Entering Battle

We encroached upon the tower within the mountain several hours after waking and trekking across the land. The mountain had been carved away leaving a tall thin tower peaking from its top. The closer we got to it the more putrid the smell began to be. When we were still a safe distance my father and Aurelius debated tactics, Aurelius use to being in charge of an army, not quite understanding my father's instinct to take control of whatever was going on within his kingdom.

After a few moments, my father trust his sword into the ground. "This is what we will be doing." He barked. "The dragons will go first, being able to take out more then the rest of us can. The griffin will then follow behind, able to snatch them up and make a pathway. Merlin, my wife, and I will then proceed, taking care of what we can. I have no doubt that there will be more than we can all take down right away, so when that time comes you and my daughter will continue on, and you will not stop until you find Nequior and kill him." My father's voice and stature was hard and rigid; just as Aurelius' was.

"Yes, sir." Aurelius yielded.

Merlin, who had been fairly quiet during the tension, slipped away to give the instructions to the dragons and griffin who rested behind us. When he returned he looked to father. "On your command."

Father then lifted his sword into the air and cried, "Anguis!" Instantly an army of eleven dragons raged over head into the fog that had begun to sink. Hundreds of Nequam began to spring up out of the ground and the tower's doorway, covering the ground in an almost solid coat of black. The dragons set fire to the mass, and a few swooped down, tearing at their limbs, but were quickly being overwhelmed by the hoard of demons. My father then raised his sword once more and cried, "Gryphi!" Nine griffin then filled the sky, some swooping down upon the Nequam instantly, others dropping rocks from the nearby area. The numbers had dwindled down to about half now, and my father looked to us. "This is it." He whispered just loud enough for it to be heard over the roar of the battle. "Make it count." He took my mother's hand briefly, touching it to his face, and then they and Merlin were charging into the fray.

"Make every second count." Aurelius said, looking into my eyes.

"Every second." I echoed.