Marquis Serje's preparations were thorough. It wasn't just that there was a risk of the territory being attacked; he understood too well the reasons behind this crisis.
A dragon hatchling died within the castle. Their goal is almost certainly this castle!
He wouldn't have been surprised if the dragons had abandoned the commanders to fly directly into the castle. And the marquis's intuition was correct.
The dragons sought vengeance for their lost young. They wanted to set the castle ablaze, and as soon as they had the opportunity, they attacked.
"Fire! Shoot everything! Even if you miss, keep them from getting close!"
The dragons shrieked, but the marquis fended them off with near-maniacal determination. As a result, the dragon was unable to withstand the hail of catapult stones, ballista bolts, and arrows and had to retreat.
As it circled in the sky, the dragon caught sight of its dying kin below.
