Once they had grabbed everything they could which was nearby in the laboratory, Meesei and Gallus' packs, along with Ra'kalesh, headed out of the back exit of the room, while the rest of the soldiers left from the front to return to the courtyard with Ri'vashi. They did not know in which direction the two soldiers carrying the barrel had gone, but Lorag could guess that they would have been heading up to bring it to the General. That would mean they would need to keep heading upwards in the keep, staying towards its center. 

Before they had even reached the first staircase, they encountered the enemy. It was a force smaller in numbers than Lorag's, but even if it had not been, they seemed more occupied with escaping than fighting. Another explosion rang out from the floor beneath them, during which the hostiles ran into a side passage. Lorag was not usually one to allow his enemy to escape, but they had more pressing concerns at the moment, and could not afford to waste any time. Instead, they moved up the same staircase they had saw the enemy walking down. 

Moving up to the third floor, they were closing in on Meesei. The enemy was clearing out of the keep quickly, so they would encounter no more resistance within. Ahead of them was a corner in the hallway, and as soon as they rounded it, they would be able to see Meesei at the hallway's far end, covered in blood and trying desperately to get to her feet.