Flurries of Another Kind

[Maddy]

Feeling the brush of saidar as her hood slipped from her head, Maddy instinctively glanced at the other women to identify the source. Her gaze settled on Chloro Sedai, where faint remnants of the weave lingered in the air, nodding, she turned her attention back to her surroundings.

Her focus was drawn to the Gaidin as they patrolled the vicinity, ever watchful for threats. Gaidin Rylea’s sharp gaze often returned to check on Chloro Sedai as she recovered. Gaidin Artorias ventured further out, disappearing into the treeline for a short time, then back to the wagon. The two did not stop moving, their keen eyes constantly scanning as they silently coordinated their vigilance. Chloro Sedai had chosen her protectors well for this journey.

Drawing up to the hamlet of Dingsta, Maddy took stock of the crowd gathered. Some had bandages barely covering large gaping wounds, some looked feverish, most of the faces were gaunt with hunger. Children clung to their mothers skirts, eyes wide with fear as they watched the Tower group. Maddy gave her party a fleeting look, noticing a tightened jaw here, a clenched fist there, betraying a variety of emotions beneath their practiced stoicism. No matter how often witnessed, observing suffering never got easier.

Dismounting, Maddy leaned into Nabir’s warm neck, fingers brushing his mane as she whispered soft words of comfort to him. Pulling an apple from her pack she offered it to him watching his ears flicker in appreciation. Handing the reins to the stableboy she stepped carefully over scattered debris as she made her way to the square.

The Village was not large, just a few shops and houses gathered in a clump near the forest. A stream ran past, with water so clear you could see the fish swimming between the rocks. The surrounding forest was quiet, almost too quiet save for the occasional plaintive chirp or chatter. Behind the houses Maddy noticed once flourishing gardens, now barren and crushed from the many recent attacks.

Pausing at the fountain, a girl about 6, hesitatingly approached her. Maddy squatted in front of the small girl,offering her a gentle smile, ’Here, are you hungry?’ she asked softly as she handed her a piece of fruit from her bag. The girl quickly shovelled the morsel into her mouth, her eyes hungrily searching for more. Additional children approached, echoing the brave girl's example.They politely looked at the pack with expectant, hopeful faces as they stood patiently waiting. Maddy stood up, brushed off her dress then handed her bag to the girl's Mother with a smile and a nod asking, ‘Please share this with the others.’

The Tower group had dispersed to assist. Chloro and Liia Sedai were speaking with a woman who seemed in charge. Arelis was with them but also keeping a sharp eye on the treeline as she ran locates periodically. Some of the older boys started to unpack the wagon, their movements brisk with renewed purpose. Life was returning to the village with the arrival of supplies, the unexpected help bringing them a new hope. Even cats and dogs came out of houses, roaming the square sniffing for food.

Moving to where some wounded were laying, Maddy knelt and started healing with soothing weaves of earth spirit and water. Moving from patient to patient she noticed a young woman standing to the side watching with interest mixed with awe. Motioning her over, Maddy handed her a bag instructing, ‘Please give nourishment to the patients as they are healed.’ The woman nodded, stepping forward to assist. Maddy watched her carefully as she worked. Such a keen interest in saidar was rare. She would need to keep an eye on this one—there might be a spark waiting to be nurtured.

[Liia]

All sound was muffled by the thick blanket of snow as the Tower contingent made their way to the village, a small welcoming party was out braving the chill to meet them.

Liia took her place not far behind Chloro, willing to let her take the lead. As they approached, she watched out of the corner of her eye as Accepted Maddy split off to hand out nourishment and healing to a small crowd of children and injured. Turning her attention forward, she observed the woman they were approaching. The face gave her a quick startle - she was familiar... trained in the Tower, years ago - the name wasn't coming to her, but the face was familiar to Liia, back from her early days wearing the shawl. Recalling what she could remember, the girl was not strong in the power, too weak to ever have attained the shawl, but she had a pleasant disposition and a strong work ethic. It was not a surprise she ended up in a hardy place here in the north, helping those that she could after departing from Tar Valon.

Still feeling slightly exposed out in the open here in the north, Liia took the extra precaution to weave a subtle couple flows of spirit around herself. When out on these excursions it always paid to be prepared. An Aes Sedai was as vulnerable to the stealthy arrow or crossbow bolt as anyone else. Liia, half listening to the conversation Chloro had initiated with the ex-Tower girl and half eyeing her surroundings, noticed how quiet everything was. Yes, perhaps it was just the snow. The wind kicked up, causing more flurries of snow to drift around the group.

