All of us knew that issues have been unhealthy, as quickly as we heard about conflict being declared, however the additional data from Lisa painted a far worse image than I had imagined. We have been successfully trapped within the metropolis and encircled by enemies. There was the possibility of assist coming, however there was no assure it might arrive.

Liz had been silently taking in Lisa’s phrases, she regarded throughout to Lisa. “And also you’re positive there’s no solution to flee town?”

Lisa slowly nodded. “If there may be, we haven’t discovered it but. We despatched a few of our greatest scouts out in each route. None have returned. At this level sending anymore simply appears silly and would solely lower our numbers additional.”

“So, our solely choice is to combat them right here?”

Lisa clasped her fingers collectively. “I’m afraid so.”

Serin leant ahead. “Do you’ve any thought of the enemy’s numbers?”

Lisa shrugged. “Nothing concrete. We’ve solely been in a position to sight them from a distance so we will solely make an estimate, however they need to run into the 1000’s. For now, they’ve been protecting their distance, I wasn’t positive why as a result of they should have the numbers to take town…”

“You assume they have been ready for us?”

“Maybe.”

“How lots of the guard stay within the metropolis?”

“Good query… Even earlier than the difficulty started there have been lower than eight hundred in complete, however I doubt we’ve even 4 hundred now. The quantity is barely getting fewer as individuals abandon their posts…”

“And the guild, what number of adventurers do we’ve that would assist in town’s defence?”

“Lower than 200. The town has provides for a siege, but when they’ve siege engines and sufficient excessive rating mages with them, we received’t maintain out for lengthy… Rattling my silly sister!”

Serin slumped in her seat a bit. “Nicely, we had excellent news when you may name it that, however now we’ve no method of getting the information out!”

Lisa sat bolt upright. “You imply our suspicions have been confirmed?”

“Sure… Nevertheless it appears we have been too late.”

“If solely there have been a way of getting the information out!”

I used to be stunned Serin didn’t discover straight away.

I cleared my throat. “I feel we’ve a method.”

Serin rapidly turned to me. “After all, Celine!”

“Sure, Celine would be capable of get a few us out of right here, however that isn’t the one method.”

Serin sat ahead and shook her head. “Theo not but…”

“However we would be capable of assist many get out of right here if we requested them.”

“That will solely work a few times earlier than they have been noticed, there could be no method of evacuating town… To not point out most wouldn’t conform to their assist.”

Lisa positioned her fingers down on the desk. “Maintain on, what do you imply one other method Theo?”

“Nicely…”

Serin was nonetheless shaking her head.

Beth sighed. “We’re going to have to inform her finally and I’m assuming we’re going to elucidate about Aetherin now anyway? Would possibly as properly give her the entire story now.”

Serin slumped again into the seat. “Advantageous, I suppose we should always.”

Lisa’s consideration fell on our unintroduced members for the primary time. “Proper, I used to be starting to marvel who your newest members have been.” Her gaze switched to me. “Can I assume you been including to your har, hmm, I imply get together once more Theo?”

I cleared my throat. “I’m undecided why you’d instantly assume it was me that introduced them into the get together… However I suppose sort of, you’re half proper, I used to be the one which advised she be part of us…”

“Nicely, it was only a guess. Anyway, I can see that she appears to be a member of the get together now, however there have to be extra to it than that. I’d like so that you can clarify that for me and the opposite two.”

“Proper, properly she is a really robust addition to our group and has already saved our lives on a couple of event. It’s simply properly you see, she isn’t human.”

“I’m undecided that’s one thing that would wish explaining. You have already got just a few members that aren’t. You understand I’m not myself.”

“I do know.”

Lisa gaze fastened on Aetherin as soon as once more as if she was attempting to discern what species she was. “So, what’s she? A half elf?”

I shook my head. “No… She isn’t from any of the races which might be a part of the alliance.” I braced myself earlier than I stated the phrases. “She’s a vampire.”

“A vampire!” Lisa acquired to her ft, positioned her fingers down on the desk as she leant ahead and locked eyes with me. “What do you assume you’re doing? One demon was already one thing, however a minimum of she will preserve herself hidden and is nowhere close to as extremely harmful.” She then turned her focus to Serin. “And also you have been tremendous with this?”

