"What was that?" Aldric turned in tandem with Azrael towards the source of the disturbance, their senses attuned to the disruption in the air.
"I'll find out," Azreal declared, standing still as a sudden heaviness settled around him. Aldric watched as a raven materialized from Azreal's body, its loud caw echoing through the space before it flew off to spy on their unexpected visitors.
Azreal's eyes glazed over, becoming distant, and his voice took on an eerily calm tone as he revealed, "There are a band of witches at the entrance, and by the look of things, they don't seem happy."
"What do they want?" Aldric asked, his gaze never leaving Islinda, who lay on the couch, her eyes closed in an effort to endure the magical procedure. Lilith stood over her, chanting her spell with an air of indifference, confident that Aldric and Azreal would handle any threats.If the spell failed, they would have to start all over again, and they didn't have much time left.
