The last orc falls, and Xon quickly closes the door again, looking for something to bar it with. Finding little that would be of use in holding off the strong-armed orcs, he rushes to Ravensong’s side. Turning to the injured companions he dolls out handfuls of berries to each of them, taking time to feed Ravensong before eating his own. The goodberries return Ravensong to consciousness, but it is not until downing a potion of cure light wounds that she regains her feet. As the blissful healing draught warms her blood, she laughs and says, “With the ones I killed, and the bodies I see here, there can be no more than twenty left. Lets go.”

Xon places his ear to the door. Listening intently, he still hears nothing. Keeping an ear out, he begins to detail his plan. “We can make a barrier of fire. Force them to run through it while we hit them with arrows. We’ll each take one of these flasks . . .” and then he hears it. It’s faint, and at first he’s not sure. But, off in the distance, too quiet for any other to make out, is the sound of chains rattling…