"He means to draw them away!" Verdant shouted over the clamour of battle. The Idris man's breath was already coming in heavy. He was finding these men just as difficult as they'd expected to. Oliver doubted that their momentum would have lasted all the way to the centre.
"I will join you, Patrick!" Lombard declared. "But I can only go as far as the base of the tower before I will have to return."
"That is good enough for me, Captain," Oliver replied. "Blackthorn, with me – stay close, and stay ready. Firyr, Jorah, Verdant – we're counting on you to pave the way forward!"
"I've energy enough for another week of fighting!" Firyr declared, his eyes blazing. From the way he moved, Oliver didn't doubt it. He had the distinctive energy of a man that was full of potential. He was still bathing in the glow of his recently passed Boundary, intoxicated on the sensation.
