“Back
up,” Timenall warned and followed the order with a shove of his wing. “They’ll
see you.”
The
hybrid and his dragon allies were stationed all along either side of the rim of
the canyon the Varda were about to enter. The plan was to separate the caravan
into smaller units so the human’s couldn’t put up a unified defense. Last night
the dragons placed large boulders in the path that the Varda would need to
navigate around and over in single file. As this broke up the line of the
caravan the dragons would push some even larger, strategically placed boulders
down the canyon walls. At the opposite end of the canyon the dragons blocked
the exit totally with boulders and fallen trees. The Varda would not be able to
see it until they rounded the curve in the canyon. By that time it would be too
late. There would be nowhere to run and no way to drive the cage full of
hatchlings through.
Once the
humans were separated Farloft and Melozzo would swoop in and grab the cage of
hatchings. While they were winging them to safety the other dragons intended to
wreak as much havoc on the Varda as possible. Timenall, being the smallest of
them, and the one the gryphon colony members knew, would work on releasing them
to join in the fight.
It was
not a flawless plan, but it was the best they could come up with in the short
time they had before the caravan entered the canyon, which they all agreed was
the best place to ambush it. Though Farloft thought it an exceptionally well
thought out attack, Timenall, being older and a lot wiser, knew they would not
make it out of this without casualties. He just hoped they were few and it did
not become an all out slaughter. He knew what Ram was capable of and if the man
was pushed too far, he might just turn on his captives out of spite.
“Get
down,” Timenall ordered as he saw the first Varda leading a heavily packed
gryphon.
Farloft
tucked his wings tightly to his sides and flopped down on his belly, scrunching
himself flat, just his horns, golden eyes and nose above the rim of the cliff.
It was
agonizing to watch the slow progress of the caravan. All the gryphon looked
exhausted. For creatures that usually flew and glided effortlessly in the air,
being over burdened and made to walk for almost a week had beaten them down
into a submissive posture. Their heads hung and their paws drug.
Timenall
waited for the string of Varda, each leading a gryphon, to pass below them. The
first part of the caravan got past the two large boulders spaced out along the
trail, but the cage was too wide to pass the second boulder in their path. The
human’s stopped to discuss what to do. Timenall and the dragons could see hands
waved in agitated discussion. The hybrid could not believe their luck when the
Varda began to unhook the pair of adult gryphon from the cage they were
pulling. The rest of the train of men and gryphon began to spread out in a long
string, any minute the first would be around the bend and spot the blocked
exit. They had to move now.
“Ready?”
Timenall whispered to Farloft.
Farloft
grinned in agreement.
“Go!”
the hybrid said and nudged the young dragon with his wing.
Farloft
rose to his full height, let out a deafening roar that echoed off the walls of
the canyon. He launched himself at the cage and was pleased to see the
surprised humans running for cover. As he plummeted toward the cage he saw Melozzo
drop from the other side of the canyon to meet him.
Timenall
screeched a call to attack!
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