At the edge of the forest, Ashlynn stood next to Constable Daithi, silently watching the assault on the Summer Villa unfold. Captain Ipiktok's men had already broken the gate portcullis, but they were too large to easily batter down the inner gate on the far side of the gatehouse.
Rather than attempt to squeeze through, Ipiktok's team of Tuscans were hurling the ram at the inner gate before dragging it back with heavy chains, only to hurl it yet again. The inner gate wouldn't break as quickly as the portcullis had, but Ashlynn estimated that it would still only be a matter of minutes before the Golden Eyed skirmishers of the Black Wolf Brigade would charge through the gap. Already, they had gathered at the gate, ready to charge in as soon as there was a large enough break in the gate.
Suddenly, a deep anguished roar sounded from within the walls of the Villa, shaking the trees of the forest and startling several birds into flight.
