A Matter of Urgency [Attn: Valadin & Riahana]

[Roan]

Everything seemed to happen so fast. The two who headed for the stairs were up before Valadin could answer, and the one left to deal with him advanced with blade drawn. The man was focused on Valadin, but since she had a sword, and he a table leg, the Gaidar Captain stepped forward and intercepted the man's diagonal slash with the flat of her blade, initiating the parry portion of Black Pebbles on Snow. Her eyes met those of her opponent, and the fool of a man smirked.

"Ye think ye can best me girl? Think yer a swords woman?" he snorted.

With the Void firmly in place, Ria let the insult slide off of her, though she narrowed her eyes ever so slightly and allowed a hint of a smirk of her own. She said nothing because the man didn't deserve a reply. Instead, she'd let her actions speak for her. Continuing the form she started, Ria gave a sharp down-cut with the tip of her blade, aiming to cut the man's ribs. The man parried at the last moment, and then thrust forward, aiming for Ria's torso, then slashing and slashing again.

There was no finesse to the man's form, from what Ria could see. He parried and attacked with no thought to what might happen if his strikes were parried. Using The Falling Leaf, she easily parried each of his attacks. The man growled in frustration with each parried strike and hit with more and more force, trying to use brute strength to beat the Gaidar Captain. He attempted to get within her guard and overpower her, but Riahana changed tactics. With as much force as her Gaidar form would allow, Ria slammed the pommel of her sword into the man's midsection. The man doubled over with a gasp and attempted to spit a curse at the Gaidar.

Riahana completed The Wolf Lunges without hesitation and brought an overhand strike down on the man's neck. His body fell with a sickening thud to the ground. He was not the first man she'd killed, and likely wouldn't be the last. Taking a person's life was something she never took lightly, and only did it if she, or those under her protection were in danger. There was no doubt the man was intent on killing Valadin, and likely her. Looking to the limp body, Ria shook her head, "A waste."

The Gaidar Captain turned towards the stairs, placing herself between them and Valadin when she heard footsteps on the stair well. She hoped very much that the footsteps belonged to those in her party.

[Sean]

Valadin kept the serving maid at his back, stepping towards their attacker occasionally to maintain distance between. All around blood ran slick as these men garbed in dark clothes cut down all in sight. It was strange for Valadin to himself so lucid at a time like this. He'd seen the two men who'd headed up the flight of steps and felt remarkably calm despite all that happened around him. A snarling lunge from his frustrated enemy was turned away with parrying swing. Suddenly the Gaidar was at his side asking him if he could manage to hold his own long enough for her to dispatch the other men.

Only glance was spared towards the woman, but immediately recollections of a sparring session wrought with feelings of respect, disappointment, and wounded pride in equal measure came to him. "Riahana Gaidar..." he murmured in remembrance.

Since the advent of this troublesome quest the lone woman tasked with protecting the channelers of the group had been the very same person whom had bested so many months ago; a debt he'd not forgotten. All the distraction faded from attention at once as Saidin filled him and the Voidcompleted him. Details that had been foreign to him before now came with startling clarity.

Then Riahana Gaidar was in front of him, handling one of the men with practiced efficiency. Only one remained and he appeared poised to strike while the Gaidar's attentions were taken.

Wasting no time with warnings, Valadin strode forth with the table leg held in both hands. Behind him the serving reached for him without gaining purchase as a stifled sob begged him to come back. In front of him the man stood, sword held low and his weight rocking from foot to foot causing the floor boards beneath him to creak as he caught Valadin's approach from the corner of his eye. Without needing to look at them it was apparent that the remainder of the fellow's comrades were leaving or dead though retreat seemed an odd course when numbers gave them the upper hand. Trust in Riahana Gaidar. Only this fight is your duty.

Duty. How long had it been since he was driven by such a thing?

