A booming voice below -- not Lord Briarwood's voice, but one that sounds not quite human -- is shouting Stand down all of you, or she dies. A much smaller voice is sobbing and pleading no, Mama, no; an older voice cries out in pain and a young man shouts hoarsely, for Pelor's sake, he's an old man, you don't have to -- and cuts off with the sound of a blow.

Cassandra's still shaking like a leaf. "Captain H-Holbrook's down there," she whispers, "but m-maybe Captain Addisleigh, we could -- we could try the barracks --"