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A Nice Vacation By Cor Dazar I
sat staring at the
wall of my room, the
silence of the night
pressing in around
me. My eyes stared
unblinking at my
door, as if I was
trying to bore holes
through the thick
dark wood. Presently
I was aroused from
my trance by the
sound of people
walking through the
hall beyond my door.
"That would be
the evening
guard," I
thought to myself.
Ever since the death
of Aelric Gaidin the
security of the
Green Ajah hall had
been tripled, all on
the orders of my Aes
Sedai and Sitter of
the Green Ajah
Niniane Sedai. With
the sound of the
guards passing by I
knew that it was now
my time to leave. I
stood swinging my
pack onto my
shoulders and making
sure it was secure
and my weapons were
on me I slipped out
of my room. The
halls were empty,
for at this late
hour of the night
all Aes Sedai were
already asleep along
with most of their
Gaidin, yet I still
crept through the
hall with great
care, so as not to
alert anyone of my
presence. So quiet
was I that even a
mouse would not have
noticed my passing.
The biggest of my
fears was that
Niniane my Aes Sedai
would somehow feel
something through
our bond and stop me
before I was away.
Yet even this was a
small matter to me
for Niniane had been
very busy and
returned early to
her bed and was now
in a deep sleep that
would be very hard
to wake her from by
anything. I felt
that she was well
guarded at the time,
and so since it
seemed to me that I
had become something
little more than a
forgotten shadow in
the Tower, that I
would take a little
vacation for a few
days and test myself
to see how much I
had gained from my
training in the
tower. I knew of no
better place to test
my mettle than in
the lands I grew up
in, where death
comes often and
people accept it
like the do a
morning rain. To
the blight I was now
headed, not to
Shienar, my native
land, but to the
lands beyond where
death walks in flesh
and the touch of a
plant can kill.
Normally I would
have asked Niniane
if she would give me
leave to go on such
a
"vacation",
and if it were to
any other place my
request would almost
assuredly be
granted. Any place
but the blight, for
Nini know my mind
well and knows too
that I go for the
sport of hunting.
Yet many would
think, "well
surely a brief hunt
wouldn't kill the
guy," yet I
seek a most
intelligent creature
and more deadly than
anything I have yet
encountered. I was
headed once more to
hunt myrddraal, like
I had done many
years ago as a
youngling and not
yet fully aware of
what my future held
for me. Now I was
older, stronger and
wiser, and instead
of a quick journey
into the borders of
the blight for maybe
one night like I did
in my youth I now
planned to use a
gateway and
transport myself
deep into the deadly
region, where the
devastation of the
Dark One was far
worse. Slipping
silently through the
doors of the Green
Ajah hall I entered
into the main part
of the tower itself.
Here, unlike in the
previous hall I had
just come from, the
lights still burned
bright, and several
servants still
scurried about, but
they paid little
attention to me for
they knew enough
about me that I had
a right to be there.
I walked down these
halls tall and erect
displaying my full
height, yet little
more than the
slightest noise did
I make. At
one point on my
descent through the
tower, I heard the
sound of marching
feet of the tower
guard approaching
and so I ducked back
into a doorway and
quickly took hold of
saidin. Using light
I wove a cloak of
invisibility around
me and quickly
inverted the weave
so as not to alert
any male channelers
that might have been
around. After the
guards passed I
dropped the weave
and released saidin
and continued on my
way, all my senses
strained to catch
any hint of pursuit
of another person
coming, but all was
still. After many
more flights of
stairs and several
more times of hiding
from the Tower
guards I found
myself outside. I
had chosen not to
leave directly from
my room for a
gateway takes a good
amount of power and
would easily draw
attention to me.
This I did not want
so I made my plans
early on and had
hidden several small
packs of supplies in
my designated
departure place
which was just
beyond the practice
yards where I could
not be spotted.
Slowly I made my way
around the buildings
out of sight of all
windows, and any
light, my black
cadin'sor hiding me
as well as even a
warders cloak. After
a few minutes of
slipping in and out
of the shadows I
found myself and the
appointed place and
retrieved my extra
food stuffs, and
then with out a
glance back I opened
a gateway and jumped
through, the portal
snapping shut behind
me. I
found myself in a
hot desert plane
surrounded by
darkness, and only a
pale thin light of
the half moon
illuminated my
surroundings. I took
a good look at my
surroundings, my
ears listening to
the low howl of the
light breeze, but
catching no other
sound, and then I
started walking in a
North direction. For
by mistake I had
brought myself
fairly close to Fal
Dara, and so that is
how my night ended.
