It was three days of slow, attrition-based fighting in the swamp, often having to retreat when the carpet was spotted, and targeted with spells or ranged weapons - attacks that wouldn't hurt them much, but could damage or destroy the carpet... before he received an urgent warning from Talia - the capital itself was under attack by a small, elite team! The message was brief and fragmentary, as she was having to coordinate the few defenders remaining, with so many out in the field.