<b>Stay calm, she thought. Staying calm was a lot easier said than done though, especially when she felt so defenseless. It was a feeling Allassiel wasn't used to and one, she decided, she hated. The orcs around her pressed in with little care for anything but the unfolding fight. There was another brief pause in the fighting and more cheers. Was it over? As she heard one of the orcs bark out a particularly uncouth insult before the metallic ringing filled the air again, she came to the conclusion that no, they'd paused to exchange pleasantries. As long as the fight continued, she didn't care. <br/>
<br/>
As she lay there, she felt a familiar warmth in her armour, her mind shifting from the battle to focus on it. It felt like Pegawen's protection spell. Allassiel had often teased her about the small spell she often used, but she'd seen the nature of it and had witnessed firsthand how it had kept people alive. But the spell didn't last long, so if she was feeling it that meant her cousin was nearby. Pegawen? In this cave full of vile beasts? <br/>
<br/>
Before the thought could even fully register, she heard the low twang of a bow and an arrow flew past hitting one of the orcs, who let out a howl of fury that was quickly silenced. A moment later there was silence, as something hit the ground. They challenger, she presumed, for it wasn't Rakothûrz, a flaming arrow sticking from his chest and blood spurting from his neck. <br/>
</b><br/><br/><b>Pegawen followed the men into the caverns, staying close to Lotharn as they bypassed the cave where the trolls rested. Ahead, a circle of orcs cheered and shouted as what was apparently a fight ensued within their ranks – Rakothûrz and another orc who spat out what surely was an obscenity. She couldn't understand much of their words, the black speech painful to her ears, but she knew enough to know that the fight was over leadership. <br/>
<br/>
Lotharn's words confirmed what she thought, though it brought little comfort. There was no sign of her cousin anywhere. Was she somewhere else? Had the orcs … no. She wouldn't think of that. She watched as Thorgan picked up one of the orcish bows and an arrow, before nocking it and letting it fly. Well, if it was a distraction they wanted …</b><br/><br/><b>She spoke a few words, her eyes focused on the arrow. As it hit the orc, it exploded into flames. The sudden silence was swiftly followed by the arc of metal as Rakothûrz took advantage of the distraction to relieve his opponent of his head. The orcs stepped back and she wondered what would happen next but it was hard to see wedged between Lotharn and the wall of the cave. <br/>
<br/>
The silence was broken as an orc shouted out, followed by others and a fight broke out among a few of them over who'd shot the arrow. None, however challenged Rakothûrz, despite his weakened state. </b>