Yes, down the stairs.

You swiftly turn from your former attackers, charging down the stairs at the end of the hallway.

Directly into a room filled with women wearing the same surcoats as the three you faced upstairs.

You count five of them, and though all of them wear the same clothing, one among them stands out. She is the largest woman you have ever laid eyes on, easily standing at six foot six, and built like a bear, all thick muscle and sturdy bones. she wields a hefty battle-ax and a circular shield, contrary to her four companions, who carry swords only.

It seems that your surprise is greater than theirs, as before you have a chance to act, all of them, save for the big one, move to attack you.

You snap to your senses just fast enough to raise your shield against a stab meant for your throat.

Another woman strikes at you from your right, and you parry it away, only for her to twist to the side, revealing another woman, poised to strike. You manage to get your sword up fast enough to keep the stab from hitting your heart, but not to keep it from hitting you. The blade pierces your left shoulder, and remains lodged their for a moment. you capitalize on this moment, violently raking your sword across your attacker's chest. you feel flesh part beneath your attack, and as you pull your sword back, blood splashes across your face. the woman who stabbed you slumps to the floor, dead.

One down.

You need some space, some room to move. the woman attacking your shielded side has been joined by another, and the woman attacking your sword arm isn't letting up. you decide to change that.

You take a quick half step toward the two women that you have been holding at bay with your shield.

seeing her opportunity, the woman on your right moves closer to stab at your neck. As she does, you swiftly maneuver your sword to point at her belly. You see her realize her mistake and try to stop, but she is not fast enough, and her own momentum carries her onto the tip of your blade. her attempt to correct herself pushes her sword off target, and instead of piercing your neck, it rakes along your upper back, leaving a long, deep cut, but nothing life-threatening. With a quick motion, you remove her impaled body from your sword, and return to the fight at hand.

A swift bash of your shield brings the nearest woman to the ground, and while she is down you kick her companion square in the chest, taking her off her feet and into a nearby wall. She impacts with a crack, and lies still.

The woman you hit with your shield is swiftly finished by a furious stomp on the back of her neck. you can hear her spine break as your foot impacts.

You whirl to face the large woman, but are surprised to find her, of all things, clapping.

"A fine show" she proclaims, her rough voice confirming her as the other woman in your cell. "You are quite the specimen, my mistress will be pleased." You think you hear a smile in her voice, but her helmet keeps you from being able to see her face, making her intentions hard to read.

"I will offer you a deal," She continues, after a short pause. "You go back to your cell, and we forget that this ever happened, and you can live out the rest of your life as a happy, well-treated ****."

"And if I refuse?" You ask, your voice raw. "What then?"

"Then," She replies patting her axe "I do what one must do to a rabid dog."