After I had traveled
for several miles I
set up a small camp
setting several
strong wards not
caring what
creatures attention
I brought upon me,
and then I slept for
a few brief hours in
a deep peaceful,
dreamless sleep, the
like of which I had
not know for many a
night. I
awoke with the
bright light of dawn
upon my face and
after a small
breakfast I set out
again. On my first
day of walking I
found little save
the common animals
of the blight, and
lucky that I saw
them for they are
deadly, yet that was
all the action that
I saw, but as the
day wore I could not
shake the feeling
that I was being
watched. "From
where?" I kept
asking myself for I
was surrounded but
league upon league
of flat desert with
little or nothing
that someone could
hide behind or in
for that matter. Yet
this was to be my
folly for in the
heat I had forgotten
some my lessons of
hunting myrddraal
and took no notice
of the high dark
storm clouds or the
shadows that they
cast. As the day
came to an end I
once again set up a
small camp and as
the night before I
set many strong
wards that no one,
man of beast, could
pass through with
out me knowing for
anything that
crossed those
invisible walls
would be instantly
slain and an alarm
would sound. I
awoke once more to
the rising of the
sun climbing above
the horizon, my
mouth already dry
from the heat but
this time I headed
towards the east,
and this would prove
to be the turn of
events I had been
looking for. At some
point in time before
midday I found
myself in an area of
many dunes piled
high many feet above
my head and so I
climbed among these
hills of sand until
as I came near the
top of one and
decided to stop. As
I drank from my
water bottle I began
thinking that I
should begin hunting
at night. I had,
before leaving,
switched into the
normal light brown
colored cadin'sor
but even that was
far too hot to be
wearing in the
terrible heat. As I
sat, the only sound
in the desert my
heavy breathing; I
heard the guttural
voices of trollocs.
Dropping down to my
belly, pulling a
spear from behind
me, I slithered my
way up the dune
until I was able to
peak over the edge
of the sand hill,
and there I saw what
I had come for.
Below me stood I
company of twenty
trollocs and with
them were two
myrddraal on
horseback. I was
overjoyed at my luck
for the group seemed
to have halted and
the two myrddraal
seemed to be
speaking to each
other, silently I
slid my way back
down to where I had
set my pack when
first I had hit the
ground. From it I
pulled a case in
which my bow was
placed and took five
arrows from my
quiver which was
also stowed away in
my bag. Also with me
went three of my
spears and then I
crawled back to my
previous position
upon the hill. The
small band had still
not moved and so
quickly I ran
through my plan. I
would take out the
two myrddraal if
possible by arrow,
if I was lucky the
killing the those
two would drop
several trollocs,
and then using my
remaining arrows I
would take out
several more
trollocs and then
kill the rest with
my spears and
knives. Only once
did the thought of
using saidin enter
my head, but I
quickly dismissed it
for it would defeat
my whole purpose for
coming to the
desolate place. I
set each arrow,
point first into the
ground, and then set
one spear at easy
reach near my hand,
strapping the other
two on my back. I
took one arrow from
it place, took
careful aim and then
the bow rang loud
and clear in the
still air. The arrow
flew straight
through the
myrddraal's throat
where it stuck and
so it fell to the
ground, but even
before it began to
sway I had pulled
forth a second arrow
aimed and let it fly
where upon it smote
deep into the empty
place where the
seconds eye should
have been and he too
fell, thudding to
the ground. Indeed
luck was with me for
twelve of the
trollocs fell
leaving me eight,
which had already
turned towards me
and came running
blades held high for
battle, strange
sounds coming from
their throats. I
sent forth the last
three of my arrows
each once hitting
it's mark and so I
was left with five
of the beasts to
deal with. My golden
daggers flashed into
my hands and I sent
them flying at the
monsters which where
now almost upon me.
Two more fell, and I
had time to let
loose one more
dagger as I grabbed
up my spear and
retreated back a few
steps. With the
throw of that last
dagger another fell
leaving me two to
deal with in hand to
hand combat. It took
a good deal of my
skill yet I had been
well trained and so
in a short time I
had dispensed of the
last of the group.
Then I went around
collecting my
daggers wiping the
blood from them and
then placing them
back in their
concealed hiding
places. After this I
grabbed up my pack
threw it across my
shoulders and headed
off leaving the
bodies to be eaten
by the foul
creatures of the
land. Normally I
would have also
taken the heads of
the myrddraal like I
use to in my youth,
but I still felt the
hidden eyes upon my
back me, and I did
not wish to run the
risk or meeting them
just then. So
I walked many miles
to the northeast
until I found a
place to camp. As
the sun sank, blood
red, below the
horizon I set my
wards of protection,
and once more
checked on Nini
through my bond. All
was well, she had
apparently not
discovered my
absence yet and so I
went to sleep with
out even a small
meal. I
shot awake the next
day before the sun
had even peeked over
the horizon, to a
terrible feeling.
