Support Ruby.  Right.  Well, Lydalia was holding off the monk that that was attacking her, and he'd felt the spell warding her chatter with the monk's attack.  So he raised one hand, gesturing at Lydalia as he moved towards Ruby.  "<b>Precious light,</b>" he called, feeling the power rise, "<b>be our armor to protect us!  <i>PROTECT!</i>"  The mana surged, erecting a new crystalline barrier of power between the knight and her enemies.  Then he staggered, an arrow deflecting off his own shield.  There was no pain, but he knew his magical defenses wouldn't last much longer.<br/>
<br/>
"Their mage!" he shouted to Ruby as he drew his blind blade, scanning the area for new threats.  "Blast their mage, or we'll have to keep fighting them again and again!"<br/>
<br/>
<hr class="bbc-hr bbc-hr--3"/><br/>
Sera focused, then threw her spear with a grunt of effort.  It transfixed an approaching archer who had the bad manners to be drawing down on Alex as the bard emerged from the tent.  Then she danced lightly backwards, ducking and weaving to avoid the sword strokes of the knight who'd chosen to try and murder her.  He was good, sadly, and she had her work cut out for her.  Particularly unarmed.<br/>
<br/>
“Sera, catch!” Alex called, tossing a lance towards her.<br/>
<br/>
Sera flipped backwards and landed in a crouch, then sprang.  She did a handstand on the surprised knight's shoulders and pushed off, driving him to his knees as she spun higher into the air.  The lance thudded into her hand and she spun with it, driving the point through the warrior's chain mail and deep into his back.  He screamed once, the sound becoming a gurgle as she landed on him a second later and smashed him to the earth once more.  This time, he didn't try to rise.  "I <i>like</i> this thing!" she exulted.<br/>
<br/>
Flames raced along a tent as Alex shouted for them to get ready to run.  "Hey, Imos!" she shouted, looking around.  "Shift that cute ass of yours!  We gotta get clear!"</b>