"Oh, I've always been fine on my own." 

There's something vaguely off about the way Camellia said that but whatever, it's probably not important right now. 

It doesn't take long before everyone is ready to leave. Next stop is dropping Aranka off at the temple of Desna with Ramien, followed by finally getting back to the Defender's Heart to deliver the intelligence from the Tower of Estrod to Anevia. 

(Lusilla is, like, aware, that reporting back to Sister Kerismei is still hanging over Woljif, but they have in fact been gone for A While and she doesn't want Seelah or the others to worry.)

When they're almost to the temple--just at the other edge of the square--a figure in even worse-fitting armor than the cultists at the library had approaches them. 

"Aranka!" he says, quietly but urgently. "You're okay!" 

"Well, you can have this back now," Lusilla says, taking off Aranka's shawl and handing it back to her. 

"Thanks," Aranka says, putting the shawl back on. "Thall, I'm so glad you're okay--Lusilla," she nods to the woman in question, "says the demons have control of the Wardstone, and the situation is even worse than it was before--they need our help." 

"Ilkes is probably hiding somewhere near the temple, so that's where we're going next," Aranka adds. 

"It's good to meet you." 

"Thanks. You too." 

They make sure to avoid the place where Hulrun was last seen, on the way to the temple of Desna, which does unfortunately mean having to deal with some ghouls. Fortunately, Daeran continues to be REALLY USEFUL, because apparently positive channeling hurts undead. 

"You didn't know that?"

"Druids can't channel. I'd never met a cleric, or a whatever Daeran is, until I got here. And we didn't have any undead lurking around at home. The fairies kept them away." 

"Is that even an improvement?" 

"Well, I dunno, but it does mean I know more about fairies than the undead." 

"Fair enough.*" 

*In Taldane, this is not homophonous with "Fairy nough"

And then they make it...to...

...Hulrun's men are surrounding the temple of Desna. 

That's not good. 

"Oh no," Aranka hisses. 

Lusilla follows Aranka's gaze. 

One of the inquisitors is holding onto a guy she doesn't recognize, who, however, is very obviously wearing a Desnan butterfly. 

"Is that Ilkes?" she asks quietly. 

Tight nod. 

Well, that's really bad. 

...She can't see Ramien anywhere. Or Hulrun. 

"Dànpiàn, would you check inside the temple to see if Hulrun and/or Ramien are inside?"

"Certainly." 

And she changes shape and scurries off. 

She's back after not too long. "Yes. Both of them," she reports. She doesn't elaborate further. Ramien didn't look like he was going to die in the next few minutes and it would be bad if Aranka went charging in without a plan. 

Ohhhh boy. Oh boy this is not good. 

"Just checking, does anyone here want to suppose that Hulrun being here implies that he has broken free of a demon's Suggestion, and will now be easier to reason with." 

Not only does nobody want to suppose this, Daeran actually laughs at it. 

Yeah fair enough. 

"Okay. I think our biggest strategic advantage right now is the fact that Hulrun and his men don't know anything about my other form." 

"I don't know if that will be enough..." 

"Yesterday, he said he had fought a Nabasu, and didn't look very well. He may be feeling better today, but even if so, he may not be all the way better."