When Kayden ran the black witch's plot by his men, they were a bit dubious, but they trusted his plans, which by association meant they trusted his agreement to other plans. However, it took some doing. They had to find some musty, flea-bitten apparel lost in the lowest drawers and the deepest closets in the townhouse firstly, and then they needed to decide just who was going to go, and how. 

"I need at least three of you to go," Kayden told them, arms folded. They had cordoned themselves off in one of the guest rooms, as the kitchen had become a bit of a hazard from the potential flying rocks and missiles. "Three of you can stay and keep your bows, but the rest need to go, without weapons except your long knives." 

"You should be one of the ones to go, Captain. You need to lead the men, and you need to get out of here in case it goes north." Arnest advised, but Kayden was already shaking his head. 

"The lady wishes me to stay, and I want to keep an eye on her as well. She's the meal ticket, after all." He said in a tone that halted any argument. A few of the longbowmen exchanged looks, and Kayden had to stifle a sigh. No doubt they were thinking his womanizing was getting in the way of his judgement, though Grolmes and Hanke seemed less than enthused, likely believing Calliope wasn't worth the risk in general. "Now, who's going? Walden, if you do you can't wear the helmet." The entire group halted when Morek raised a hand, and Kayden waited a long moment before adding: "Morek, you understand you'd be running away from a siege with your short legs?" 

He lowered his hand again and grunted. "Thought we'd fight out way out." Was his only explanation. 

"No, this is secretive. You need to blend in." 

Swiftly, Kayden and his men organized themselves, and Grolmes, Hanke, and Leuthold would need to change and find a way to slip out the back. Arnest, Walden, and Gerhardt would stay, while Morek and Kayden set up to barricading the defenses below. This was not the first time they had fought in a manor. There was standard for villa defense in Tilea, if one sold their swords enough. Luckily the mezzanine on the 2nd floor was perfect for longbowmen and riflemen. Kayden had a pistol ready, himself. 

Once the meeting broke, he and Morek went to aid the knights in piling up tables and furniture against the doorway as the three longbowmen made their escape through the cellar, which led to a small hatch a few dozen paces behind the townhouse. Kayden expected Otto to tell them to sod off when they came to aid, but it was the one time the arrogant tart did not give him a tongue lashing and they silently worked together. Morek began to rearrange the pile, pointing for the knights to move chairs and barking an order here or there. It seemed the short-lived peace was going to abruptly die, but before Otto could argue, Kayden held a hand up. "Dwarfs have a knack for sieges and obstacles. If you wish to defend your charge, I would listen to him." 

He growled but acquiesced. Within two hours, the entirety of the bottom floor could hold off a rampaging Ungor horde if it came down to it. As Otto and Morek were shoving the last cupboard against the symmetrical walls of timber, books, and bedding, Kayden ascended the stairway to inform Calliope of their progress. He stepped inside the library where she had a good view of those down below, and he found her on the cushioned chair, her eyes closed but a fell light emanating from behind her eyelids. His men weren't entirely wrong, he did find her quite fetching, but the look of whatever magic she was doing almost had him going for his sword. When she heard the scuffing of his feet, her eyes opening were even more unnerving. They had been pure black, the stygian color slowly eroding as her magics faded and she returned to normalcy. 

"Any news?" They both asked in unison. Calliope's red lips thinned, clearly wishing for him to speak first. He gave a courtly bow. 

"We have reinforced all doors on the first floor, and covered all windows on the second. If they make a move, which should be happening shortly I imagine, they'll have hell to pay."