Had Sonja not been so intent on her plan working and so enwrapped in the weaving of her spells, she may have realised that something about the hunting party, other than numbers, was wrong.<br/>The horses, even the pack animal were far too heavy for hunting, they were the huge beasts bread for war.<br/><br/>Already prepared, the men, almost as one, began to move, head down and low on their horses, they were ready even before the ball of flame burst in front of them. Their horses reared and flailed their front legs, dancing away from the flames, as they had been trained to do and as they had done so many times on the battle field, yet keeping themselves steady enough so as not to dismount their riders.<br/>The pack horse veered off, as the others turned as though to make an escape, forming a shield around Borghast.<br/><br/>The dogs had scattered, but were soon reforming into a pack, now more wolf like in their attitude, lead by the Princes most favoured, they fanned out, snarling and growling beginning to search for their attackers.