Kell froze in place at the appearance of the shadowy aparition and the message it had delivered. It seemed the conversation with these men was destined not to finish. They'd been talking for some time now, yet still had not finished their discussion when it was again cut short.<br/><br/>He leaped to his feet, shouting toward the tunnel, "Larson!!! Sound it!!!"<br/><br/>Swallowing, he gathered his thoughts, towering over the two travelers. "My friends... it seems someone has kept some valuable information from me. Either you lied to me, or you were truely unaware of the nature of the fiend you brought into my home. Either way, this conversation is over. Come with me and I will see you safely ferried home."<br/><br/>Just then a few men ran into the kitchen, one of them leading the others, "Kell? Do you really want me to sound it? We ran a drill just two weeks ago."<br/><br/>"It is no drill, Larson. There's been a breach. Get them moving. All of it goes."<br/><br/>The two men stared in shock, dumbfounded. "GO!!" he barked. His voice was suddenly harsh, commanding. When they had gone, he turned back to the travelers. All of the friendly demeanor was gone. He was all business now.<br/><br/>"Your friend took what she has learned and managed to run. I've no idea how she got out. Either way, she has destroyed everything I worked to build. We will vacate these caves to a secondary, less desirable home. We will be gone within the next 7 minutes. Do not try to form an ambush, I warn you, or you will be met with force. If you'll follow me, I'll see you to the portal. I will not bother to take the memories you gained today, as you did not learn anything we cannot hide. The cave will be abandoned, and all who you met here today will never be seen again. None will believe that an arsenal of this size could possibly stand ready right under the very nose of the king. I will give you but one chance to prove to me that you did not lie. Bring me that girl... dead or alive... within two days' time. You will be informed of the location for our meeting when the hour draws closer. Prove to me that you are to be trusted, my friends, and I will not visit upon you the resolution we plan for your friend."<br/><br/>Kell turned to Jimmy. "Boy!" he pointed, "I've a message for you to deliver. Are you man enough for the job?" he was slightly more gentle with the lad. When Jimmy hopped up eagerly, he knelt before him so that they were eye to eye. "Go the apothecary as fast as your feet can move. Tell her that you need camomille and lemongrass. Come with me, and I'll get you to the portal."<br/><br/>It was a simple combination of herbs used to calm and tranquilize a drinker when used to brew tea. He could only hope that the beautiful woman he'd admired for so long would pick up on the subtle hint and hold the lad with her, keep him calm and distracted.<br/><br/>He stood up and gestured to the travelers, ready to lead the way through the caves.<br/><br/>===================================================================<br/><br/>Raven shook her head at the offer to be carried, "No, you are our best defense. You'll need your hands free." She looked to the healer, "Have you a crutch which I can borrow? I will do my best to keep up. We wont have to go far. This friend I wish to contact keeps a method of reaching him  hidden here within the city."<br/><br/>She glanced out the door, watching the woman flee. Something was definitely not right. The hair on the back of her neck stood up straight as an ominous weight settled over her.<br/><br/>"We need to get moving. Healer, in the sack there, I believe you'll find all that I took when I fled your shop the first time. I planned to see to my own wounds, so I took bandages, herbs, and other emergency supplies. As they belong to you, it is only fitting that I should return them to you now."