4

Filled with saidin, Cor heard Jascha's last words before the gateway snapped shut. He knew she would be okay after a little rest. Everyone would be. With a shrug, he tried to remove the burden from his shoulders and, without looking back, started off. Iliana crept behind Cor Dazar as silently as she could, avoiding everything as was possible. She had heard stories of the Blight. She knew its dangers and decided it was best that Cor didn't know she was around yet.

He set a fast pace that soon left her lagging far behind. She was astounded at how much the tall warrior could take. Jascha was out cold after the breaking of the bond and this was Cor's second time. Yet still he moved unaware of any lack of energy or strength. Time seemed to slip by endlessly until, suddenly, the mountains loomed up just ahead of them and all the plant life began to fall away. In the clearing beyond, Cor stopped. Just within the last forms of life, Iliana stopped. Cloaking herself in a weave of invisibility, she quickly inverted the weave just in case.

Cor had felt the feeling of someone following him for some time, but his gut told him it was best not to turn around. Straight on he had marched. Maihgread had set this place to be where they would meet and now he was there. All he had to do was wait, she had told him. Turning sharply as he felt a female channeling, he saw a gateway appear. Standing just beyond it stood his old friend Maihgread.

"So you came after all," she said with a smile. "I never would have thought you would do it Cor. How did you escape from your Aes Sedai?" she said.

"She will remain out of this. I have come as you requested. But for a reason other than you designed."

From her place of concealment Iliana found it hard to restrain herself. The mix of emotions she felt was agonizing. It took all the skill she had learned during her trip into Amadicia to control herself.

"You are rejecting the terms then? Perhaps there is something else you need to persuade you?" she said.

"Nothing will ever change my mind. I belong to the light forever," said Cor, standing still as a rock in the failing light of the day.

"If you will not serve the Lord of the Grave alive, then perhaps you will dead," she said.

Even as the words left her mouth, Myrddraal rushed out from behind her through the gateway. Others appeared out of the growing shadows. The gateway snapped shut almost instantly after. Cor simply stood motionless. In a circle the dark creatures formed about him. Pale lidless eyes stared at him from all sides but none yet moved.

"Now you will pay for the loss of our ranks," hissed the one standing before Cor's face.

"I didn't think you cared about anything but the death of those your masters decree," said Cor meeting the glance. Fear had no hold on his heart anymore. He had come to meet death this night.

"We do not," hissed the one that had spoken before, "but our masters do."

"Yes, I bet they--," said Cor with a grin as a fireball erupted out of no where and consumed the Fade that had spoken.

With great shouts they all leapt forth at once. Silver and gold flashed in the last rays of the light. Swirls of color each completely different from the others. Twelve Fades lay dead about him and the others pulled back momentarily. A spear now twirled in Cor's hand. He was yet untouched by the Fades.

The rush began again but this time no daggers were there to halt them. Saidin would be used only at the last. Cor still had a special surprise worked up for the end. Black blood splattered on his face as another Fade was tossed back convulsing. As another body fell, Cor moved away from the still-grappling hands. Iliana watched almost fascinated by the strange dance of the Aielman. It reminded her of a man on a dance floor. Smooth and soft were his steps. Another Fade hit the ground bleeding, but Cor had paid the price. His clothes were torn to shreds. His red blood mixing with Myrddraals' in the night. As the light went out, a ball of light appeared above the battle to the dismay of the Fades.

"You won't get everything your way," said Cor, tossing back another dead body.

More came on, one after another, falling dead. More than any mortal man should ever see in his lifetime, at a distance, let alone fight. Blood poured from hundreds of wounds but still he remained on his feet. The Wheel seemed to have something great planned for the Aiel Warder that it allowed him to still be standing. Iliana watched it all frozen. Emotions mixed between fear and amazement.

With a pant Cor tossed another black body. Three spears had been split and shattered by the black blades. A dark line of blood ran down his side running parallel to an old scar. The last remnants of his shirt he ripped from his body revealing hundreds of cuts and nicks. Nothing looked deep by the poison that lay on the blades now coursed through him. Amongst the dead Myrddraal lay several average looking men. Grey Men slain without Cor's even knowing it lay dead amongst the carnage. Iliana grimaced and wanted to run out to him, but something withheld her.

One last Myrddraal stood looking at Cor. A few dead bodies still thrashed about, but many were now motionless. The two stared at each other. Neither moved and the darkness grew. The silver and golden swirled daggers stirred suddenly from the bodies and flew together away from the field. Only one that Cor had missed lay lodged underneath a body. The Myrddraal didn't notice it either but Iliana did. The thrown daggers landed very close by to Iliana. Reaching our carefully she pulled all of them to her.

"I have waited for this night for a long time," said Cor.

The Myrddraal only nodded slightly and looked up at the ball of light hanging in the air.

"Only the moon will guide me now," said Cor, and suddenly the ball disappeared.

Iliana watched their dim forms crash together. Little was to be seen in the pale light. Two tall dark forms moving about with amazing speed and grace. No man should have been standing after everything Cor had gone through, she thought. But death was now all that remained to him and he went on ignoring the pain. Spear met sword with loud crashes. The others in their rush had fallen quickly, but this last challenger was definitely Cor's match and more.

A great crack, and the spear broke under a heavy stroke of the black blade. Hands flew and the Myrddraal fell back briefly. The Aiel way of fighting with hand and foot was not meant for use against an armed Myrddraal, but it was Cor's last defense. It didn't last long; with great speed the Myrddraal rushed forward. Iliana heard Cor gasp as the blade sped in and out of him. Blood poured from the gash in the middle of him. Falling back, he fell atop the Myrddraal, which still held the hidden dagger within its head. Cor's challenger gave a mirthless laugh as it stood over him blade raised above its head.

Iliana still could not move. Something told her to wait still. This was how it was supposed to be. Watching silently she could only pray to the Light. Cor's hand moved in and out by reflex. Reaching out it touched the hilt of the dagger. Even as the black blade swung towards Cor's neck he began to move. A white fire blazed in his hand that held the dagger. It flew forth, smashing into the Myrddraal's head. Cor's body rolled away, just before the blade crashed home taking off a small bit of hair at the top of his head.

Cor rolled onto his knees and crawled past the still writhing body of the Myrddraal to the head that had been decapitated by the force of the blow. Pulling the dagger from between the two places where the eyes should have been, he wiped it off and kissed the blade. Then Darkness began to wash over him and he fell to the ground and lay still.

Iliana dropped her illusion of invisibility and rushed out to him, stepping quickly over the dead bodies. She thanked the Light she still had her bracelet with her. She would need all the extra strength if she were to save Cor. Laying her hands on him she began weaving almost immediately. It seemed like time stopped as she hurried to save the life of her friend. Cor shivered as the weave ran through him. With a gasp Iliana finally fell back. All the wounds were now closed and the poison had been driven from his body, but his breathing was still very shallow.

"He doesn't have the strength to make it through the Healing process," she gasped. Why had he had his bond removed? Perhaps then he would live.

An idea sparked into Iliana's mind. Taking Cor's head in her hands again, she began a new weave. Cor shook as it took affect and then lay still. Iliana felt the presence of his mind enter hers. She did not know if it would work but it was all she could do. With what little strength she had left, Iliana wove a gateway back to her room and with great difficulty dragged Cor's limp body through.

Written by Cor Dazar

Characters Cor Dazar, Iliana, Maihgread