Instantly my
thoughts went to my
Aes Sedai and there
I found what had
awakened me. Nini
had found my letter
explaining my
absence and she was
furious, I could
almost feel the heat
emanating from her
and see her all to
common angry stare
that could peel
paint from a wall. I
knew that she
couldn't follow
after me, yet I
still felt worried
for her, so I set
out immediately
hoping to make one
final kill and then
end my vacation upon
my forth day. I
walked now back to
the west in hopes
that I would find
myself maybe one
more roving band of
trollocs with some
myrddraal to hunt
but this time my
luck did not seem to
be with me for I
found no sign of any
creature that day
and still I felt the
eyes upon me,
watching my every
move. I wandered on
until the sun began
to disappear in
front of me before I
started to look for
my next place to
camp. It was at this
time that my luck
turned but for
better or worse I
still have not
decided. As
I began to set down
my gear and settle
in I heard a sound I
could never forget,
like dry leaves
rubbing against each
other, the voices of
myrddraal rang all
to clear in my ears.
There was at least
three I guessed and
so reading myself I
removed from my pack
my bow and quiver,
made sure my daggers
where on me, and all
my spears with me
and silently slipped
towards the voices.
I had already begun
to set my wards when
I heard the voices
so I knew that my
pack was safe from
any roving creatures
looking for food. The
sun had disappeared
completely from the
sky and the moon was
shrouded by the
dense storm clouds,
which had building
since my arrival. I
had slipped into my
black cadin'sor a
few minutes before
and was now hidden
from all but the
creatures with the
best night vision of
all the earth. In
this almost total
blackness I stalked
my prey, the voices
remaining in the
same spot, like the
evil creatures where
also staying
somewhere out in
this desolate
wilderness, or
perhaps planning
some evil mischief,
but I could not see
how this could be
for myrddraal can
transport themselves
through the shadows
to places far away
or through the solid
stone wall of a
fortress, or so the
tales say, and so
with out thinking
fully upon this, I
walked into a trap
set especially for
me, and the hunter
became the hunted. I
soon came upon the
place where I heard
the voices, but I
saw nothing not even
a dim outline. So I
slipped ahead a
little further and
saw them, but there
was only two. I was
sure that I had
heard a third, but I
did not want to
bother with three
anyway. Quietly I
moved out of sight
and took out my bow
and nocked and
arrow, then moving
back a little ways
to where I could see
them I took aim and
fired. The arrow
flew dead on,
hitting my first
target dead center
in his chest, and as
he hit the ground I
aimed and let loose
another arrow, which
implanted itself
through the
myrddraal's throat.
Out of the darkness
to my right I heard
the sound I knew all
to well, the third
myrddraal rushed
towards me, and just
barely did I dive
out of the way,
feeling the wind
from the sword as it
passed by. I
dropped my bow and
in one fluent motion
unhooked my quiver,
which fell to the
ground beside me,
and pulled from my
back one of my
spears. The metal
tip flashed briefly,
catching the glint
of some ray of the
moon which had
escaped through the
clouds, and I rushed
towards the
myrddraal which had
already wheeled
around and came
charging towards me
sword raised. We met
with a great crash,
and the duel, which
I had come looking
for, began. It
seemed that I strove
with the black demon
for what seemed many
hours, neither one
of us giving way. It
seemed to me that
this creature knew
as much about my
tactics, and me, as
I knew about
myrddraal's ways.
Then I knew for
certain, this
creature was the
source of the hidden
eyes that had
watched me the past
days, and in that
short time he had
learned my fighting
style and it seemed
could almost guess
my mind, just like I
had done for many
years studying the
ways of the
myrddraal as I
hunted them. My
strength eventually
began to ebb and
still he came on,
already three of my
spears lay broken
upon the ground and
the one in my hand
was notched many
times from where I
had blocked blow
after blow from the
monsters deadly
sword. Sometime
during the beginning
of our duel it had
begun to rain and as
my forth spear was
split apart with a
mighty stroke it
began to pour. The
lightning
illuminated the sky
and thunder roared
in my ears. I back
flipped away from
the creature,
pulling loose my
last spear and it
was then that I felt
once more my bond,
which I had ignored
somehow during the
fight. Nini could
feel my struggle
going on, and I felt
her dread for she
had lost several
warders already, yet
hidden beneath that
first wave of
emotion I could feel
anger the like of
which I did not
believe possible.
With that feeling a
new energy burst
into me and like a
bolt of lightning I
drove towards the
myrddraal. This new
fully powered
assault set him off
guard but it only
lasted for a second.
