"Peace! I said nothing about being soft in the head, Lady Cor'ellis. I merely wished to impress upon you the dangers of the Blight. I have no issue with you accompanying us, provided you carry your own weight and my companions agree." Renlo had said all he felt needed to be said on the topic.
The journey to the small village of Thorn occurs at an easy pace. Korin sits upon the wagon and directs the oxen down the main road out of Fal Dara, and taking the lesser known side road that leads to the community.
Travel along the side road is safe, with the occasional farmhouses dotting the country side. Fields of wheat, corn, soybeans, dot the worked fields, providing a sense of hard work, determination, and most importantly, perseverence in the close proximity to the Blight and the dangers held within its mutated, twisted lands. Atop of hills, a horse with a rider stands vigilant, observing the surrounding lands, keeping watch for a foe that could strike without warning. The farm houses are like islands of civilization upon the fields of danger and wilderness. Every so often, children can be seen; the younger ones close to their parents, the middle aged kids either playing or doing chores, and the older ones working the fields or attending to the livestock that help ensure the survival of the farm. Sometimes, you, the travelers, will get long looks, assessing you as either friend or for. Other times, you are greeted as friend, and a farmer will ride out to you, exchange pleasantries, and ask for news from Fal Dara. Open and honest, hard working and industrious, yet ready for war, these individuals all carry some light implement of war upon them. A small hatchet, a long blade, a stout club, something that can be used should the need arise to defend oneself against...anything.
The oxen lead the way up and down the hills that grow in frequency and height the closer you approach the Mountains of Dhoom. Rock becomes a common sight upon the fields, from the large rock walls that have been built denoting property lines, assembled from the stones plowed up within the fields. it is a common occurance for farmers to simply plow around a large boulder that sticks up like a sore upon the field body, preventing straight rows to be plowed.
Upon the fourth day of travel, you crest a final hill. And there, nestled upon a small rise amongst the hills, sits the small village of Thorn. You easily count at least 40 houses, perhaps a few more, all of them with chimneys that release long, steady streams of smoke into the lazy day air. Surrounding the village is a rock wall, not the massive stone and mason held walls like Fal Dara, but more in line with the walls found upon the farmlands that surround Thorn.
The road leads into Thorn, through the walls, and it looks to end in the center of town. Yet, even from your vantage point, at the trails end, you see a large, stout building at the town center.
Tenora points at the far structure
There. We go to the Bulwark. A place where we can get shelter for the night, regain supplies, and- with a knowing glance at Marik -find entertainment
Renlo had been riding at the head of the wagon. There was no need to range far ahead, yet - so long as they remained in Shienar. Once they were in the Blight, he might need to scout further afield, but that held its own dangers.
Once they could see the village of Thorn, he wordlessly led them further along the road. The Bulwark was part inn, part fortress, a place for the noncombatants to shelter in in the event of an attack on the village - as well as a place for its defenders to hold a last stand. As they moved forward, he said, "Keep a careful eye out - the Blight is not far, now."
'The last four days have been quite, good to see everyone getting used to each other. Be good to sleep in a building again.' Riding the big bay behind Renlo, Elek nods in agreement. As they crest the hill, seeing the village of Thorn. "True, the Blight is near, but at least we get to spend tonight in a walled town."
He looks at the stone wall and the forty or so houses, smoke curling from their chimneys. 'Not a bad wall for such a small place, you can tell were close to the Blight.' turning to Tenora, "The Bulwark, is that the large building in the center?"
His mind going back to a few nights ago. 'I wonder if Bataar actually came here, or if he fled elsewhere,' Elek slows the bay, turning over his shoulder looking at Korin on the wagon. 'He better have a good reason for stabbing that Shienaran guide 'Salty.' I may have told him to flee ans wait fo us, but I won't stop Korin or Renlo from killing him.'
Moving the gelding beside Tenora's Palfrey, he asks softly. "Do you think Bataar will actually be here?"