Liia pulled her furs just a little tighter around her body.

[Arelis]

Arelis moves her hands with strong gestures creating 4 brown threads of Earth. She then starts moving her hands in light and precise movements creating 2 white threads of Air. Arelis proceeds to relax her hands as she weaves 2 purple threads of Spirit.

Arelis concentrates and tries to locate various items that are known to be carried by Trollocs: Human skin, daggers, backpacks just to name a few.

"Nothing on locs. Good. All Clear."

Arelis takes a deep breath as that took a bit out of her: "I better eat something quickly and check with the others if they need a hand helping the villagers."

Arelis takes out a fruit from her shoulder bag and a leather flask and quickly refuels.

Arelis notices a little girl eyeing her as she ate her fruit: "Poor child. Must be hungry." She whispered to herself.

Right away, Arelis grabbed another fruit from her bag and walked over to the little girl: "Here you go child. Take it. Its ok. They taste very delicious and are good for you."

The little girl took the fruit and started to bite into it with a smile of joy on her face: "Thank you ma'm. My Mother said that the Creator answered our prayers and sent you all to help us. Can you please tell the Creator when you all go back that I say Thank you." The little girl smiled with such innocence.

Arelis was taken aback by the girls innocence, smiled and replied: "I definitely will, child."

Arelis walked over to where Maddy and the others were and asked to help out. Immediately, instructions were given and some sort of triage tent started to go up to attend those with more serious wounds.

[Rylea]

Her visor was up the moment they started heading towards the village, she knew the customs and precautious well. Nor could she fault the hard won wisdom about the eyeless. She patted her horse as the crowding of people grew a little much for him, easing the taut nerves both mount and rider had. The most delicate part of the trip was done at east, a feeing of eased caution flowing from her to her Sedai.

Rylea dropped of the warhorse's sadle, listening and watching the preparations the Aes Sedai and Accepted were making. Handing the reins to a child that came up and a bit of food to them as well, giving a command to her horse to follow this one, she left both warhorse and pack horse to be led to stable. Gather her color-shifting cloak about her, she moved towards the trampled and mucky fields, stalking along the edges of the village to check tracks and make sure of things being clear. The One Power was quite versatile but there were things and creatures it could not detect, plus it would be nice to know how many and what type of dark creatures they were facing.

She circled around the northern side of the fields first, the most obvious direction for things to come from. The torn ground, wet mud and snow did much to conceal things. Trollocs for certain and a fair number had been through, though that much was obvious from the wounds on the village folk. She shook her head and just continues circling around the village, not roaming to far just in case, eyes and ears alert to anything out of place.

While moving about, she looked at what defenses the village could put in place, what needed mending and fixing to help. She could at least help with that.

[Artorias]

As the others spread out towards what was left of the village, Artorias noticed the trampled gardens behind the houses. Deciding to start there, he worked his way around the outside of the village so as not to draw too much attention and to check the tree line closer. He heard Maddy ask a little girl if she was hungry as he passed, a smile coming to his lips without him noticing. He searched the ground closest to the trees and on what little paving stones were used as a road through the village. Some things didn't leave tracks in the mud and dirt but on stone. He noticed Rylea circling around the Village as well on foot. "I will have to ask her how much she actually knows about Trollocs and other Shadowspawn" he mumbled to himself.

He knew it was his old prejudice cropping up again, making him think his fellow Gaidin was only doing what was told needed and no real experience. He has fought the Shadow beside Chloro Sedai before, there is no way her Gaidin hasn't ran into them. Being back in Kandor and in this village was messing with him. He wasn't the same man that was stuck fighting through Fists, constantly running and fighting with no rest or help. He knew that those here weren't to blame for how his village ended up. He just wished they had gotten help like they were here to give now.

Realizing he had stopped and gotten lost in thoughts again, he shook his head and started looking at the ground again as went around the village. There was no paw prints burned into the stone that he could see. "Doesn't mean there were no hellhounds here though." The ground itself was torn up. Mud, snow, and what was likely old blood were all mixed together and blending. He will have to ask someone if there was any idea how many had attacked, and how often they do. If the attacks were frequent that could mean a camp nearby.

With that realization he wondered if he should go into the forest itself and check around for a league or two. If Vianca was here, he would just go, and she would feel where he was and his emotions he let through. She was not though, "I'll have to let Chloro Sedai know and see if she needs me to do something else instead." As he was heading back, he thought heard a rustle nearby. Spinning around with hand on his hilt, he scanned the tree line. For just a split second he thought he saw movement deep into the forest. "It could have just been a blighted deer or the wind" he mumbled to himself, eyes never leaving the area. "I always hate waiting. I do not have the patience for it, but I cannot just leave the others."

