He stood perplexed while his company looked to him for further instructions.
"Damn!" he spat. "You," he said to the nearest elves, "get your fastest runners. Scout ahead in groups of two. Report back if you discover anything. The rest of you, let's march quickly and quietly. Keep your eyes and ears open for anything out of the ordinary."
As they moved down the road at a trot, they could see that the town was built right down to the docks. Nylandor's soldiers were moving quickly towards the town's centre.
They had reached the first buildings when a bell began clanging wildly in the town's centre. Moments later, black smoke began rising from somewhere in the middle of town.
"The alarm!" shouted Rhia, "they are sounding the alarm. The village is under attack."
The company moved swiftly at a run, though carefully, towards the sound of the bell. Soon they could hear shouting and the clash of arms.
Amrhost sent Rhia back to the ships with two men. "Tell Bix to watch who comes forth. If it's not us, tell him he must leave."
"He must aid you," cried Rhia.
"If we don't leave here, there will be no one to aid," he replied. "Now go! Get her out of here!"
Despite the danger, Rhia accompanied the two men back towards the ships only with the greatest reluctance.