Entering into the village of Thorn is, surprisingly, an easy task. No guardsman stand watch at the opening in the rock wall, no fighters, swordsman, bowman, man the walls or patrol around the village. instead, it is, from your critical perspective, undefended. Being so close to the Blight, with roving Trolloc platoons known to descend from the numereous narrow trails, gulleys, and dry river beds of the mountains, it's rather...odd.
You move through the village, all 300 yards from the wall gap to the large Bulwark in the center of town, and you see villagers moving, conducting brisk business, and talking with friends, but for the most part, it's as if you have entered a southland village. carefree, unknowing of the danger that lurks beyond the walls.
Sitting outside the Bulwark, Bataar had never felt so uneasy in his life. Then men he slew in his dreams lived in this town and looked at him with suspicion. The ladies he entertained in his sleeping mind looked at him knowingly.
This is beginning to take a toll on my psyche. Or perhaps the madness is gripping me already. he thought ruefully.
He sees the expedition entering the town. Jumping up from the rain barrel he had been sitting on, he strode down the road to greet them. "Ho! Companions, how does the trip fare you so far?" he asked raising his hand to signal them.
Seeing movement out of the corner of his eye, Elek turns in time to see Bataar approach and greet them, Looking from Bataar back to Tenora, he sighs, and whispers, "Speak of the devil."
Upon seeing the murderer Renlo's eyes widen. His bow was unstrung, but he pulls out his sword and said, "Hold! The man you attempted to kill lives, thanks to Tenora Sedai, but you must still be punished for your crimes!"
Tenora turns to Elek "What is HE doing here?!?"
Tenora takes a long, penetrating look at Bataar. She studies his pained expression and desperate motion of his rapid eye glances towards the rear door. The barmaid marlane continues her wail of seeking help from the town guard, which can only be minutes away. Holding this man would help...but there is more at play with this man...Three days north of here is a small Village aptly named Thorn, because...well, more on that later. Go there and hide. We shall be there, as Elek said, within 5 to 6 days from today. If we do not show up, then flee this land, knowing that your freedom cost us.
Tenora unravels her weave around Bataar, releasing him from his air prison.
'Good the others don't need to know she was involved in this.' Looking from Tenora to the others, 'Need to keep everyone calm.' He spread his hands wide with his palms down, speaking to Renlo, softly. "Everyone stay calm. Your right, if he had no reason, his life should be forfeit.".
Looking back to Bataar, he hisses, "We need to speak someplace quite, you said you could explain why you tried to kill a man." Looking from Renlo to Thorin, he looks back at Bataar, "It's safe to say that your life depends on it."
Running his fingers through his shoulder length hair, 'But where' He gestures towards the Bulwark, "The Bulwark probably has a private room where we can talk." Looking around his eyes settling back on Bataar, "Unless someone has a better idea."
Bataar kept his arms relaxed at his side, actively NOT tensing and keeping his hands away from his sword. He motions his head to the door behind him. "I'm sure you're right Master Elek, into the Bulwark then."
Slowly and rather nonchalantly, he turns his back to the group and begins to slowly walk up the three steps of the patio.
Inside he nods to the innkeeper, inquiring about a private room. I doubt they are full, it's still the middle of the day.
Once in the room with the door closed, He will take a seat at the table and look expectantly at the group. "So he lived eh? Likely to the detriment of some other poor souls down the road."
Renlo looks at Elek, nonplussed, as he suggests actually listening to Bataar. "He broke the law by trying to kill an admittedly rude man. What possible reason could he have had?"
As Elek further suggests they go into a private room with the man, he says, "I have a better idea - we turn him over to the authorities for attempted murder."
Still, he looks to Korin and Tenora to see what they decide.
The journey to the small village of Thorn occurs at an easy pace. Korin sits upon the wagon and directs the oxen down the main road out of Fal Dara, and taking the lesser known side road that leads to the community.
Travel along the side road is safe, with the occasional farmhouses dotting the country side. Fields of wheat, corn, soybeans, dot the worked fields, providing a sense of hard work...