In an instant the man was driving a low, hard lunge that likely would've taken Valadin unawares a moment ago. It was a strange form that this hooded man used, flexible yet recklessly caring nothing for defense. Valadin was moving in tandem, ducking to the right before he was run through. The wood was sticky with spilled blood as rolled away from the sweeping slash that missed parting his head from his neck. Drumbeats pounded in the background as the sweet melody of the battle came to him after being away so long. Rising to his feet with the enemy at his back, Valadin wasted no time hurling the table leg at the surprised warrior as he turned; the Void had given him everything he needed. His next moves were thoughtless as crashed into the enemy, boring them both into the wet floor with crude efficiency. A clatter of iron on wood nearby foretold the outcome of the struggle.

Desperate hands raked his chest and arms as the faceless mask was held down with one hand while the other rained down savage, heavy blows that smacked with each contact of flesh. Anger was far from Valadin's thought as the Void captured the world around him, attuning ever more to hum of the battle. Eventually the fight left the man beneath him, arms and legs going limp as sputtering groans of pain stilled to silence.

It seemed all was calm. Death hung in an eerie cloud. Amongst the gore and corpses Valadin felt a grim resolve that had been absent before; a purpose.

Footsteps from the stairway broke the silence and worry for Nykk broke through Valadin's focus. "Riahana Gaidar!" He warned though it was unlikely the woman had been unprepared.

Then Miahala Sedai appeared at the top of the stairwell. Relief flickered momentarily across the Void's surface, but was snuffed out. No time to relax just yet.

Turning to the serving girl, he helped rise to her feet. She trembled at his touch making the brazen suggestiveness of manner before a thing of the past, "Yer safe now," Valadin said softly.

"They're...dead. All dead."

"...aye, but yer alive. Dunt waste it."

For now it was enough. The girl no longer clung to him with all her weight. The question of what next had barely settled when shouts from outside signalled the evening's tragedy had not ended. Without a torch crashed through a nearby window skittering across the floor before the flames found their footing on wood flooring. Smoke crawled into the common room from nowhere it seemed, filling eyes and lungs before anyone had a chance to say anything. More tongues of fire ate the ceiling and raced along the floors until it seemed a lake of flames surrounded everyone.

Saidin was in hand before there was time to push it away. An order should've been given by the Aes Sedai or Asha'man before Valadin channeled, but tonight was not a night for rules. Even before pulling Flows of Fire forth, the presence of heat was overwhelming. Fire had always been among his strengths, but the raw power of the element had been sorely understated in his lessons. Imagining what the flames could do to a living being Valadin pulled the surrounding heat, causing the fires along the floor, walls, and ceiling to sputter out as if they'd never been. Taking in that much heat was dangerous even if men could do it without risking death. It felt like his innards were being cooked for a moment, but the dominating sensation of Saidin consumed concern of all else.

Only the Void stalled his curiousity even now and only just barely. Shouts of surprise came clearly to Valadin's ears now that the Power filled him. "There'll be more fire," he commented even as the thud of boots outside told of other troubles, "...and it seems more men. I can go. Won't take much to send 'em scatterin'"

Of course. Even if his lust for battle was tempered by the Void it was never quelled. He reveled in the carnage and would have more.

[Bella]

Miahala Ives Sedai "Here I thought this would be a simple mission," Miahala quipped as her blue-green eyes stared keenly at the windows and the flickering orange lights that could be seen through them.

The men who had originated the attack had been taken care of by Riahana and Valadin downstairs while she had dispatched the others, leaving the body of one to be stepped over by the channelers who had been up and come down with her. Fire had made an appearance, but the Dedicated had swiftly taken care of that matters but it was impossible to miss the fact that there was more awaiting them outside.

"You don't know how many are out there, Valadin," she said, simply stating a fact but not chastising him. Her mind worked quick, pulling on her years of being a Green, of twice having been the Captain-General of her Ajah, of her frequent visits to join the fighting men and women of the Blight Border... The strategic nature asserted itself with all due speed. She did not hesitate to take command, even if it was not technically her mission. It was a fight, and that was her area.

