"Defend the city Cassius! I am no use here on the walls. I will go to the Chapel to see if I can help with the wounded!"

Cassius nodded, following Maren down the steps - it's the closest set of steps down - going to get his dagger from his belt-

But then the noblewoman tumbles, fainting. Cassius catches her before she can possibly knock herself in the head on the stone steps, gently setting her down on the ground instead. He kneels close to her, checking her pulse and her breathing before cursing under his breath. She's alive, she's just [i]exhausted[/i]. She has every right to be, she hasn't been sleeping well, and then all [i]this?[/i] It's too much for this woman's heart and mind to take.

His duty, as a hired bodyguard, is to protect her first, any orders she gives come second - if he were to leave her there, she was an easy target for the Karsusians and they - nay, [i]Mago[/i] - will have [i]won.[/i] He has to take her to the Chapel. Surely they'd have the sense and morality to not attack those protected by [i]those[/i] walls. Surely. It'd be the [i]greatest[/i] offense if they breached those walls..

He picks her up and puts her over his shoulder- 

"Captain?" a familiar voice calls from the back of the defending force - William.

"Will? Oh thank the Gods- William, abandon position, I need you to watch my back!"

William releases one more arrow to the fight before running to his captain. "Is that Lady Maren? Is she alright-?"

"Yes, she's only faint. She needs to get to the walls of the Chapel."

William nods, "I've walked the city a bit, I know a possible safe way 'round to the Chapel, just in case the Karsusians get through the first round of defenses."

"Stay close behind and guide me, then."

[hr][hr]
After ducking into cover with Annabeth, Avery was frozen. This is what he had wanted, fantasized about, [i]dreamed[/i] of! But being in the midst of it? This is insane. This is [i]insane.[/i] 

His breathing was shallow and he was partially deaf to the chaos only just to his left. [i]He didn't want [b]this![/b][/i] His knuckles are white from gripping his sword's handle so tightly, but he didn't have the sense to draw it from its scabbard. Avery stood there, listening-but-not-really to the chaos at the gates, stomach in knots and unable to force himself to move.