The lady mage was not heavy, but carrying the woman back through the passageway made Falan pant with exersion.

He called up to the men-at-arms, barely able to make out a black silhouette against a dark blue sky with bright stars. “The lady mage is unconscious,” he said, then ordered the soldiers with him up the rope. They would have to haul the woman to the surface.

At least she will be pleased we found the boy, he thought. The Blackwood knew what the lad had to endure in this cursed place. Sorela had been right all along. Falan glanced at the boy, then laid the woman down.

“I’ll go first,” Naikal said. She jumped, hauling thin frame up the rope with such alacrity that would surprise any theater performer.

Falan looked about. Lord Jalan here. Sorela still alive. The Serafe was glad he had decided to come back.

Frantic voices interrupted as they abruptly echoed out of the other passageway. Falan turned toward them as they became louder and more distinct.

“Go, go, go! Run!”

It’s Serin!

Yellow lantern light lit the passageway just before Leisa bolted out into the main cavern, eyes wide, panting. “They’re after us!”

Falan’s sword hissed out of its scabbard. “Get behind me.”

Jasen came into view next, and together they scrambled up the small island of bones, three scraggly men and a naked woman in the same shape as lord Jalen, hobbled behind her.

Serin exited last and made his way up the mound and Liesa shrieked in horror at seing her mistress laying atop the mound of bones, barely lucid. “My lady!”.

Serin’s eyes flicked to lord Jalen and the barely conscious Sorela before he gave Falan a quick nod.

“No!” a panicked voice called. “Nonono!”

Falan turned around to find the lordling panicking because he wasn’t to be the first one up the rope. He scrambled to climb up first, fighting with the last soldier on his way up. He grunted, trying to climb at the same time.

“Enough,” Serin said, grabbing Jalen.

“Get ready,” Falan said, ignoring the panicked lordling. “We’re about to make our stand.”

The waited for the fellbeasts for a moment. Finally, Serin said, “Well I’m glad you came back.”

“As am I, old friend.”