<span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="color: #0080FF">Kell stood with his hand planted firmly against the wall, muttering dark words quietly. It seemed the portal needed constant attention to be kept open as he waited for them to all decide. As they each spoke to him before they entered, he nodded, able to answer only with gestures and facial expressions. <br/><br/>The beautiful healer he'd watched for so many years approached and he allowed his eyes to meet hers, his voice cracking a bit as he nodded before she entered. Distracted as he was, he was unprepared for the sudden force of thought that assaulted his senses at the touch of the girl. He swayed and his chanting faded. When he returned to himself, he immediately resumed chanting to keep the portal open, shaking his head to clear it.<br/><br/>As the archer passed, offering his words of promise, Kell clapped him on the shoulder with his free hand and nodded before indicating the portal.<br/><br/>The pair of armed men seemed so opposite. Kell watched as one seemed entertained by the proceedings, and the other simply watched with a serious, stern, knowing gaze. This one, kell mused, was more than he seemed. He nodded to both of them as another approached him, attracting his attention. The wandered, by his own introduction. Kell nodded to the man. Lovely. Now he had random passersby pledging to his cause. Another life for which he was responsible. He could feel the weight settle on his shoulders, but showed nothing of it as he nodded to the stranger.</span></span><br/><br/>They all filed into the caves and he followed them, finally letting the portal close behind him. Standing facing the few left who hadn't wandered off, he glowered. They'd already gone and spread out through the caves... it was a good thing he was evactuating. Normally, it would be a situation requiring him to chase them down, but he just shrugged it off.<br/><br/>Just as he entered the cave once more, he felt the percussive wave of force that told him that the transportation spell had been completed. The caves were empty. He sighed with relief.<br/><br/>Most of the people were already gone from the caves. They would be leaving behind the immovable objects too heavy to both, such as the forges and anvils, the cauldrons, furniture, and other items. The people and materials were already gone. they'd obeyed the activation of the evcuation call. It was a procedure they all practiced and executed well. The few who wandered off and disappeared into the caves would find there was very little trouble left to cause. It only served to show him they had no genuine interest in the matters at hand if they couldn't be bothered to stick around.<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="color: #0080FF">"Whatever is going on here, I highly doubt any of you really have any idea... But I can certainly judge by your eyes, and your words that you are here with good intent. That is all I need. We are a group of strangers who have assembled under circumstances which seem coincidental. I believe you will all agree with me when I say that more than coincidence is at work here. We should make the most of it. Together, we have at our disposal a very wide range of talents and knowledge."</span> </span>he sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. When he lifted his gaze again, he fixed his glare on Raven, eyes full of accusation, "I think you owe it to me as much as these poor fools you've dragged along with you. So why don't you enlighten us, oh maided of all things dangerous and troublesome? What trouble is it you've brought to my door this time?"<br/><br/>Leaning heavily on the wall, half sitting on a small outcropping of rock to support her injured leg, the pale and unhappy looking Raven met Kell's stare without flinching, which was more than most could say.<br/><br/>"You sure know how to hold on to a grudge, old man..." she sighed, waving off his temper as if it were no more than a cloud of smoke. "I found his hideaway, Kell... After so many years of searching. I know where he put it. I was on my way there when a few of his goons caught me off guard. They used a decoy ploy that I should not have missed..." she glowered with irritation, then resumed, "I was locked away in a box, drugged and beaten. The town healer you mentioned to me..." she gave him a significant look, "is the one who helped me, thought I didn't realize it till she introduced herself. She, and those with me, seem to have formed the strangest contingent of companions I have ever traveled with..."<br/><br/>He waited until she finished, one eyebrow raised as if he were waiting for her to realize she was rambling, "You found what, exactly? There is much we've searched for. How much do you plan to reveal to your motley crew?" he gestured at the gathering around them.<br/><br/>"The time for deception is long past. Leave the masses to their ignorance, but I will not hide. He's already begun the first wave. It will serve mostly to simply instill panic. He wants us to hole up in the city, cower together like rats. I plan to see that he doesn't get his wish. We need to arm the citizens, rather than frighten them."<br/><br/>"I've already started that. My men are on it. They will begin what is needed to make sure that the families are protected and the men are prepared for what they will face. For now, however, we all need rest. There is still about a day's time before his army will arrive. We need to get you all some much needed food and rest. Come with me and I'll see what we can find."<br/><br/>He looked to the others, examining them closely, eyes full of intelligent appraisal, "You time to choose is now, my friends. Either stay with me and my company, to follow the Raven and fight the death that pursues us, or leave now, to whatever end finds you."