When Nicholas and Andreas had heard that Achil intended to face the Grimmer they tried to make representations to the King so that they might be allowed to go after him, unfortunately they had arrived too late, the King had refused to let them follow him down into the tunnels since they had no knowledge of them. Also he could not spare anyone, so instead he asked them to stand guard with him. When they reached the battlements they found the ramp now more than halfway finished. The Mandrake Imperial Guard were certainly efficient, protected from arrow shot and missile by a large wooden wall clad with shields from behind which they feverishly worked.