If Anson and Vinnie have enough move to punch through with the bats and get to the column, do they not also have enough move (they have a few hexes left) by the sounds of it to make the lake?
Then the pliers could be used against the uncroaked warlords.

Additionally, Zandermussles might actually be in the dragon hex, but as a warlord, has the right to chose to fight the hex or retreat, after all that's what parson did with the dragons.