Elaeria raised an eyebrow and stopped the injured girl with one firm hand on her shoulder.

"Very well, I shan't insult your honour again. If you fall behind I will however leave you behind. Remember this: pride means nothing in war. All that matters is survival and victory. No one will remember the defeated, honour or no. Also there is no shame in seeking help when you are wounded, only in begging for it." She turned and left then, rather than give the young noblewoman a chance to answer; Elaeria was well aware of the pride and honour that she saw to hold back the Elianst aristocracy. If they wanted they could have conquered every nation but their notions of morality and chivalry had prevented them from doing so while her ruthlessness in the wars had been the only thing to keep her alive in the wilds for over a decade of guerrila warfare.

Emerging outside she just caught the last part of Gwen's orders to the healers and glanced at Lord Henry whose injuries would severely limit him in combat.

"She's right, you know. I'll take command of the rearguard but I think you've given us enough of a lead not to worry. Go and rest in a carriage after you've had your injuries seen to. We'll be needing you in top form before too long, I imagine." Henry nodded and slowly dismounted before heading off to find a healer although he had every intention of riding rather than taking up space in a carriage when the more seriously wounded could rest.

Elaeria had a servant take the exhausted horse away and had her own brought up, fresh and ready to ride along with a rested troop of her own men. Henry's soldiers were in more need of healing than their commander had been if only for not sharing his monstrous stamina. As they found places in carriages to rest and recuperate, Elaeria watched where they had retreated from. The approaching force was a long way away but was still in sight and close enough to be threatening. She noticed with a certain level of approval that the enemy cavalry numbered very few, no more than two dozen, after Henry's efforts despite being heavily outnumbered.

"It's time. We need to be out of the Academy's walls before night falls."