Roo first struggled to quieten her gasp and then subsequently struggled to keep from hacking up her lungs when she sucked too much air in, as Giovanni bounded out of the room and over the balcony railing. She clutched him tightly despite the impropriety of it all, miserably wondering in between stifled coughs, at what point her life had come to leaping from several stories on the backs of strangers to wander into demon-infested woods.

“Up the stairs?” Sten asked, but followed. “Why?”

Rhea bit her lip, glancing once more towards the balcony and then to the door. She exhaled a short sigh as her name echoed through the hall again, then finagled the lock and pushed out into the hallway, stepping directly into Leriph. "Oh!"

Her gaze drifted back with him, then up the stairs. "Think we can make a break for it?"

She nodded, gripping his arm and making for the staircase. They both slowed as they approached Melat, who pulsed fresh, black blood every few moments. She didn't even look at them.
"Ladies first." she jibed, gesturing for Feofil to make his way up.

Giovanni spared an incredulous glance at the crow, but they didn't have time to question the situation. He swung the mace hard into the horse's skull before wrenching it out of the viscera. Better to put the thing out of its misery. He turned to look for Roo, hoisting the mace over his shoulder.

Giovanni noticed it too, but Venenzio's warning of reanimated dead surfaced in his mind. Better not to waste time. He supported her as they put some distance between them and the downed rider. "Who's behind all this? An enemy faction?"

"We're almost there," he answered. "What's with the critters?"

"I'm trusting you to go back." she said, gripping his hand tightly and looking into the woods. "Because that thing isn't dead, and it isn't even the worst of them. You won't make it to the border."

"How about an explanation?" He asked instead. "Could you promise me that?"