Ben heard shouting from the vague direction of outside, though the fog made it impossible to see what was going on. Although one of the voices sounded rather young and feminine to be of any real use in the situation, it did seem like someone was trying to deal with the troll out there — and being devoid of magic as he was, he was more than happy to play chivalrous rescuer inside while someone else did all of the actual heroism.

The girl that he'd approached seemed to be in need of some chivalrous rescue, too, because she still hadn't gotten up off the ground, and had barely replied to his question. "Well, you can't stay here," he pointed out, crouching to put his arms around her waist and hoisting the petite young woman up onto his chest. "Hold on, I'll get you out of here."

Where he was planning on taking her, he had no idea, but it was clear that anywhere would have been better than in the middle of the rapidly evolving chaos of the shop.