He deflected my
blows from my spear
with some difficulty
but so fast did I
send them that his
attention was
completely drawn to
his defense and he
did not notice the
golden dagger flash
into my hand, not
until it was
sticking out of his
side. Still I fought
on with my spear
keeping him from
turning to remove
the power wrought
blade and so once
again gold gleamed
into my hand, and
another dagger was
punched into him.
Although he was
bleeding heavily
from these wounds
the demon did not
give way with
amazing speed and
strength still left
to it, and it wasn't
until I put a third
dagger into him did
he leave an opening
and faster than
lightning I plunged
my spear through his
gut. So strong was
the force of that
blow that the spear
passed completely
through him the tip
sticking out his
back as he fell to
the ground. Using
saidin I removed my
daggers from his
body, and stumbled
back from the still
writhing body.
Through out the
fight it seemed that
the myrddraal had
never put a blade to
me, yet as I looked
now upon myself I
saw that many wounds
ran across my arms,
and although not
deep they were
deadly for the
poison of the evil
blade was now
coursing through me.
These were not the
wounds that
concerned me most,
as I looked down I
saw that a deep gash
had been cut in my
stomach running from
one side to the
other, and another
placed exactly where
I had been cut many
years ago in my
child hood, running
down my side. Wound
like these even from
a normal blade are
fatal unless quickly
treated by skilled
healers. I looked
around and realized
that I stood at the
sight of one of my
previous camp sights
and knew the place
well, so quickly I
took hold of saidin
and a gateway
appeared before me.
I stepped though and
found myself on the
front steps of the
tower. Already the
sun was rising and
servants and novices
scurried about on
their way to do
their chores, and so
I returned home. As
the gateway closed
behind me, the last
of my strength
disappeared and I
fell into total
blackness. When
I awoke I found
myself lying in my
own bed, in my own
room. At first I
thought I had an
amazingly detailed
dream. Yet even as I
looked around such a
hope died. Nini sat
looking at me with a
look that could have
curdled fresh milk
and when she saw
that I was awake she
arose from her seat
in the corner and
came towards me. I
attempted to sit up
or rise but failed.
My body was very
weak from the
healing which I had
undergone. So unable
to move little more
than my head I lay
there and waited for
whatever Nini had in
store for me. She
now stood over me,
as helpless as a
child, and just
stared at me. Her
face was still hard
and cold yet she did
not look as mad as
what I felt through
our bond. Strangely,
a smile slowly
spread across her
face and she began
to laugh. Apparently
she found something
amusing about my
helplessness, but I
did not and so I lay
there staring up
with an emotionless
stare. This seemed
only to make her
laugh more though.
Eventually she was
able to control
herself and stopped
laughing but a smirk
remained upon her
face. "You
stupid man, you have
caused me a lot of
grief so u could do
what? Take a nice
little vacation off
on your own?"
She said this like I
had gone off to
Cairhien and slept
many a peaceful
night on a soft
feather bed and
studied in the great
libraries. "Do
you know it took
three yellows to
heal you? I'm
beginning to wonder
if you are becoming
more trouble than
your worth."
This I knew she said
jokingly but her
face had become
stern once more and
for a brief second I
had to wonder but
then her smile
returned and she
almost looked like
she would laugh
again but she was
able to restrain
herself. She then
bid me farewell for
awhile for she still
had a lot work to do
and it was also
ordered that I
should not be
disturbed and that I
should get plenty of
rest. So she left me
and as the door
closed behind her I
was sure that I
could hear her
laughing again. I
closed my eyes and
fell back into a
deep sleep. When
I awoke again the
sun had climbed high
into the sky, a
servant girl stood
by my door and as I
stirred she came
towards me carrying
a large platter of
food. I ate all that
I was given and then
the girl departed
and I once more fell
into a deep
dreamless sleep. In
this way I spent the
next three days
recovering from my
vacation, with brief
visits from Nini at
least twice a day.
Upon my third day
although I was
supposedly not
allowed to, I got
out of bed changed
into some new
clothes and slipped
out of my room. I
had made it all the
way to the practice
yards before I was
caught and brought
back to my room.
Finally as the sun
rose on the fourth
day of my return my
healers finally
realized how hard it
would be for them to
keep me in my room
and so I was allowed
to wander once more
about the tower.
Nini however had
other plans for me
and I was loaded
with duties so as to
keep me from
wandering off again. I finished the telling of my tale to my good friend Rillian Thandril and then noticing the time rose and with a quick goodbye I left the room to let him ponder my words, for I was to guard my Aes Sedai's door this night and already I could sense her settling down in her bed. |