Fendros wished he did not take a pause before responding, but he did. "I trust you. Let's work out the execution when we get there."

If there was any upside to the titan's arrival on the rightmost path, it was the titan's flames likely destroying the traps the other two paths had to face. However, no amount of optimism could make the consequences easier. Fendros went immediately towards their allies to try and spot his father Rossarm. Rossarm was directing his mages to join their wards in a broad barrier against the titan's breath while the other soldiers formed their confused ranks back up against the oncoming counterattack. Every one of the elite mages faced away would threaten their ability to push forward.

"Keep holding!" Rossarm barked out, his head dripping with sweat from exertion but showing no signs of losing his nerve. "The rest of you form for a joint lightning volley! And do not stop until my order!"

"Father!" Fendros edged leaps through the crowd.

Rossarm's crazed eyes snapped over to Fendros and Ahnasha.

"Ahna has a way to deal with the titan!" Fendros continued. "But we need it on the ground where she can reach it!"

Rossarm firmly shook his head. "Nonsense. It would physically tear our formation apart to get away."

Fendros hesitated, grit his teeth, and then decided now was not the time for falling back to old habits. "She'll take care of the rest as long as she can concentrate," he responded calmly. "Can you get the titan down here?"

For a moment, Rossarm's brow subtly loosened as if taken off guard. The way he looked to Ahnasha with questions in his eyes made it hard to tell whether he suspected Ahnasha's intentions or was genuinely surprised at Fendros' professional tone. Either way, he hesitated just long enough for another blast of cold fire to engulf the wards above them. Everyone flinched, but the ward held -- boosted by Fendros' own ward directed up to deflect and absorb the area around him.

Rossarm conceded. "Be ready to act. We shall bring it down for only a moment. Magi!" He raised his voice to his beleaguered subordinates. "New order! Those on lightning volleys form up for a ribbon net! At once and no later!"

"You ready?" Fendros asked Ahnasha behind him.