Pope Clement and Commander Nadic quickly laid out the topographic scrolls, their fingers trembling slightly as they pointed out the jagged, narrow ridges of the southern pass.
Julian memorized the terrain lines with a quiet, intense focus, his mind calculating how the demonic vanguard would funnel through the mountain.
Once the primary deployment routes were marked, Julian raised his eyes from the parchment.
"We will move to the Sacred Vats and begin the baptism as soon as the priests complete the alignment," Julian stated, his tone brooking no argument. "But before we step onto that field, we need to eat. A starved soldier is a useless shield."
Nadic bowed his head, quickly leaving the war chamber alongside the Pope to oversee the heavy iron transport.
Julian, Alaric and Lucius also made their way out, heading to Julian's room.