Grumbling to himself about seeing things because he keeps bringing up the past, he starts to head towards where the others are gathered helping the village folk. He wasn't that man anymore. He would give the help needed and work with the others here. Not just run off on his own hoping to find a fight. Seeing the two Sedai engaged in conversation with one of the village women, he turned to see if Maddy needed help with anything. "Let Rylea scout around the village, I have to trust in the others."

[Chloro]

Even in her channeling induced weakened state, Chloro could be formidable when she wanted to. Drawing up rein she looked to the reader, with cool gray eyes much as she did when a novice had chosen to act foolishly in front of her. Some girls, you could teach for years, yet they never learned proper decorum. Not knowing if the village people were aware of their healers’ origins, Chloro offered a slight nod in respect, not taking her eyes off the girl.

“Nadira Fairshaw, I hope you have a very good reason for sending the message you did. Though seeing you are the local reader, I suspect, someone else left instruction?”

Chloro’s words were short and sweet as she reached up twisting the metal clasp into place on her cloak while moving to step down from the wagon. Her mental focus kept her from losing her balance as she gingerly stepped down, still recovering from channeling so much of the power at once. It was a price the Accepted would learn with time, few had been pushed to those limits prior to the test of 100 weaves. Cloak billowing slightly in the breeze she waited for her former student’s response.

The healer nodded as Chloro spoke and without thinking reached over to her right hand gently rubbing the ring finger on it as she looked at the Aes Sedai. It was a pity the girl had not been born stronger; she would have made a fine sister one day if her lack of ability had not prevented it. Stepping forward two steps the woman spoke with a husky voice, much like someone who had seen more than they should in such a short lifetime.

“Yes Chloro Sedai, a green sister was through several months ago and mentioned your name and to send for aid. She rode northwest into the blight with three warders, I have not seen them back this way since. After she saw what had happened and the reason for it, she said, that only a stubborn northerner could deal with this mess.”

Chloro pursed her lips, many Greens had a foul mouth, a few came to mind, but it did not matter which one, if another sister had said what the girl claimed, then Chloro would see what she could do. Reaching into the wagon bench well she grabbed her cane and lent on it slightly as the woman continued talking.

“Go on child, if my sister said you needed the Towers help, then you best explain it...”

The reader cleared her throat and took a deep breath before speaking. “This was a military outpost before the spread of the blight south and west. Those who remain now are the ones who refused to leave when the queen ordered evacuation ten miles inland towards the next village due to increased activity by shadow spawn. I do not know if what happened was a raid, it happened so fast and was over quickly. I fear the village was merely on the way to whatever target they were going to. There are rumors that the invaders have set up a camp to the south near the Great Forest. Perhaps they were going there.

“I have asked aid Chloro Sedai as I do not think that will be the last time these people are caught in the shadow’s way. They have refused to leave saying that the oaths they swore were to protect and defend Kandor from the blight, and they are paying a terrible price. From what I could see it was a fist, a fist and a half of Trollocs with two fades. I did not see anything else, and my abilities are in no way a match for such a force. The fades seemed to be driving them hard, there were minimal deaths, but many wounds. Seven were lost to the poison on their blades. Will you help us Chloro Sedai, and Liia Sedai?

Moments passed as the information sunk in beneath her crimson red hair, that many Trollocs and two fades was a small force by some comparison, but even five Aes Sedai might struggle to defend against such. The real problem though had become a common occurrence since the spread of the blight, no one thought of the people displaced, the towns and villages that had been moved. Livelihoods known for generations to families were disrupted or destroyed all together. She would do what she could, but no one could make a stubborn mule abandon its post, if it had set to dying where it stood.

With a clear, emotionally devoid voice, Chloro responded to the healer. “I will do what I can, you may no longer be of the Tower but putting the knowledge you hold at risk staying here with those that refuse to leave is a bold choice. I assume there is a novice candidate here you are safeguarding?”

Nadira nodded and motioned with her hand to the butcher’s daughter, barely of age to be courted, she then raised both hands to her waist and expanded them to show the girl hand strength in the one power. Chloro understood the reason Nadira had stayed, she knew how many Aes Sedai were often in residence and how the numbers had dwindled. Some of the Aes Sedai did not take kindly to wilders or former Tower practicing their way, Chloro could not thank them enough. Many girls had come from the west out of collars due to that very fact.

