Raven found a box of bread, which contained a few rolls and loaves. They all seemed to be a few days old, slightly tough, but she plucked a loaf from the box and glanced around the room. There was debris all over the room. She hobbled to a pile of trash and plucked a few scraps of parchment from within. After retrieving a few pieces of charcoal from a long abandoned fire, she hobbled back to the table she'd chosen off to the side and began drawing, writing, and marking on the parchments, occasionally nibbling on the bread.<br/><br/>Kell glanced at the few already in the room as he entered, taking in the apparent scene, and rolled his eyes. He felt just like a school teacher trying to keep kids from sneaking off to kiss under a tree. The archer was holding out a sword to Isolde, and the weapon caught his attention. This was no ordinary sword. It seemed this group was as full of surprises as he thought. He wasn't at all surprised to have seen Isolde hurl a rock the way she had. He h ad never, since the first moment he laid eyes on her, thought she was normal. The stranger, who had explained he was simply present out of resolve to keep a promise, also examined the sword. Something about him made Kell distrust him, but he couldn't put a finger on the reason why.<br/><br/>Gesturing for the others to take make themselves comfortable, he perched on a tabletop, bracing his heels against a chair so that he could see all of their faces.<br/><br/>Kastien nudged him, offering a needling comment, which elicited a sigh from Kell, "oh, what would I do without your snide remarks to color my day..." his tone spoke only of impatience and irritation, but his eyes revealed the hidden humor he kept contained. He did have a point, though... which Kell hated.<br/><br/>Diana returned from the portals to announce the transfer was completed and he nodded to her, "Thank you, Diana. Will you go and tell them to send out the parties waiting for my command? We need to get this show on the road." He'd charged a few groups of his best casters to spend the day weaving a net of spellwork over the city to protect the town as best he was able. It would be a difficult task getting the wards in place without alerting the guards, but he felt confident the would pull it off.<br/><br/>"Alright, I owe you all a great deal of answers, and there is a lot we need to get started on planning. There are a few things you all need to know. Feel free to rustle about and find what you want out of what's here. A lot of food was left behind because we just didn't have time. Now, this army that pounds at our door... I can promise you there will be some trick. This will be no outright attack. He has something up his sleeve and I need to be ready for it. I've already stationed some of my friends within the City Guard so that we can remain well informed. I'll need help from you lot to deal with the people of this city. Our walls are already bursting. We need a way to keep them contained without spreading panic. If we give the people something to do, some reason why we need their help, I think it'll go a long way. I want to have each of you start movign through town to get the people huddled in safe buildings, such as the cathedral, where they will be safely locked inside out of harm's reach. Tell them we need help making arrows for the archers, repairing weapons for the swordsmen and warriors, composing messages to other cities. I've sent my men with the guard to make sure the captains are aware of this. They've agreed its necessary."<br/><br/>He paused in speaking, glancing around the room. Something wasn't right. He could feel something pressing at the back of his mind. He cast a look at Raven, who had looked up from her work with apprehensive eyes, and met his gaze.<br/><br/>With a quick look at Kastien, he jerked his head toward the tunnel. Something was pressing on the barriers, or had disturbed them. Something was very wrong.<br/><br/>It was too late, however. Just then, the figure appeared in the shadows. Kell would have leaped into action, but he knew it would be foolish. He would die quickly. They all would, no matter what they did, if he was there to kill them. Somehow, Kell couldn't believe he had pushed through the wards and used up so much resources to do it, if he was here simply to kill. there were easier ways to do that. He stood where he was, letting the figure advance on him as it visibly began to fall apart and rot away. He fixed his eyes on Raven as he did. She'd brought this on him, he knew. She'd led him here. His eyes spoke his accusation plainly as he listened to the hissing comments of the figure. He offered no retort, no comment, no reaction at all... until he mentioned Raven. Something sparked in his eyes, as if he'd just fit the last piece of a difficult puzzle together.<br/><br/>When the figure was gone, after delivering his request and insults, Kell relaxed silently. This changed things entirely. Not quite ready to speak the conclusion he reached, he remained silent, expecting a reaction from the others.