Turning her head, she looked at her kin. "Riahana, I want you to take your bond-mate, Nykkolaia, the child and the bar maid... Swiftly search the inn that no one else needs aid in escaping and then make your way out. The offensive seems concentrated to the front so if you're cautious, you should be able to slip out into the stables. Take the horses and get away from here, then wait for me. Proceed in the direction of Cairhien, but stay a little ways off the main road. We'll find you."

Now she turned to Valadin with a faint smile curving half of her mouth, eyes glinting in the light. "You and I are going to see about those out front. We'll either subdue them, destroy them, or lead them away. Whatever our best course, we'll make sure to contain the collateral damage as much as possible. It is the duty of those of the Tower." She paused. "I'll lure them in here and sink the inn to the ground if I have to and keep them away from anyone else, or us.

"If any of you object, speak now and speak quickly, else move just as fast."

[Roan]

If it hadn't been Miahala who made the suggestion she take the others, collect the horses and go, Riahana would have protested. As it was, the Gaidar Captain knew that the Green was more than capable of looking out for herself and the Dedicated who would be helping her take care of the mob of assailants out front. Locking her gaze on Mia's Riahana gave one simple nod before looking to Gareth, Nykk, the bar maid, and the young boy, "Come. . .we need to move quickly." She let her gaze linger on the bar maid, "I assume there is an exit to the stable yards?"

If the situation hadn't been so dire, Ria would have felt sorry for the woman, but time was of the essence and the woman seemed frozen. Ria stepped over to her and locked her gaze on the young woman, "Look miss. . .I intend on getting you and the rest of my party out of here. I know how to get to the stables from here, but I do not know how to get there from the back. Can it be done?" When the woman gave a hesitant nod, Ria looked to Gareth, and Nykk, "OK, let's get a quick search of the rooms. Get our own gear if we have time, and clear out. I'll lead the way. If anything seems out of place, speak up."

The stairway was wide enough to let two people move along comfortably, but not much wider. The hallway the stairs led into was about the same width. Opened doors along the length of the hall suggested some patrons had already made their escape. Ria was careful to look in each room as quickly as she could to make sure no one was lingering, or hiding. The inn was big, but not huge, and it didn't take them long to get to their private wing.

After looking in the room she shared with Gareth to make sure it was clear, Ria looked to her husband, "Collect our saddle bags and my bow, if you don't mind." She then moved to the next, Valadin's room. Not knowing what he had packed where, she grabbed his sword and the saddlebags leaning against a trunk. She didn't have time to do much else. As she exited, she handed the bags to the bar maid, "Hold on to those."

The next room was Miahala's, and thus far, her luck held as the room was empty, and Mia's bags were packed and ready to go. Grabbing those, she slung them over her shoulder, and stepped out before moving to Nykk's room. She checked to see that it was empty, and then looked to the Blue, "Gather your things, but please make it quick, Aes Sedai." She also handed Valadin's sword to her, "And if you could. . .please take his blade. If I must engage someone, his blade would get in the way."

Looking back, Ria made sure their party was together, then looked to the maid, "These back stairs, where do they lead?"

"The kitchens. From there, you can get to the yards," she replied, clearly distraught.

There was no one behind them, as far as Ria was aware, but she did not like leaving them exposed. Ria pulled the Void around her to keep nerves and anxiety at bay. She was aware of the people who came down the hallway just about the time the dedicated headed downstairs, and wondered where the pair might be now. Were they part of the group who attacked the inn, or innocent bystanders who were in the wrong place at the wrong time?

Sword still drawn, she looked to the party she was looking after, "Stay close, stay quiet, be quick." Simple instructions, but important as she wanted them to get to the stables quickly. The stairwell was empty, but the kitchens were not. The bar maid seemed to know the older man and olde woman who were hiding behind a big counter. Once sure the pair were not a threat, Ria insisted the pair join their small party in their effort to escape the inn and its attackers.

The Gaidar wanted to be quick, but not foolish. When she got to the door that led to the stable yards, she opened it a crack, and saw two men between the kitchen and the barn, swords drawn and hoods over their heads in a similar fashion to the man she already dispatched. Easing the door to, she turned to Gareth, "My bow and two arrows please."

