Walker got the party ready. Alice was already at his side. She knew that she would be able to make more difference at a village being terrorized than here. There were so many healers that they wouldn't need much more.
The mages they had in other groups had been taken from the walls and it was clear that the other armies would be catching up soon. But Walker decided that the groups that could move forward, should. Reinforcement groups could be sent along the spiderweb of routes made later.
These routes took in to account multiple villages. They were set up to be able to move the groups to whatever village was being held captive by powerful demons or enemies. This would allow them to move to each other on single notice. Perfect for reinforcing and freeing village after village.