Markus breathing was labored, in fact. Long hours of practicing calming techniques to help concentrate on his mediocre magic skills did allow him to have control over it somewhat, which helped him keep himself steady in high tense situations. He gazed at the glowing runes upon the wall, perspiration giving his skin a small sheen in the glowing light that permeated from the glyphs. 

"We...we don't have time." he said suddenly. The hoots and howls of the Orcs filled the hall outside the cavernous, archaic mausoleum. He reluctantly broke eye contact with the runes, turning about and grabbing Valerie's arm to help get her moving, pulling her nearly to the door. He didn't like pulling her, even as a help to get her going, but now was not the time for manners. 

As he stepped out into the hall, the stomps and grunts echoed off the walls, and to the right he saw three Orcs step into view. Brutish faces and tusked jowls growled at him. He turned the other way, and he could the shadows of more Orcs approaching there as well. It was at that moment, the realization they were trapped hit Markus like a slap to the face. 

For a moment, he did not know what to do. No! He knew what to do. He just needed time. He let Valerie go, and with his free arm he summoned a flame. "Stand back," he told her, pressing against the walls as more Orcs poured in from the right. Three seconds later, he leaped into the hall again and spent his fireball spell, engulfing the first Orcs and sending the rest screeching and singed. 

His next action was to make it to the roughly hewed magic doorway once more. "Hold them off me, Valerie," he breathed. "I need only a minute." He did his best to concentrate on the runes in front of him, muttering to himself and forming bits and pieces of the opening incantation. 
[@Luminosity]