As expected, the Queen's earlier defiance soon gave way to fear. She swallowed before lowering her eyes.
"Step. Back."
The shrikes' eyes widened, and they screeched in defiance, yet a single piercing screech from their Queen made them stiffen.
Reluctantly, they began parting, opening a path.
Zephyrion turned toward the cadets.
"In formation."
They snapped out of their shock and hastily nodded.
Soon, they gathered into tight formations of thirty. Kaelion, Kaiden, Fiona, Nedra, Draven, Lucien, and several other Calderalth and capable cadets took the lead of each.
The outer cadets formed large metal shields, encasing their groups, while those behind them forged long metal spears. The inner cadets, meanwhile, formed metal whips and each took several blazing logs from the bonfire.
Like that, they slowly advanced through the path formed by the shrikes. Lumi coldly nudged the Queen forward, and they followed close behind.