Chloro grabbed the reins of her mare and motioned for the wisdom to walk as she began to follow, leaving Liia to decide if she chose to come or if she chose to have a look around. The wagon wheels creaked as they slowly walked waiting till they were out of earshot for most of the village inhabitants, not that there were many.

Nadira spoke first, “the innkeeper moved to Canluum when the orders came in, so I have made sure the rooms were made up for a few. The stable there has fresh hay and no one else goes near the inn, its were I housed those sick from the poisoned blades. I also have suspicion that of those who stayed, not all may walk in the light. I have felt someone channeling trace amounts in the dead of night within the village. I cannot see the weaves or flows as clearly as others and have not been unable to find out who. I felt them channel in the same direction the Trollocs came from an hour before the event. “

Chloro simply nodded taking everything in and sending an emotion of “Home” through the bond to Rylea when she reached the inn, it was charred on the eastern side, scorch marks from torches, but seemed otherwise in good repair. Tying the reins to the long hitching post she used her cane to enter the ground floor of the inn and found the fireplace lit with a high-backed comfy chair near it. Maintaining her composure Chloro walked slowly to the chair and sat down, her whole body ached from channeling so much earth to form the gateway.

Nadira, now that they were out of sight of the villagers, moved quickly gathering up a black fox fur blanket and placing it over Chloro to warm her. The girl, well a woman in her middle age now by the looks of it, even though she should be far older smiled, a knowing look in her eye. Then they turned and left the inn as Chloro rested contemplating her first move.

[Maddy]

Rising slowly, hands firmly on her hips, Maddy stretched her back until it gave a small crack. Straightening she used her sleeve to wipe the sweat from her forehead, then took stock of her surroundings. Exhausted, she brushed the dust off her skirt and trudged with slow deliberate steps towards the square.

Reaching the busy fountain, she bent, dipping her hands in the cool clear water. The chill soothed her aching cramped hands as she stretched them. She scooped some water on her face, shivering as it trickled down her neck. Unhooking her flask from her belt, she emptied the lukewarm liquid, refilling it with fresh water before taking a few small sips. Closing her eyes, she sighed softly as the delicious coolness invigorated her, chasing away her fatigue. Straightening, she patted her face dry with a small handkerchief pulled from her sleeve.
.
A slight breeze picked up, hitting her with a bitterly cold wind that felt like a thousand sharp needles on her exposed skin and with it came the acidic rotten smell from the triage area. The foul, decaying stench twisted her stomach making her retch. She grasped the edge of the bench tightly as she rapidly pulled together the masking weaves. Her hand fumbled in her bag, pulling out some dried fruit, which she slowly nibbled in hopes it would settle her stomach.

As the smell subsided, she attempted to rise, but a wave of dizziness overwhelmed her. Exhaling with frustration, she collapsed back on the bench with an ungraceful thud. With a resigned sigh she nibbled a bit more food and took a few small sips from her flask before refilling it in the fountain.

Taking the moment of recovery to reorganize her pack, she plunked it on her lap and began taking stock. Rations, extra flask, various vials, bandages and a jar of salve. Patting her waist to ensure her money pack was intact, she carefully repacked her bag. Gaidin Artorias’ words echoed in her mind, Don’t carry too much. Take only what you need. Maddy smiled to herself, proud that she had downsized for this journey.

Brushing her damp hair from her eyes, she rose with determination. Briskly flicking her skirt, with light, quick steps she moved back to the wounded. Rejuvenated and ready to take on whatever came next.

Arriving at the triage area, her jaw tightened as she blocked out the sounds of distress and pain. Forcing her focus back to the wounded, she approached Mharie, the villager who had been helping her. Giving her shoulder an encouraging pat accompanied by her ever quick smile, she moved to the next patient, nodding to the young woman to join her.

From the corner of her eye she noticed Gaidin Artorias approaching, a grin tugged at her lips as her hand moved unconsciously to touch her bag. He dismounted with practiced ease, his movements fluid despite his heavy armor. Moving beside her he asked in a low voice if he could assist. Nodding at him, Maddy’s gaze took in the scattered wounded, assessing their lay out. Tapping her chin as she thought ‘We could use his strength moving the wounded closer to the healers, at least until he was needed elsewhere.’ Her light touch was gentle on his arm as she smiled up at him, softly murmuring instructions.

[Tolza]

Where is my S'redit child?