The shots themselves would normally be easy, but Ria couldn't open the door too wide if she wanted to remain stealthy and keep the element of surprise. Those in her group backed up to give her room. She cracked the door open slowly and as wide as she dared. One arrow was in her left hand, as she placed the other and took aim at the first man. The draw was slow and smooth, and as she exhaled, Ria released the arrow.

There was a silent swoosh as it left, followed by a thud, and her target collapsing. Without hesitating, Ria took aim with the second arrow as the second target, looked down in shock at his fallen comrade. He did not have long to wait in joining his friend in returning to the Pattern, as Ria's second shot was on the mark. Looking over her shoulder, she nodded to the others it was safe. Just in case, though, she led the way, slinging her bow over her shoulder and drawing her sword once more.

The party made haste to the barn, and Ria was relieved to find their horses were safe and sound. "Gareth, can you see to our mounts? I will take care of Memma's if Nykkolaia Sedai can see to hers and the dedicated's mount." The Gaidar made quick work of saddling the Green's horse, but she also needed to keep watch, to make sure no one caught them by surprise.

Moments filled with such tension seemed to see time slow down, and tasks that were normally quick seemed to take ages. After what seemed like ages, the horses were tacked up and ready to go, but to remain as stealthy as possible, and given the others in their party, Ria thought it was best to walk.

The Gaidar Captain had her party stick to the shadows as she led them out of town. Every step of the way, she was alert, and ready to take action if anyone might take notice of their escape. Once outside of town, along, but just off the road to Cairhien, Ria had the group stop to wait for Valadin and Miahala. She knew her Memma could look after herself, but that didn't mean she had no reason to worry. It was a waiting game now, and she was not a fan of waiting games.

[Sean]

Miahala Ives was a fearsome creature in battle.

Valadin had seen glimpses of the destructive might that lurked behind that unassuming smile. The others had already departed with Riahana Gaidar leading their charge. To be parted from Nykk was something he was loathe to do, but as he watched the Blue Sister take to the path of safety relief washed against the shores of the Void…her life mattered above all else.

"They're comin' for us," Valadin announced just as splinters of the door exploded into room. Beyond the doorway people fled in one direction or another, thier faces twisted into masks of horror. Other fires had been lit and ate away at the rooftops of other buildings. The clash of steel outside stirred Saidin into a frenzy; not everyone was running in fear. Only Lady Ives' presence kept him from making his own sortie and inwardly he chafed at being restrained so. Focus.

Dark clothed men flooded into the common room. They paid no respect to the bodies of the deceased, mashing arms and legs underfoot without pause. No hint of emotion showed in their faces as the endless river of killers filed in, careful not to draw too near to the channelers. It seemed that these were not misinformed foes.

Outwardly his expression was unreadable. His jaw was set in a determined angle,but otherwise his body remained free of anxiety or tension. Beneath the Oneness and Saidin warred for dominance. There would be a point when someone would have to make the first, but for now Valadin remained true to Miahala's instruction.

Eventually the padding of feet on blood slicked wood slowed and it was long before the final sword entered the room, shuffling amongst his comrades for a place to stand. By now so many had packed into the common room that some were forced to stand at the top of the stairway with bows drawn. Valadin guessed neither he or Sister Ives could have taken a step without pricking themselves on the edge of a blade. The order to search the inn was given, but the majority remained fixed on the man and woman standing in the center of everything.

Time stood still and the itch to move, to fight...to do something became unbearable. Valadin felt like laughing and crying with same breath making him wonder if perhaps he'd finally gone mad. The long limbed man with the skeletal face was not among the numbers in the room, but there was no time to think anymore of it.

An hiss of air announced the flight of a loosed arrow and Valadin turned to see it heading towards Mishaps Sedai's heart. So it begins... The thought carried both excitement and fear, but as Valadin Wove Flows of pure Air to pluck the missile from flight the next few moments would decide everything. A thunderous, unified roar shook the walls as each man surged forward ss one with no fear.