Cor'ellis rode near the wagon, Val guarding at her stirrup on her unprotected side. She chatted amicably with Korin much of the time. The poor fellow was in for a sore tailbone from the beating of the buckboard due to the bumping and jostling of the wagon along the rough track. She might as well do what she could to keep his mind off it. She spoke with most anyone who wandered close enough, though she did seem to make an effort to give Tenora a wide berth.
She widend her dark cinnamon eyes in alarm at Renlo's proclamation. Unsure of what would happen next, she waited with bated breath.
He scowled at the sight of the man who well had attempted murder. He wasnt the judge, jury, or executioner. Still the man would need a damn good reason to well not be turned in.
"Be easy Renlo, maybe he did have a good reason, though that remains to be seen. There are enough of us here that if he tries anything funny it wont end well for him."
He began patting the woodsman's shoulder. He was uneasy now but inside seemed the best place for any confrontation.
" Where's a good lad or lass to take care of our horses, I have silver to the best one."
He called out getting out of the wagon and taking care of the mounts and their supplies, He made a motion for the others to go on inside he would follow along shortly.
the horses, the oxen, and the wagon, are all take care of by a couple young children, blonde and blue eyed.
The walls?! they're so..thick! you cannot help but think to yourself as you step through the front entrance of the...Inn? No, inn is too minuscule of a word to represent what the Bulwark represents. It has rooms for visitors, but, this...this is more than an Inn. The only thing that lends creedence to this sort of structure is something that stands over 1000 miles away to the south.
The Stone.
Stories of the contstruction of Tear have been repeated over and over again, transforming it from a structure made of the One Power, to something more magnificant in itself.
The Bulwark, this two story structure, makes you think of the Stone of Tear.
Massive walls, thick, stout, and most importantly, without joints or seams, no masonry or cement to join the stone together. It simply...Is.
The Bulwark-keeper nods to Bataar, and gestures with his head towards the back of the room. I'll send water for the travelers to wash their hands, and wine and ale for thirst.
Bataar leads you all into the back room, closed off behind massive walls of granite. Several padded chairs sit along the permiter of the room, with small tables set between. Curtains depicting battles and heroic icons from history are interwoven upon the threads.
Cor'ellis proceeded to follow her new companions into the Bulwark, her marvel for the substantial surroundings somewhat muted by her tension. Val sensed it too, his hackles bristling as he stalked by her side. The usual attempt to see Val secured in a stable or other such paddock was waved away with the usual assurances that the animal was trained and for personal protection.
She would introduce herself if asked, but kept quiet for now until the situation became more clear.
'Master Elek?' Raising his eyebrow, Elek turns from Bataar to Renlo, as Marik embrases the woodsman. Speaking just loud enough that all, including the dark haired Kandori, could hear. "I have no idea Renlo, but if you don't agree the reasoning was justified, I'm willing to turn him over to the authorities."
'Interesting building, reminds me a little of the 'Stone of Tear.' Dismounting, he pats the bay's neck, whisering in it's ear as he passes the reins off to one of the children. "Now you behave for these kids and I'll get you a carrot or something." Winking at the kids, he moves nearer to Bataar as they walk into the building, "It's not Master Elek, Bataar. It's just Elek."
'Curious tapestries.' Moving into the room, Elek looks around a little, nodding toward the table. Pulling a chair out with his right hand then stepping over drawing a second out with his left. "Ladies, if either of you would like to sit down." He moves a little further deeper into the room, standing beside one of the taperstries.
As people move into the room making themselves comfortable, Elek tries to stand looking at ease, running his fingers through his shoulder length hair. We may as well, decide what were doing with him.' He gestures towards Bataar as he address Lady Cor'ellis, "Lady Cor'ellis, this is Bataar of Kandori. He's the cause of that 'misadventure' I mentioned when we first met." Then looking at Bataar squarly, he continues. "You said you could explain why you tried to kill that man. We would like to hear your reasoning." Looking toward the others. "I believe it's safe to say that your freedom depends on it."
