As one by one the trio passed through the door, Xavier dropped the chair he was using for a shield and ran for the magical door.  He was merely two steps behind but it may as well have been fifty as he plowed into the solid stone of the cell.  His momentum causing a crushing impact that he would feel for several days.  He grunted as the air pushed out of his chest and fell back onto the floor.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(247, 218, 100)">"AAAHHHHggghhhhh" </span>He roared with impotent rage as soon as breath came back to him.  He stood slowly, clearly dazed from the impact and staggered back into the guard room.  He followed red steps back to the source of the blood, his own footsteps having come through the gore during his pursuit.  He tried to be more careful and respectful as he returned to the scene of the crime but it was difficult to avoid that much blood.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(97, 189, 109)">"It twas the white witch with the red hair that let her free, I told them we shouldn' a trusted her, I told him."</span>The toothless guard scolded his dead companion.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(97, 189, 109)"> "See what it got him trusting a witch."</span>Xavier gave him a hard look which silenced him at least for the moment.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(247, 218, 100)">"Go sound the alarm, we will need all of you to track them down and bring them to justice."</span>Xavier could see from the looks in their eyes that they had little stomach for such a chase.<br/><br/>Shortly after the alarm was raised, more constables began to arrive.  They were a motley looking group, most too old or too fat, if not both to be of much use.  Xavier stood staring at the map on the wall as they gathered.  Though reluctant, given large enough numbers he was able to convince them to give chase.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(247, 218, 100)">"Unless she is a very powerful witch, her spell couldn't have taken them much more than a league from here." </span>He told them, trying to imbue some of them with his own confidence.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(247, 218, 100)">"There is a good chance they will make for the next town, you will give chase and if nothing else, warn the villages to be on the lookout for them."</span>He instructed them, but as he looked at the map he thought there was only one place two run away witches with a murderous thief would go, the dark forest.  None would follow him there, in fact he barely got them to head out at night along the established roads.  He would need to travel to the dark forest alone.  Sending the others on their way he was soon back at the stable, his horse already saddled and ready, he tossed a silver coin to the stable boy as he checked the quality of his work.<br/><br/>Xavier rode into the night, trusting his steed's vision as much as his own.  He didn't need to follow the witches, if they were indeed going to the forest, there was only one destination that mattered, the cemetery.    More of a mass grave than a proper civilized cemetery, it had once been the site of a great battle of good against evil.  It was said many of the spirits still struggled in the immortal embrace of combat.  Many brave warriors died there, as did much evil, and while it was centuries ago, the forest still seemed to reverberate with the clash of weapons.  With any luck, on horseback he might even beat them there, he would need some luck and the element of surprise if he wasn't to become their next victim.  He thought upon the legends regarding the creatures that lurked in the forest.  The name eluded him but he dismissed it as simple superstition.  He had never passed through this forest before, having no real reason to go there, but he followed what trail there was with as much speed as he dared.  He kept feeling as if he was being watched, hunted almost and certainly his mount was becoming nervous as well.  But the sturdy mare had been through many a fight and was well trained.  He patted her for reassurance, sensing the animal's nervousness, wondering if maybe it had more sense than he at the moment.<br/><br/>He slowed the animal to a walk as he approached a clearing within the woods.  While he could see little, he had an almost palpable sense that he had arrived at his destination.  The cawing of a crow broke the murky silence, the horse snorting in anxiety, as if ready to bolt despite its training.  He dismounted and tried to calm the beast to little avail.  He pulled his weapons and his essentials from his tack, for the first time worried the animal might actually flee from him.  He should hobble it, but he couldn't help but think it wouldn't be right to leave the creature defenseless in such a place.  Quieting the beast by stroking its neck he heard the sound of running feet in the dark. "Wolves!"  He hissed, understanding now the creatures fright, almost instinctive.  Still he was not about to flee from wolves, he could keep a full pack at bay if need be, but he had other problems if the witches were about.  He kept the horses lead in one hand and let his eyes adjust more fully to the dark.  He searched the area for a space that would give him some hint of security and concealment.  Finding a horseshoe shaped hedge of brambles he used it as a corral for the horse as he guarded the open end.  As nice as a fire would be, he didn't want to give away his position, instead he knelt on one knee and waited, and listened.  A lone howl pierced the night, then another.  It was just his mind playing tricks on him, but it almost seemed as if they were communicating with each other.