They were all ready to die.

[Bella]

Miahala Ives Sedai It was with relief that her great granddaughter so expertly slipped away before the mayhem began, ushering away the others and leading them to safety. The Green had the utmost confidence in her kin. One did not attain the fancloak by being weak or incapable, and she was of the Sha'hal blood. This was pride for Miahala, and kept her from doubting that Ria would see the others and any other innocents still here to safety.

No matter what happened now in this bloody common room, they would be safe...but then Mia was not particularly filled with doubt about how she and Valadin would handle this. Even without the Dedicated, she was fairly certain that they would manage.

Evil flooded into the room around them. She did not move. She did not speak. Was it worse to see the true Shadow, or just the darkness that could fill men all on its own? A query for a White, perhaps, or maybe a Brown who could go put their noses into their books. She was not a philosopher, and this night was not when she planned to become one.

No. As her eyes flickered and followed their entry, philosophy was not on her mind.

Could they be talked to? Reasoned with? She contemplated it, since those of the Tower were always trained to at least consider the possibility--and she did have a Grey for a grandson--but the men answered that question for themselves. An arrow was fired, torn from existence by the Dedicated's actions. There would be no talking.

Saidar had not left her since the knock on her door and now she brought it to bear.

Half of the room faced her and the other half the Dedicated. It started with the thrumming of the ground beneath the Inn's floorboard, the stones of the cellar groaning under the power of Mia's ability with the One Power. What intimidated the men was that, unlike younger channelers, she did not require hand gestures or movements of any kind. She just looked at them with that look in her eyes.

The earth shook and the winds came. Two men with swords directly in front of her suddenly flew off their feet, flying away from one another as if magnetically opposed, and crashing into the men that had stood beside them. The bodies lay atop them, and those underneath just shouted in anger until they realized that their comrades' blood was dripping into the faces from splayed open throats.

Except in defense of one's life... Oh, what a mistake these men had made when they made their foolhardy charge.

They scrambled desperately out from under their gurgling friends, but they did not gain their feet. They too were propelled from their feet just as tried to surge upon them and go for her. Arrows flew at her and incinerated before reaching their targets. The stones still groaned beneath their feet, causing more than one mercenary man to look around with nervousness before attempting their assault again.

One flew back into the wall, clutching at his throat. Another simply fell into a heap, convulsing as the smell of burning flesh rose into the air...

[Sean]

Sweat popped through every pore as the prickle warning of Saidar being channeled became gooseflesh that encased the body. The inn swayed uncertainly as the wave of death throes began; Lady Ives had already discarded the earlier notion of diplomacy.

Valadin didn't dare look at his back where the female half of the One Power bent, rent, and crushed enemies in droves. Those that faced him were immediately caught up in the ruthless display of power, maybe even questioning their assault altogether. What would it be like to be that powerful?

Like an ant the thought slipped through the calming wall of the Void. What was more surprising was the answer that sprung from the depths of his being. Find out.

The black clothes seemed to recover from the shock of Miahala Sedai's opening salvo. Now where there had been little expression in their faces, a desperate murderous intent burned behind those glares: they hoped in killing him their passing would attain some meaning. Why that struck Val as important he couldn't say only that it spurred him to plunge as deep into Saidin as he ever had before...then further still. Every noise muted as the storm within, frothed and bubbled until Saidin seared his insides in a bittersweet fire.

Their desperation fell woefully short when measured against the fury of the One Power; it almost induced pity. Almost .

Power such as the kind coursing through him required movement, demanded it. Valadin had never known pressure like the kind he faced now. Knowing few Weaves he wove Flows of Fire and Air together in a vaguely familiar fashion. A sword of fire, shaped in the fashion of a Tower-issue longsword sprung into his grasp. The Void covered up the surprise of the Weave's success allowing for focus as the chaos of battle enchanted with its discordant notes.