During the ride Korin chats affably with Cor'ellis, exchanging pleasantries and stories and news. She seemed pleasant enough company and the conversation made the miles pass more quickly, and distracted from the beating his tailbone was receiving. After an hour or two, he was coming to regret volunteering for wagon duty. He hoped the southlander girl knew what she was doing. Could be she was more than capable of taking care of herself in normal circumstances, but the blight was something else entirely. He and Renlo had already said as much though and the lass wasn't likely to be dissuaded, so he said nothing further on the matter. She seemed quite set on going there, so could be that she was better off going with them, and not getting mixed up with some other bright-eyed 'adventurers.' Like that Marik fellow. Light!
When they arrived at the Bulwark and as Bataar hails them, giving greeting for all the world as if nothing had happened, Korin's gaze turns hard as daggers and he nods in obvious agreement with Renlo. "Talk to him if you wish, but we all saw what he did. That Gjurn is a loudmouth and maybe a fool to boot, but that was no cause for what was done."
Korin makes no move for comfort or ease, but rather positions himself so he is between Bataar and the exit.
Bataar can't but notice that everyone is very tense. He smiles as Korin takes a seat obviously meant to block him from escaping. "Please. I'll not attempt to flee from the whole lot of you. I let you corner me in a stone cage. I struck down that oaf because he was far more dangerous than any of you could tell. I suspect he is a shadow friend, and I'd be curious to ask around and see if the folks he "led" into the blight ever returned. As to why I tried to kill him, I acted in preemptive defense of you all as he was about to cause serious injury or perhaps death to at least one of you if not several."
Bataar keeps his hands still and relaxes in the seat, leaning back. "You're welcome."
Renlo glared at Bataar, but acquiesced, handing his horse over to a couple of the stable lads, along with a copper.
It was obvious the Bulwark-keeper knew nothing of Bataar's crimes, given the way he spoke to him. Eyes fixed on Bataar, he followed the man into the private dining room, but instead of sitting, stood right next to the door, leaning against the wall, where he could both keep an eye on Bataar, stop him from trying to flee, and make sure no one eavesdropped. One of his hands rested on a sword hilt, and he clearly meant to use it if needed.
"A convenient excuse. You try to kill someone, and then say you suspected him of being a Darkfriend and trying to protect us because he was about to cause serious injury or try to kill us. And how did you know that, hmm? He didn't have a weapon drawn, and rudeness is hardly intent to kill."
It's clear Renlo thinks Bataar is merely trying to spin a lie that allows him to try and mitigate his crime.
"Not to mention that the man, even if he was thinking of attacking us, would have been hopelessly outnumbered. In the end, it was not he that attempted murder that night, but you. Some might say that itself is more in keeping with the actions of a Darkfriend than anything your victim did. After all, we don't know you any better than we did him. I do hope you have actual evidence for your claims?"
'He is here, instead of fleeing elsewhere, so either he thinks what he did was right or he is a darkfriend himself, looking to use us. It's possible "Salty" would have been able to lead us and Bataar needed us to be easily waylaid.' Raising an eyebrow, 'Your welcome?' Listening to Renlo then Korin, 'Yes how did he know that Salty was a threat? What evidence does he have? And why didn't he just tell us instead of stabbing the man?'
Leaning forward, placing his fists on the table, Elek looks Bataar in the eye, "Your welcome?" He turns and spits, "Tenora set you free then healed the man you intended to kill. It should be you thanking her."
He gestures towards the room, "As for trapping yourself in the room, that just proves you weren't willing to flee. It's as likely that your the 'darkfriend' sent to accompany us and you needed to prevent someone who knows the terrain from joining."
Looking toward Korin and Renlo standing at the door he turns back to Bataar. "Now give us a very detailed reason you tried to kill that man, or we will turn you over to the authorities."
Bataar folded his hands in front of him and let out a sigh. "First of all, I am no Darkfriend, I was merely in the bar just like the rest of you when the expedition was brought forth by Marick. As far as not having a weapon drawn, not all weapons are visible, and not all steel and iron. It was quite clear to me that he was about to strike one of you down with the One Power, likely Tenora, as she posed the biggest threat to him, or myself if he had been able to identify me as the other male channeler in the room. It is a good thing, that I found him out first and moved to stop the devastation that could have ensued."
