Jonas couldn't say that he was happy with this development. However, it was definitely better to know about this problem before they encountered it rather than after. Especially one that was already so formidable that it nearly killed one of their group. And that was when there was just one of these creatures. This time there was four.
Given they were in completely different circumstances now, not being in that dungeon, but Jonas still had a bad feeling about it. He quickly scanned the area around them, looking for anything that could potentially be a problem. Although, it would help if he had any clue as to what to look for.
He was almost done with his scan when he saw people coming out of the window that they'd exited the manor from as well. While he worried at first that it might be the doppelgangers, he relaxed when he saw that it was more than four people coming out.
No matter how formidable the doppelgangers were, they at least couldn't slpit into multiple entities like any singel cell organism could. Which meant that while there might be a doppelganger among them, he still couldn't be sure that they weren't holstile towards them.
It felt oddly convenient that this group would be coming out the window that they'd used just a little bit ago. He knew there was a chance that it was the grop of people who stayed to help Kim, but Jonas couldn't say what the chances of them finding that window open were. After all, he hadn't said anything to Kim or those who stayed with her about even how to find that window. Just that he had an alternate way of getting out of there.
Jonas sighed as the men who were coming out of the window started heading towards the gate. Jonas wasn't happy about fighting so many people, but when circumstances demanded it, he knew he wouldn't be able to debate about it. Reality, sadly, just didn't work that way. No matter how much politician's would try to argue otherwise.
"What is it Jonas?" Jonas heard Elmo ask.
Jonas glanced at Elmo, a little surprised that he'd noticed a change in him. He'd pegged Elmo to be less observant that he was proving to be. Maybe the kid deserved a little more credit than he'd initially given him.
"We have incoming," Jonas replied, then stopped. He saw some of the people coming out of the window starting to help others out as well. "Hold on. Something else is happening."
He could see that those who were now being helped out of the window clearly weren't armed or anything. He couldn't say what it was about the change in the situation, but he suddenly felt less threatened by the approach of those who had come through the window. A few were still heading their way while a large mass of people were continuing to come through the window.
Jonas felt a little stunned at the amount of people. When it stopped, it wasn't an enormous amount of people, but it could easily be close to a hundred or two. Jonas couldn't say for sure where this amount of people had come from, but he was inclined to give them the benefit of the doubt now.
Another thought suddenly came to Jonas. That if this was the group that had been with Kim, then this sudden mass of people could explain how they became aware of the open window.
"What is it?" Elmo asked.
Jonas couldn't help but wish that he could either share his Shadow Sight with the rest of his group or that they could get something like it. If that could happen, then at least he wouldn't have to essentially be their only guide in the dark.
"Well, the people coming out of the window now are being helped by the armed men who came through it first," Jonas answered Elmo. "I'm will to assume they're not hostile, but I can't say for sure right now."
"Is it Kim's group?" Elin asked, startling Jonas to realize she was still there. She'd been so quiet that Jonas had forgotten she hadn't left their prisoners. Maybe in case her healing was needed again.
"Maybe," Jonas said when he was able to calm his heart down a bit. "If it is, I just don't see her, but she could also be taking the rear guard of that group."
"We should go meet them," Elin said, sounding rather excited.
"We'll wait here for the moment," Jonas said. We can't be sure another threat won't appear. If it does, we'll be able to see it more easily here."
"What if the danger is inside the building?" Elmo asked.
"Then we'll find that out when nothing appears and we head towards the building," Jonas answered. While he was certain that was the best approach, he could tell that Elin and Elmo didn't agree with him. Then there was the part where he felt like he was missing something. He couldn't be sure what it was, but the feeling was there.
"What if the danger appears by them while we wait here?" Elin asked.
Jonas glanced at her and he had to take a moment to keep from laughing. Her face was so serious that it was clear she was trying to add weight or something to her words, but to him it just looked rather comical. If he laughed he was sure that she wouldn't take it very well and probably would be hardheaded enough to head straight back to the building, regardless of what he said or did after that.
When he was sure he wasn't going to laugh, he let out his breath before taking another one and answering her question. "The reason is that we can always say what might happen, but until it does we can't be sure what the best choice would have been. If we wait here we can see if something is coming from either corner of the building, or even from inside the manor."
"You mean, you can see," Elin grumbled.
Joans couldn't help but chuckle in response. Elin was right. He was the one who could see in the dark like it was day. While it was an advantage for them, it probably didn't help the rest of him team feel very good about it. After all, they were reliant on his vision, more than they probably liked. Not that Jonas could blame them. He was sure he wouldn't be happy if he was in their position either.
"The first of them will be close by in a minute," Jonas said, trying to give an estimate of how long it would take them to cover the rest of the distance between them in regards to how quickly they were moving.
"Why can't we go out to meet them?" Elin pouted.
"Because this way we'll-"
"Yeah, yeah," Elin snapped. "You said it already. So we can see what might come more easily or something."
Jonas looked at Elin. He couldn't be sure if there was something wrong with Elin or if there was another reason she was acting this way. He couldn't say that he'd seen her like this before, so he didn't have any frame of reference to work with in regards to how to get her to her usual self, but he wasn't sure what he could do about it either. Although, he suspected that it might have to do with Kim. Especially with how Elin had made her feelings about Kim quite clear already.
"Just be patient," Jonas urged. "You know Kim won't be that easy to take down."
"Who said anything about Kim?" Elin snapped, glaring at Jonas.
"No one said anything about her," Elmo said, but stopped as Elin shifted her glare to Elmo.
Jonas put a hand on Elin's shoulder. "I mentioned her because it's the only reason I can think of that you're so… on edge," Jonas had paused while he thought of the best way to put it so he wouldn't make things worse. "You should know better than us just how capable Kim is."
"Yeah," Elin said, not sounding as irritated as she had a moment before.
"And here they are," Jonas said, stepping forward to intercept the men who were approaching the gate. Or at least close to it, since they had veered a little to the side of where the gate actually was.
Jonas then walked over to them, until they became aware of his presence in the dark. "Who are you?" the one in the lead demanded.
"Just me, Saul," Jonas said, a little surprised at how easily he was able to recognize Saul's voice, when he'd only met him that morning.
"Jonas!" the next person call out, startling Jonas. It was another person he recognized from that morning: Lyle.
"So, I take it that you all found your way to the window with Kim?" Jonas asked, aware Elmo and Elin were just now catching up to him.
"Yeah, but she's still in there," Saul replied.
"Why?" Elin demanded.
"I'm not really sure," Saul answered. "I think there was something in there that she felt she had to take care of herself. I think she said that she'd deal with it on her own."
"What'd you see?" Jonas asked.
Saul shrugged. "It was too dark to see really. Just a couple of people who Kim said she'd hold off," he answered.
Jonas looked at the building. Maybe Elin had been right. He didn't have evidence of this, but he was sure the two Kim stayed to fight were doppelgangers. Which meant that there were two others. Even if they intended to just let Kim deal with it on her own, Jonas had a feeling they weren't going to let the first two deal with Kim on their own. Which meant they needed to get there and keep Kim from getting flanked.
"We're heading back," Jonas declared to Elmo and Elin. Then he quickly turned to Saul and Lyle. "The king and Lord Lance are here. Help them as best you can. We'll be back as soon as we're able to."
Saul and Lyle nodded and Jonas started jogging towards the manor with Elmo and Elin right behind him. This wasn't going to be an easy fight, Jonas was certain. Though, with all four of them together, he was sure that they'd be able to all survive, even if it was like the last battle they had with the goblins while dealing with the portal.