River Undercuts the Bank took the first man's head off at the shoulders, the skin at the shorn neck sizzling while the body spasmed with the unawareness of its death. Another attack came from the flank, this in the form of a thrown sword which was hurled back with thrice its initial force by a wall of Air towards the direction from whence it came. The owner...and several of his brothers collasped as the steel ripped through meat and bone with unsettling ease. More velvet puddled on the inn floor as men died breaths at a time.

Valadin had no time to be disgusted by the warm blood on his face or the pungent, penetrating reek of death. The Battle Fury lashed at the peaceful epicenter of the Void, always threatening to take what little sense of self left to him during the tumult. Where the sword of Fire did not cull, simple Weaves of Air slammed men into their comrades. One man was split in twain with a two-handed stroke. Even this did nothing to distract from the surging energies that were kept in check by tenuous reins; a single slip would be enough to see it devour him entirely.

After an eternity the door stood before him. On either side were heaps of detached limbs and other broken body parts. Those that were alive suffered with mortal or debilitating injuries, the pained groans going unanswered. With some amazement it became clear that the enemy ranks had been broken.

Valadin's initial push had sent some fleeing during the pitch of battle...no doubt this helped his cause. Those that remained had little chance against even a Dedicated's power.

Miahala Sedai seemed similarly finished. Tracks of blood splatter reached along the floor from where the proud Green stood, unmoved from where she had faced down her attackers since the beginning. The voices of men seeking escape could be heard in the private wing; they would need to be taken care of. The goosebumps hadn't gone away yet, but Saidin and the addictive Fury that had deepened in its thirst by now put forth another question: How would you fare against her?

Frightened by the idea and even more by how strongly his spirit's curiosity drove him to find out he let go of Saidin. The sword of Fire winked out and his fingers longed for the feel of a weapon in-hand again. The world dimmed and the craving to hold saidin again stirred regret of releasing it in the first place. Luckily Valadin still held the Void. How else would he handle being covered from head to toe in gore? Light it was even in his hair...

"They...they weren't so tough," Val panted. More panicked cries sounded from the private wing. Nodding his head in that direction he added, "See to that lot, then...head out?"

A sense of irritation washed against the Void's shore. Nykk was in command of this mission; it was only to her that he should've answered to. Caution stilled the impulse quickly, telling him that being stubborn before a woman who had slain a small clutch of men without lifting a hand was not wisdom.

[Bella]

Miahala turned in a slow circle. Her unblinking eyes looked at the array of bodies that was laid out all around them, taking in the sight of the young Dedicated as she did so. The clear gaze made sure there was nothing missed, and that everything was noted. She heard those who were fleeing through the private wing and inhaled slowly.

Blood was splattered over her face from where a throat had been slashed, a jugular punctuated. It made for a stark but colorful contrast to the smooth, pale white of her ivory veneer. There was a small cut in that porcelain skin, just over her cheekbone. Some fool had tried to throw a blade at her. It was not balanced for throwing, had been poorly thrown, and she had moved in time to avoid true damage but a thin tendril of her own blood trailed down her cheek.

It was of little matter. She turned again to Valadin. "Unless they attack, we can only bring them to bonds and leave them for others to handle. We must meet with our party. I do not find it wise to be separated for long."

With that statement made, she was already on the move.

[Roan]

A night wind made branches dance and the moonlight made the shadows seem alive. Riahana had her bow in hand as she scanned the surrounding area. It was a night filled with chaos, as the group who attacked the inn seemed intent on attacking the whole of the village. It was hard to listen to the screams as she led her party away from the immediate threat, but their safety was her first priority. Now that they had a bit of distance on the village, and she was fairly sure the main threat was behind them, Ria kept watch for Mia and Valadin.

The bar maid and two kitchen staff were huddled together, eyes wide with fear as they watched Ria. The young boy clutched to Nykkolaia Sedai, and hid from the rest of the party. She then looked to Gareth and was about to say something when the screams seemed to be drawing closer. Looking in the direction of the sound, she realized it was coming from the road. They were close enough to the road to keep watch for anyone approaching, but not so easily seen by those on the road.