Bataar took a breath. "Did I know for sure that he would channel with malice, no. I merely felt him seize the Source in anger. And I am keenly, personally, familiar with the danger that represents."
'Did he just admit to being able to Channel?' Straightening up from his leaning position, Elek's jaw drops as he starts to reach for his sword. Thinking better of it, he puts his hands behind his back, looking from Bataar to his cousin.
Renlo's mouth dropped open. This...Bataar...had just admitted to being able to channel. A man who can channel? We need to put him down quickly, before he goes insane! Wait...could he already be insane? Is that why he attacked that man? Some kind of paranoia? What if he does the same thing to us?
It was then that Renlo caught up with the rest of what he said. He felt Gjurn embrace the source. Wait, that means Gjurn was a male channeler, too. They both need to be put down before they go insane!
Renlo felt his hand tighten on his sword hilt to begin pulling it out, but then he stopped. They say this Dragon who's gone from Toman Head to Tear can channel. Are you so willing to consider serving one man who can channel but killing another?
He left his hand where it was, but held off on drawing - for now.
You see on one of the tapestries bedecking the eastern wall a battle between several Aes Sedai and numereous Shadowspawn, a giant horde of twisted flesh and mutation as it descends upon the valiant foes that seek to hold back the armies of darkness. You recognize Jeani Nair with her bright bow, and her steadfast hook nosed companion Loor, twin swords Periguin and Red-tail held in his hands. Supposedly, The battle shown occurred at the outskirts of an unremembered city, but the battle had, as legend has it, was commonly referred to as The Last stand. Legend says that this group of aes sedai and their fellow combatants held off a legion of Trollocs, Myrddralls, and Dread Lords, for 3 days from inside a small house at the head of a bridge.
As the tension builds in the room, everyone looks upon Bataar with mixtures of curiosity, but mostly horror and fear. A man who could channel sends shivers down your spine, as stories of men going mad often end.
At that moment, with tensions high, a knock at the door sounds quietly. The door pushes open, and a short, rotund man with a long flowing beard enters the room. Holding a tray in one hand, balancing several large pints of ale, a bottle holding chilled wine, and 3 glasses, the man spins lightly upon his feet, showing in his other hand a large clay pitcher and white towel. But the oddity of him striding in isnt lost as you look upon his head and see that he is balancing a bowl upon his crown.
My apologies my lords and Ladies. I have the drinks and-The man cuts short his opening comment, as his gaze falls upon Bataar. The man stops suddenly, allowing the bowl to fall from his head backwards. His hands grow slack, the tray and pitcher of water fall to the floor, and with a loud crash and bang, the bowl shatters, the pitcher breaks, the glass cascades across the floor, but the man takes no notice of the mess he made.
YOU! I TOLD YOU BEFORE ID KILL YOU!!!! The man shouts, and sprints (in a rather comical motion as you see his pants begin to fall down his legs) at Bataar.
Startled at the man's sudden lunge at him, Bataar slid his chair back standing up swiftly and gracefully, his back now against the wall. He made no move for his weapon, the innkeeper appeared unarmed and all in this room were on edge and likely looking for an excuse to kill him.
"Ho! Sir! Easy, I've no quarrel with you!" He shouted. Now that he thought about it, This blokes wife is far more attractive then him, quite a physical mix match. He remembered her fondly for a moment, before he had to give into the sickening conclusion he had been afraid of.
I was right, something, wrong, is happening in this town, some sort of shared dreaming experience. Oh light, how many husbands are going to try to kill me in the street now? How many will run in fear?
"Just think of how those dreams end!" he shouted at the charging innkeeper, setting into a fighting stance but keeping his sword, undrawn. Usually with me killing this guy or whoever happened to be attacking me.
His voice ice and his eyes as stones, "Don't make me beat you bloody in your own place of work, in front of your family, over a specter of the mind."
He had been about to suggest the man explain why he thought he was saving them when he blurted out he could channel and just like that his amusement at the situation evaporated. He tensed up and his hand slid down torwards his boot, pretending to itch his leg. Really he was reaching for one of his hidden knives just in case.