Serin sat ahead. “I’m.”

“However you will need to have identified what I might have thought of it and the difficulty it may trigger you all.”

“I did, however I realised she was now not a risk to us, and we wanted her assist. If it wasn’t for her, we wouldn’t have returned alive.”

Altria, Beth, Liz and I have been all nodding in settlement with Serin.

Ameri and Lucy have been silently watching on.

Lisa put her head in her fingers. “Nicely, I can see that you simply all assume the identical factor…” She exhaled loudly and regarded again up. “I suppose that she a minimum of seems to be human. If we’re cautious we will preserve the reality hidden. Ugh, why didn’t I count on one thing like this!”

“Sure, actually Aetherin wasn’t what I used to be frightened to tell you about.”

“You imply the opposite factor is worse?”

“Nicely, I wouldn’t say worse…” Serin regarded to me. “Do you need to clarify?”

I nodded. “Certain… We’ve a bunch of harpies with us, we left them a brief method from town.”

“Harpies! There’s no method you’ll be capable of preserve individuals from noticing them! I can’t imagine you introduced them with you. You will need to have a loss of life want. Certain, not everyone seems to be believing the information from the capital, however when you’re seen to be amongst a bunch of demons even individuals firmly on our facet received’t belief you.”

“What did you count on us to do? We left them out of town in order that they wouldn’t draw consideration. They’ll’t return to their outdated lives now. They helped us escape, their very own sort would view them as traitors. We couldn’t simply go away them behind to die.”

Lisa’s expression softened a bit. “Look Theo, I perceive your sentiment…” She stopped and ruffled her hair. “Ah what does it even matter, as issues stand, we’ll be fortunate if any of us make it out of right here. So can I assume your different method out was having the harpies fly you out?”

“It was.”

“I suppose that would work… However you’re proper, it received’t be lengthy earlier than the military encircling us catch on and goal them.”

“Precisely.”

Lisa gave an extended look over the remainder of our group. “So then, what about these two?”

“That is Ameri and Lucy, Catkin and Wolfkin. Each registered adventurers, initially from Dunshelm. They rode with us from Silthorn.”

“Hmm…” Lisa glanced at Serin. “Nicely?”

“He’s telling the reality. I imagine we will belief them.”

“I see, properly I’ll take your phrase for now… I feel our precedence must be getting you and Altria to her mom. Celine ought to take you each, the remainder of the get together can take a elevate out of your harpy pals. No less than when you get there first, they received’t be handled as hostile as soon as they arrive.”

I couldn’t agree with that. “I perceive why you’re suggesting that, however what about everybody else within the metropolis? Are we simply going to depart them to die? I don’t need that!”

“We have to get phrase and proof of what you discovered. It isn’t sure that town will fall but. Assist may arrive in time.”

“All of the extra motive we should always keep and assist. I need to make it possible for this place doesn’t fall!”

“But when it does, you possibly can’t be right here when it occurs.”

“If it involves it, Celine can take me then.”

Lisa regarded on the different members of the get together. “What do you all take into consideration this?”

Serin was to reply. “I used to be planning on staying behind… I do know why you’re suggesting Theo go away, however I can’t go away my pals and servants behind.”

Lisa turned to Beth and Liz. “What about you two?”

Beth regarded severe as she answered. “I’ve pals, household and college students right here. I don’t need to go away any of them right here.”

Liz shrugged. “I’ve pals right here I wouldn’t need to lose, however I wouldn’t need to throw my life away on a misplaced trigger. Having stated that although, Theo is correct. There isn’t any want for us to run away but, we may go away at any time. I agree with staying till there isn’t any different hope.”

Lisa sat again in her seat. “I suppose I ought to’ve anticipated that reply from you all. I received’t deny that having you right here received’t improve our defensive functionality… Advantageous, I received’t drive you to depart. But when issues take a flip to the more severe I would like you to flee to Altria’s mom. Are we in settlement?”

We answered in unison. “Sure.”