Moving silently, Ria took a closer look to see where the screams were coming from, and instantly frowned. Village folk were fleeing. . . men, women and children running with a look of shear terror. Just as one man approached, he stumbled, and fell dead to the ground, an arrow sticking out of his back. Looking beyond the villagers, Ria could make out a posse of hooded attackers, ten or twelve, at least, and all chasing innocents. One archer paused every so often to let lose an arrow, though most seemed to miss their targets.

Quickly, but quietly, Ria closed the distance between her, Gareth and the Blue Aes Sedai, "There are at least ten attackers chasing villagers. These bastards are killing innocents, and the group running from them has men, women and. . .children." She didn't school her expression around either of the channelers, "I can't take on all of them, but I can't sit idly by." Holding her bow up, she continued, "I'm going to take out as many with this as I can, but that will likely draw the rest of them here. I'm going to need your help protecting the rest of our party."

There was no time to debate the plan, and Ria hoped she was making the right decision. Her main responsibility was to Gareth, but she was the sole Warder among four channelers. Ultimately, she was responsible for the safety of each and every one of them, though she knew Valadin capable with a sword, and her Memma could protect all of them without blinking. She knew too little about the Blue to know her skill as a channeler, but Ria'd come to trust the woman's judgement. Gareth was no slouch, though his strength was in his healing. Unfortunately, neither Mia nor Valadin were currently with them.

As Ria made her way back to her vantage point, she took a deep breath, and let the Void settle around her like a warm blanket. The million and one thoughts that had been rushing through her mind slipped away, leaving her focused and hyper-alert. Scanning the attackers, Ria found the archer as she notched an arrow. Her breathing was slow and steady as she took aim, drew and then released the arrow. The archer, being at the back of the pack, fell nearly silently to the ground. His fellow thugs continued their chase, not realizing one of their own was now dead.

Riahana notched another arrow as she picked her next target, aimed as she kept her breathing slow and steady, and released. She led her target and the arrow hit the man through the chest. He fell like a sack of potatoes. One of his fellow attackers took notice and called the alarm, but he was next in Ria's sights, and fell next to his accomplice. The others in the party, alerted by the man's cry, looked in Ria's direction. Another cry went out, and most of the men turned their attention to the side of the road. . .and where she and her party were hiding.

The Gaidar had time to take aim once more, and hit a fourth man, though her arrow hit him in the thigh, so he was wounded, but not out of the fight. She tossed her bow aside and executed The Swallow Rides The Air as one man crashed through the trees, sword drawn and looking for vengeance. Using her forward momentum, Ria met the man's thrusting blade with the flat of hers, executing Black Pebbles on the Snow to parry, then down cut with her blade. The Gaidar's sudden attack took the man off guard, though he seemed to lack skill with the blade. He made a feeble attempt to parry, and Ria's blade sliced through clothing and then flesh. Growling in anger, the man tried to counter, but Ria swept her blade in sweeping, diagonal motions, Falling Leaf to parry, and then stepped forward to get within the man's guard.

Off balance, the man had no way of parrying the short, powerful chop as Ria executed Cutting the Clouds, and returned the man to the Pattern. There was no rest for the wicked or weary, though, as three opponents crashed through the brush, and all of them looked hungry for a fight. The Gaidar had faced up to two opponents before, but never more than that. Anxiety threatened to come to the surface, but she called on the Void, and focused on the men before her.

The first two hesitated when they saw their disemboweled companion, but the other rushed her with his sword held high. As he closed distance, he brought the blade down in a powerful overhead slash, but Ria side stepped him, letting his momentum carry him past her. She kept herself between the attackers and her party, though she wasn't sure how long she'd be able to stay between them and those she was meant to protect.