"Blood and ashes..what are we going to do to get out of this me...
He began thinking though almost as suddenly he stopped thinking because a man with their refreshments walked in. Then the Chaos began to ensue and he sighed.
"Blood and ashes what madness is this."
He muttered to no one in particular.
Cor'ellis found herself absorbed by the tapestry in the room, absently stroking Val's fur. It was a fascinating scene depicted. She could not help but speculate over it. 'If it did be a last stand, how could it be immortalized so? Perhaps the artisan did take much licence...' In fact, she was so distracted that she nearly missed Bataar's stunning revelation. The sudden increase of tension in the other men drew her focus away from the wall hanging. Or rather the sudden increase of tension in Val's muscles beneath her hand in response.
She looked at the young Kandori curiously once she processed what had been said, as if trying to see something different about him than in other men. Val sensed the acuity of her focus and concentrated his gaze on the young man as well, tilting his head at precisely the same angle as his mistress, mirroring her. It looked almost comical, yet somewhat eerie as well.
She opened her mouth to ask a question just as the door swung open to admit the innkeeper. She was stunned by his abrupt change in attitude and instantly put on edge as the dishes smashed to the floor. Val began bristling and snarling at the man as he started moving aggressively. Cor’ellis stood imperiously and though she understood little of what was being said, she decided that preventing more violence was the prudent course, if possible.
”Sirrah! You will be calm! This guard-dog do be ready to set upon you if you show any threat!” The truth was, Val was really only likely to do that if that threat were toward his mistress, but he did not need to know that.
Rolling his eyes as the shop owner charges at Bataar, 'Blood and bloody ashes, what has he done here?' Elek shakes his head, 'Well if Lady Cor'ellis doesn't calm everyone down that dog will.' Pulling out a chair he sits down, propping his feet up on the table.
Renlo was so shocked by the Bulwark-keeper’s sudden change in attitude from before that he didn’t have the opportunity to react before the innkeeper was running towards Bataar. Peace! Is everyone going to suddenly turn murderous on this venture? Deciding that attempting to grab the innkeeper was hardly the way to calm the situation - and, privately, not being too concerned if he punched Bataar - he left it to Cor’ellis and her wolf to resolve things. Renlo leaned back against the wall, arms crossed.
The innkeeper howls in rage and anger at Bataar, yet his steps falter slightly at the menacing growl from the man. His forward momentum though, a homicidal sprint, cannot be slowed. His face twists and the snarl set upon his features relaxes, yet his body, unused to the sudden action, cannot be stopped. The man slams hard into Bataar, driving both men into the stone wall with a heavy slap of flesh hitting a hard, unforgiving surface.
The man groans and moans. Oh my Illea! You forsake me in my dreams! I cannot...i cannot stand them no more!! His face takes on a fevered look, his gaze far and distant, unfocused upon anything near him. He turns his head this way and that; every where he looks, he sees something that makes him quail, makes him angry. His face flushes red, his hands shake, his body quivers, and suddenly, he snaps!
Ill KILL HER! he shouts, and any sort of sanity that he once had has left. His mouth frothed with spittle, he turns and begins a quick tread back towards the door, a subtle moan escaping from his lips.
Illea...come to me my pet...i have a gift for you... a small laugh escapes, filled with malice and glee.
perception checks
Renlo, as the innkeeper succumbs to...whatever...afflicts him, you hear from beyond the room the sounds of distant shouting. A woman screaming in anger, a man screaming in pain, a child in fear...
Renlo looks to the doors behind him, then towards the innkeeper. "Restrain him before he attempts to do murder! Something is happening outside!" With that Renlo opens the door and looks out to see what's happening.
"Restrain him?Eh I'll try."
He began as he rose quickly trying to slip behind the man all the while he removed what had looked like a long leather pouch on his belt and swung it with some force from behind clearly trying to knock the mad inkeeper out before he could do something terrible.
"Blood and ashes do you bring the worst out of everyone man."
He hollered back torwards Bataar.
