Barricade the door and wait for dawn

The fact of the matter is that you have no hope against even three or four of those unholy beasts that you see swarming out of the catacombs. You've heard the stories about the demons of the undercity who hunger for human flesh, but until this moment you never gave them much credence. What you've seen however can only be the a coordinated attack from monsters of legend.

What little you know about the demons that were sealed into the catacombs below the city, is that they are creatures of the night and the light of Helios will drive them back into their lairs. If that is true, you just have to hold out for the night, and then reevaluate when this first night has ended.

As you survey the drake tower you are joined by a small group of servants carrying a bewildering assortment of belongings and valuables. The steward had the initiative to have the kitchen slaves bring bags of food, amphorea of oil and wine and two large buckets of water. All together there are six women and three men, two of whom arrive with Europa and Junia, the two slaves you first met when they accompanied Relia to your quarters. These men are dressed in Rider's gear and when they see you they salute smartly as if you were some kind of officer.

"Who in Hades are you?" To your surprise you are starting to sound a little like many of the Wing commanders you've flown under.

"Niko and Yiannis, Sir." The older of the pair answers promptly. "We heard that you were a Rider, and figured we'd try our luck with you, Sir."

"Where are your drakes?" As soon as you ask the question, you realize that there is only one possible answer and you raise your hand to stop them before they have to explain.

"That's why we are here." Niko's youthful earnestness makes you smile, "we hoped that you would take us in - just until we could raise enough money to buy a hatchling. We'll be your men for life, Sir, if you take a chance with us." At the moment you need anyone who can fight and without any hesitation you put them to work. "Done. Once everyone's inside, barricade the lower doors. There are some bed-frames in the rooms upstairs and shelving too." As the two Riders start to work you gather the rest of the household in lower room of the tower to explain.

"The demons from the catacombs attacking the city." You tell them, and to their credit, they seem more willing to accept this nightmare than you had been. "As far as I can tell. the Citadel has been completely over-run and the monsters are coming up out of the river and the sewers too." Turning to Relia and Vitaliya who is clutching her baby tightly to her chest you send them to the top of the tower. "I want you two up in the drakeroost; keep watch and send word down quietly if you see anything." You see the uncertainty as they stare at you with wide eyes. "Go." You urge them on, "I'll be up to check on you as soon as I can." You consider telling Vitaliya to leave her son down here, but you're pretty sure that this is not the time."

It takes a while to brace the doors shut, especially as you try to do it without making too much noise. As you work, you explain that you hope to go unnoticed in this small tower and that silence is your best defense. Once satisfied that everyone understands, you leave the defense of the lower floor in the hands of your two new henchmen and head back up the narrow stairs to the the upper rooms. In the bottom room of the tower, the step circle around the outer walls, and provide no defense against the hopping toad-monsters, but for the next three floors, the steps are in a tight central spiral walled in and steep. If need be, a single man could hold back dozens of the creatures - until he was pulled down or overcome with exhaustion. The two small Rider rooms have been stripped almost bare and the windows are small enough that you doubt anything can crawl through. The roost where Swift is crouching and the door at the bottom of the tower will be the drake tower's two biggest vulnerabilities.

Upstairs you find Relia and Vitaliya, peering out into the half-light of the night. You still don't see any movement, but the distant screams make it clear that the threat is immediate and real.

"What's happening?" Relia presses her slender body tightly against yours as she searches for answers that you don't really have.