Stephen nodded. "That's exactly it. My people have been saying that there's dark magic here for ages. Their theory is that they couldn't have created the spell work as quickly and as efficiently as they did without it. If they'd had more time, then sure. So if they are right, it would be a shortcut, but I don't know for sure. It's not the time of accusation I want to make while we're stuck here. We might end up dead sooner rather than later."
He pondered the question for a moment. "I'm not assuming anything, but I doubt they were infiltrated. From the time the attack occurred to the moment the spell work went up, it was what... two days? Three? And besides, the wards were kept a secret. I don't discount the fact that someone might have already been there, but all in all, a shortcut is more likely."