Suprised by the continued assault of the innkeeper, Elek pulls his feet off of the table as quickly as he put them on. '"You forsake me in my dreams?" Interesting choice of words. Standing from the chair, 'at least Bataar didin't stab this one''He begin to move toward where the portly innkeeper had pushed Battar against the wall. 'Restrain him? Yah he's clearly nuts... but something is happeneing outside?' As Marik pulls out a sap attempting to subdue the man.
Chuckling As Marik yells at Bataar, Elek asks, "Is the innkeeper out?"
"Something is happening outside, didn't you hear the man." he says gesturing to Renlo. "I bring out the worst in everyone eh? Yes five short days and I've managed to bring a whole village to it's knees through depraved shared dreaming, I'm certainly most impressed with myself." Bataar said sarcastically.
"We must either step in to try and stem this madness quickly, or be killed by the mad mob that is undoubtedly forming based on this innkeeper's behavior. I have observed plenty of others in the dream in the days since I've been here."
Bataar is wary that the Aes Sedai has not chimed in on his situation. Perhaps, she truly doesn't care. Wouldn't that be the grandest stroke of luck
He looks at Marik's sap, "Very good, maybe a quick rap and nap will bring him back to his senses. Hopefully most of you will take this as proof that I don't wantonly slay anyone who vaguely annoys me."
Looking out into the inn's tavern room and large dining area, you dont see anything at first...you hear it before it comes, and through the front doors you see two women slam through the door, fighting each other. Hair pulling, fists flying, screaming incoherent sounds and grunts, they hammer into each other with wild abandonment. A broken nose, cut above the brow, blood flows freely as the women attack.
Beyond them, you spy into the open area beyond the front doors and see a couple of men fighting with fists, much like the same way as the women, only they seem more proficient at the task of fighting. Heavy blows land expertly, while others are blocked and turned.
The sound of other fights and loud arguments drift through the front doors as the swing closed.
Renlo shuts the door, then turns to the others. "It looks like everyone is fighting everyone else in a free for all. We may be safest if we remain barricaded in this room and leave things be until it ends."
'Five short days? Maybe for him, to anyone that has to put up with his mouth it would seem like an eternity.' Moving toward tangled pile, as Renlo shuts the door. 'Stem the madness? Everyone's fighting?' Nodding towards Marik, "Quick thinking."
As he moves the unconcious Innkeeper off of Bataar, rolling him over on his fat belly. "In case it doesn't, let's get this madman tied up and gagged before he wakes."
Pulling the innkeepers belt, he begins to tie the mans hands behind his back. Glancing from Renlo then back to Marik then finally Bataar. "We may be safe if we wait in here, but what will happen out there if we don't invervene?"
Glancing from Renlo then back to Marik then finally Bataar. "We may be safe if we wait in here, but what will happen out there if we don't invervene?"
At Bataar’s words, Cor’ellis eyes widen in alarm… and what seems like recognition. ”Shared dreaming? This dream do be yours they share? Or you do be sharing in their’s?” She asked before she could stop herself, but then shook her head. ”No, that do no matter now. There do be children out there!” She cried before giving Val a quick command to Guard her as she drew her own sap from beneath the folds of her riding skirt and marched out into the mess of it all, her eyes grim and determined.
"Also, they may damage our things if the brawl is everywhere. After the brave hunter im afraid."
He began with a sigh hoisting his sap and following along. The things he did for recognition . . .
As Cor'ellis pushes past him to go out into the melee, Renlo says, "Peace, Lady Cor'ellis! If we must go out there to try and find children, then you should remain here. You are no Aes Sedai. We will find children and bring them back."
Smilng as he watches Cor'ellis push past the Shienaran swordsman, 'Guess I shouldn't have asked what will happen , if I'm not willing to intervene as well.' Elek begins to move towards the door, 'I wonder if she will listen to Renlo, I think he had a better chance of talking the dog into not following her.'
Moving past Bataar, grunting, "Leave that sword in its scabbard this time, yeah."
Nearing Marik he asks, "Hey Marik you have another one of those? I havn't been in a fist fight since a miner pinched my sister." His smile widens, 'I don't have to tell him it was last month.'