The trio seemed to step towards her as one, closing distance and not giving her much space to work with. Ria extended her blade and quickly brought it around like a windmill, executing The Cyclone on the Plane to open up distance. She followed it up with Lizard in the Thornbush, launching a strong thrust towards the less certain of the three, and cutting through is attempted parry to hit him square in the neck, his blood gushing over Ria and one of his companions. Ignoring the warm wetness that seemed to slide down her neck, Ria finished the move by kneeling as she pivoted, aiming for the second attacker's abdomen, but her blade sliced through his thigh.

As the now one-legged man toppled over, the third attacker tackled Ria, letting his emotions get the better of him. Unfortunately, he was bigger, and landed on top of her. He tried to bring his short sword down to kill her, but she brought her own blade up to block it. The man was bigger than her, and had leverage, though she was not one to give up such a fight. The Gaidar Captain let out a growl as she tried to move her legs to gain some kind of leverage on him. She found herself well and truly pinned and with each passing moment, the man's blade inched closer to her exposed neck. She let out another growl that turned to a primal, guttural scream as she used every ounce of strength to push back, but the man's blade kept coming. . .

[Bella]

Gareth Tomason Asha'man It would have been too easy... Gareth thoughtfully with more than a hint of cynicism coloring the words.

The departure from the inn had been hasty, but thorough and (comparatively) organized for such a thing. He admired, but was not surprised, by the swift efficiency of his warder-wife and her great-grandmother. He was also far secure enough within himself to not have any compunction against following their wisdom and thus-commands.

He had searched the rooms quickly, finding no more bodies and grabbing their bags. His large arms had done well and they were soon in the stables and riding out. With a good place to settle in and wait, they dismounted and put the horses on a hasty line to wait and watch for the others...

...and then trouble found them. As it always did.

No one disputed Riahana's decision to help the escaping innocents, and none even looked as though they wanted to. Gareth certainly didn't, because he had pursued the Yellow with a desire to help people; a desire that was so intrinsic to his very sense of self that if he didn't help, he wouldn't know who he was. A look at the Blue saw her nod wordlessly.

He knew his skills did not lie in offensive weaves like Miahala's, and they weren't their strongest in even defensive ones; but no child of the Tower was allowed out in the world without knowing at least enough. While his skills were thoroughly within the area of Healing, he could help to do what needed doing.

The bond told him that Ria had not gone far, and he could hear that she had by now engaged their attackers. He did not like her being so far from him in this moment, though, not knowing how many her arrows had taken or how many would besiege her.

"Can you hold?" he asked the Blue.

The scarred woman looked up at him and something in her eyes chilled him. She nodded her blonde head and then he took her word for it, slipping away from their little clearly. He was just in time to hear his wife's sound of agitation as he neared the noise of the fight, coming around a particularly large and obscuring tree trunk.

It wasn't often that this man was angry. People had been fearful of him, at his size, for his whole life. It wasn't just that he was tall, but that he was built broad. He hadn't been in a forge for a long time, but he still carried the body of one. His imperfect features tended to not soothe the way the "usual" handsomeness did, but he was really a calm, quiet, gentle man.

Rage was not wholly unknown to him, but a very infrequent visitor. Thus in any other moment, he may not have recognized what he was feeling upon seeing his wife tackled to the ground with a man trying to kill her, but this was no any other moment. He had not the time to even trying to figure out what it was.

Dimly aware that there were bodies lying about with one other still alive but gushing blood from a hacked-at leg, he ate up the ground between them and him in just a few steps. So engaged in the fight with the wildcat beneath him, the man didn't notice his approach. All the worse for him. In a very un-Yellow-like impulse, Gareth's big hand wound through the man's hair and lifted him bodily off Ria.

Before the blackguard could even turn to fight, Gareth's other hand grabbed his face and twisted. Breaking the neck. (A Yellow knew better than most how to kill a man.) He discarded the body away from Ria. The one gushing blood was no threat, nearly gone.

Perhaps he had helped her just now, but the carnage about them reminded him of just what a skilled Gaidar his wife was. He was sure she could have fought the man off, but as his rage ebbed, he was still glad he could help assure it. Gareth looked around him, not wanting to be foolish, but saw none in his quick scan and offered a hand to his wife.