Devaguea had used his flame breath more than spells to keep the Hunt from encircling the group, trying to conserve magic. It would be a warning sign to anyone that had fought with him that revealed he was either low or hoarding magic, neither a good sign. Still, he did wince as he spotted the group coming out, and the signs the apprentices were on their last legs, at least when it came to magical reserves. He nodded to Allison and Stroon, wincing as he felt another spike of pain lance through his shoulders (though everyone else would later swear they thought he was having a brainstorm [stroke] as he violently jerked). "Right, glad we came here first then. Next stop is a clear area where some Bastions and guards have made a stand. Me and mine will relieve them, and then mix the two groups. I saw at least one of the companions in the middle, but I will admit I have no idea which one. Your group will be moving behind ours, close enough to be reinforced quickly, but not so close you get caught up in the shit."<br/><br/>While he had no doubt some of them might complain about not needing to be coddled, he would counter that he was saving them, like his own spells, for a later fight. Most of the 'apprentices' had a couple attack spells, a few of them even had second level spells, but this fight was something above their weight class, and he would need every last one of them later. So once they got their marching order together, and Sarianna and Varn had taken up rear guard positions, the group moved out, heading toward the square where the guards were holding.