When the Legate and some of his men entered the castle, Ana was forced to stay behind. Not because she feared what would happen if she didn't, but out of common sense. And the fact that she didn't know a spell for invisibility. A small smile formed on her face, remembering the words of one of the elves back at the College. "What? You can see me?" Always brought a smile to her face whenever she remembered the shocked look on his face when she'd told him his spell hadn't worked for the upteenth time. And he was supposed to be the Illusion teacher!

With no other options, she back away from the castle, and stood on the outskirts of the crowd of soldiers, amidst those civilians that would have questioned them. But, each time they got near the troops, there was always a robed woman gently pulling them back, and muttering something about the soldier's needing to be left alone. Many would attempt to ignore her, and she'd let them, but then a legionnaire would shoo them away, often harshly, and tell the crowd to leave them be. Of course, not a minute later another would question another soldier, and it would start again.

The mage found herself a bench, and sat, lounging as best she could on the frigid wood. Her hands cupped together, and a small flame appeared between them. Despite its size, the warmth emitting off of it was enough to be felt several feet away. After a few moments, someone plopped down on the bench next to her. Ana's head turned slightly, the fabric of her hood rustling, and she was able to just make out an older soldier, vaguely familiar. His hair had grayed, and his beard was thinner, but she recognized the old soldier, if not able to remember his name.

After a few moments of silence, he spoke. "Fancy meeting an old legionnaire here," he said, not looking in her direction.

"Odd to meet a legion this far north," she responded, leaning forward over her flame. "What're you all doing here?"

"Not supposed to say, might cause a panic among the people."

"I am not the people. I'm just an old war veteran."

He scooted closer to her, and then leaned in, his breath making the side of her hood hot. "The Imperial City fell," he whispered, hardly audible even to her. "Monsters came from the sky, and every one of us that died only got back up to attack us."

"Necromancers?"

"I don't know. You'll have to ask the Legate when he's done with the Count. He probably doesn't even know."

She nodded, and the man moved back to a comfortable distance, and they sat in silence, enjoying the warmth that she was providing.