Not if the city of Hossberg itself is being held hostage. I...there was another that we had attempted to rescue. A woman named Hilde, who was handmaid to the prince and his family, and had ciphered papers for us. Alistair and the others caused a distraction so that she could slip away...but unknown to us and herself, Hilde was tagged by an enchantment activated if enough distance was put between her and her handler. When that happened, she...exploded.

Bluntly put, I would not be surprised if similar measures were taken for the city as a whole.