The Swordmage moved in a practiced motion of deft blocks and attack maneuvers with the two Orcs before him. It was a state of mind that did not last long, and while in it he had no real conscious thought other than the need to survive. The ring of steel and grunts of the Orcs, as well as the shear of Bastard sword filled the air, before Markus stood before two corpses. He had a large cut along the left side of his arm, and he knew that would turn into a rigid scar. It streaked across the upper part of his left arm, meeting his collarbone. That had been close. 

A moment ago he had saw that Valerie seemed alright from what she had been doing, but once his wits return he saw her prone on the ground, trying to make his way over to her before he was relieved to see her having ended the monster. It was then the Dwarves, who previously had been firing their crossbows and stabbing at anything that came near, leaped off the wagon and engaged the Orcs. They moved in unison, probably having trained together since they were beardlings. The PoleAxe Dwarf speared on Orc like a spitted pig.

The dark eyed Swordmage made it over to Valerie, looking her up and down to make sure she was not seriously wounded. A bit of dirt stained his right cheek, and blood dripped down his forehead and collarbone a bit. Even a fraction of the chainmail had been sheared away in that cut, leaving a streak that opened up the collar of his clothing a bit. He breathed heavily, and once he was satisfied she was alright, he gave her a nod. "You sure you're new to this?" he said in jest. 

Behind him, a ranger could be seen being hacked down by an Orc, only for another Ranger to shoot that Orc and fell it. Their enemies seemed to be thinning, but it was the simple truth that more Orcs came at them. Markus turned, and engaged the next one that leaped out of the trees, before another Orc that had been hidden in the brush leaped to take advantage of his exposed flank. 

[@Luminosity]