farmhouse.

A man in a white cloak emerged from the barn. "Decent place for an ambush."

"The Aiel are coming," Arjuna croaked. "Minus their leader."

Child Patter nodded. Arjuna did not know how this particular Whitecloak had come to be at this particular place at this particular time, nor did he much care at this particular moment. He was familiar with Child Patter. Like Arjuna, Patter was well versed in the arts of silent death, but he was a zealot in service to the Children of Light. Out of loyalty to the Lord Captain Commander, Child Patter had once spurned a friendly inquiry from Arjuna's associates. He would come to regret the slight in time, of this Arjuna was certain. But here, now, his zealotry meant that he could be counted on as an ally against the approaching horde of Aiel.

Patter tossed a wineskin to Arjuna, who contemplated it for a moment before passing it back. "I need a clear head," he rasped. "They're not far behind. And we can't outpace them to Cairhien."

Tracing out lines in the dirt with their daggers, the two men quickly formed a plan. Whoever had inherited the leadership of the Aiel raid would be in for a surprise...

Aira sat down at the desk in her austere apartment, the doors in the northern wall open to let fresh air in. Aira's gaze lingered momentarily on the view, north towards Tar Valon in the far distance, beyond the horizon.

'You reached out to the Aes Sedai how long ago, Aira' Larry asked, leaning back in a chair opposite her desk, his feet resting on its corner.

'Weeks ago, when the incident with Eldrenia Sedai and Child Patter took place.' Once again, Aira noticed that calling a Child of the Light by its honorific still came natural to her.

'And nothing except an agreement for a meeting that did not take place?'

Aira shook her head, her wavy dark hair bouncing around her face and said 'Nothing.'

'And no communication since?'

'Aside from Kitiara Sedai responding to the Aiel savages' raid while we were out west seeking to hire muscle, not a word,' she responded, clearly agitated. Seeing his look, she responded 'I know, but I had to try to use the circumstance.'

'You've been warning them and others about the Aiel for years.'

'I KNOW, LARRY!' she shouted, visibly struggled for a moment, then continued in a softer tone. 'I'm sorry, Larry. I know.' She sighed.

Larry stood up and walked to a sidetable and poured them some wine.

'Water under the bridge. You tried.'

He handed her a goblet, looking at her intensely. 'You know what the next step is, don't you?'

'Oh, quite. I'm sure Child Patter will be delighted to hear from us.'

'And negotiate an arm and a leg from us, given the circumstances,' Larry said, gesturing at the balcony with his goblet.

'Oh, I am expecting nothing less.'

(OOC note: meeting probably didn't take place because of RL, I don't blame the people involved.)

Aiyhlo pushed open the sundoor. Dust mixed with blood covered portions of his armour.

He took his heron marked greatsword and placed it on a desk as Max began to call servants over to assist in removing his armour.

As the armor was being removed Aiyhlo muttered to himself "Aiel, inside Cairhien again... if it hadn't been for Officer Asan's warnings, and help from Lady Kitiara, Lord Finan, Dernubor, Ryoz and Ibaka things could have been much worse"

Major injuries to house members in Cairhien have been known to happen but not by the aiel in a very long time.

"Max, get me paper and a quill I need to send a report to Lady Aira, the hired muscle is needed now more than ever."

Aira sat at the inn's common room, muttering into her drink.

'What's a girl have to do to draw the right eyes, for Light's sake?'

Larry looked her up and down and said 'Maybe show off those fine ankles?'

'You wouldn't know a fine ankle if it hit you in the head,' she said, kicking at him. Larry reflexively grabbed her leg, studied the stockinged curves with mock seriousness. Finally, he let her leg fall to the ground, before replying 'You're right, there are other things that capture my interest.'

'I wish you would use your interest to trace a particular set of men with flexible values,' Aira retorted.

'I would, but I think you in your current mood would scare them off if we came within a mile of them. Perhaps you should try smiling more.'

Aira opened her mouth and shut it again, blowing air through her nose while staring daggers at Larry, who chuckled to himself before taking a swig of his ale.

Aira busied herself with the fire, putting some thick branches on now that it was burning consistently. A rustle in the undergrowth drew her attention and she reached for the hilt of her sword.

'It's me,' Larry called and Aira watched him enter the clearing, alone. She released the hilt. 'Being cautious, are you?'

'The quarry we hunt is known to strike and bite back. Any luck?'

Larry shook his head as he transferred the reins to his left hand before swinging his right leg over the saddle and dismounting.

'Not one bit. The valley appears to be deserted.'

'So the rumors are true then,' Aira mused.

Larry nodded and pulled his reins over his horse's head, before pulling up the stirrups. Speaking over the saddle, he said 'we can always approach your friend from Baerlon and set them on their trail.'

Aira nodded slowly and poked at the fire with a stick. 'We could. Or we could chase rumors. Hiring some muscle shouldn't be his hard.'

Larry lifted the saddle off his horse and placed it on the ground next to their tent, and replied 'Hiring muscle is easy. Hiring good muscle, that's where it becomes tricky.'