After pocketing the two vials of the curiously trapped soul-samples into her robes Aryia noticed that Ravus was doing.<br/><br/>Was it stupid ? Yes and no. ... well not really there were SOO many. Best to act in such a time than to hope Gods would act for you, for gods act through us all and choosing instincts is simply a choice of what god to channel at that time.<br/><br/>Somehow in a blurr of action all had managed to re-emerge to the cave exit more or less intact.<br/>Aryia removed the wax from her ears also then shook rubble from her hair, then quickly brushed rubble from her robes feverishly, as if letting them lingering could be harmful.<br/><strong><br/>"Argh gods ! "</strong>Aryia looked about to see the others slightly wounded, Akara hid it well but she was, that cave in was messy, splinters of shattering rock were bound to land somewhere.<br/><strong><br/>"Wounds I can tend to shortly, I can heal, but I am not a master at healing spells, I can't cast it on horseback or when juggling other matters. Other witches I brought with me probably could, alas however they are not with us. I can still cast it but only when we have time to linger such that I can stay focused."</strong><br/><br/>Aryia dashed to her horse and mounted it swiftly, thank heavens it was still there<br/><strong><br/>"There are to many Ravus you were right. Something is amiss. Never have I heard of them act with such intelligence before. We need to get back to the palace. I got two samples of their souls trapped in wisp-form in vials I have buried in my robes. One I will send back to Mistpeak, the other I will leave with the kings sages, hopefully the difference these hollow-men show could be fathomed by their study. We may have lost this battle, but we have come back with something at least, and more importantly we three are still alive."</strong><br/><br/>The others soon mounted and when both were Aryia kicked her horse into motion heading back to the palace in due haste.<br/><strong><br/>"We can't manage that with just us. Perhaps the town itself may fall in which case we may have to retreat to other lands. We need to send word to the king so he can either organize soldiers for their containment or the evacuation of the city, but lords ! the later seems more likely if what my eyes showed was right ! IF those were hollowmen, Akara alone would have been able to manage them all without building a sweat or needing my witchery to help her. Those were no hollow men-they were something else, and if they can best the three of us ... then Bowerstone is in trouble, perhaps all of Albia is... Akara can you manage getting back to the palace without healing or shall we stop sooner ? I hate the idea of delaying healing when one is needy of it, but because I am not a master of that spell I can't manage it reliably while trying to focus on avoiding a hollowman about to thrust a sword between my shoulder-blades.. "<br/></strong><br/><br/>