The master’s tent was indeed deserted, no one was seen around. Ymdaron entered, accompanied by the drumbeat coming from all directions at once.

“What brings you here, my warrior?” asked Azytenisar upon seeing him. Ymdaton was dumbstruck for several heartbeats. The face, the voice, the facial expression, the posture, gestures were all too familiar. He doubted for a moment, if he got mistaken somehow and here stood his true lord. He shook off the feeling quickly. He saw proofs, he would not fall for this trickery.

“I brought you a message from honored Lulaton,” said he.

“Why do they beat the drums?” asked knez.

“The troops are preparing to attack,” answered Ymdaton and offered a scroll to the man before him.

“Why is the distinguished warrior bringing the message and not the runner?”

“It is of utter importance. We could not risk it getting into the hands of the enemy. I guarded it.”

As Azytenisar reached to take the letter, Crewslayer suddenly struck the man under the chin with it. His dagger revealed itself, tearing out of the scroll and into shapeshifter’s head. The thing stumbled, letting out a beastial growl. The false knez tried to grab Ymdaton, yet the crewman was ready, severing the reaching hand with his axe. The doppelganger followed the limb that fell off with a gaze, then glancing at Crewslayer. Extensive decay was now visible around its eye sockets.

“I don’t want to see your true face, just die,” hissed the warrior at the monster, carving its skull open with his next swing. It tried to fight back, but Ymdaton was not halted by thrashing and only stopped when the shapeshifter was in too many pieces to move.

The warrior approached the back wall of the tent. He sliced it and glanced outside warily. It was empty, drums continued their beat. Hopefully no one has heard noises of the fight. He dragged the body outside and for the first time thanked fate for the recent blizzard. The snow helped him both to hide the corpse and clean himself of blood.

Crewslayer reported to Azumas and quickly set out on the ride back.

On his way Ymdaton was able to observe the battle against the blizzard giant again. The monstrous thing was still heading for the city, although now in a sluggish limping pace. Troops of Khladnetz kept it under constant hail of arrows. Crewslayer saw an enormous siege engine being dragged among ranks. It was as large as a house, hauled by several dozen bakhmats. It stopped soon and soldiers began loading in a painfully slow manner. He saw about a score of men rotating massive gears of the machine. After some time it was done and then the thing fired. It hurled a bolt which looked more like it was made out of a whole tree.

The projectile hit the giant into the neck. The monster staggered and then with a hissing roar fell to its hands and knees. Cavalry charged the helpless colossus. Yet as they rode close and readied their long lances, the monster stood up again, brushing the closest ranks of mounted warriors away with its hands. Poor riders and their steeds flew over fifty paces away as if they were ants being blown away by the wind. Again he felt a strong desire to join the desperate battle. What if Sumiaton lost here? Again Ymdaton reminded himself to trust in his lord’s decisions.

He found Azytenisar but a league away from Belosten gates alongside High Crew. Thirty steps to the left and to the right stood second and third crews, gathered in tight formations. Thirty steps away from them were fourth and fifth, with their shields also locked. All were armed with long spears. Behind the crews stood in rows drevlyani warriors, they ranks not wider than those of kinani ahead. Among them were full squads of archers who were constantly shooting at the gates. Ymdaton glanced there and saw forces of Khladnetz retreating, while countless enemies coming through the breach in fortifications pursued them.

“Do report,” uttered lord of Abeneewy.

“The doppelganger is eliminated, my lord,” answered Ymdaton, “I saw forces in the west dealing with a colossal spawn of the forest. I believe they will need reinforcements.”

“We got our hands full here. Besides, have faith in Sumiaton, even if you don’t like him. On my orders he was preparing for this situation since our arrival in Khladnetz. He will prevail in his battle, no matter how hopeless it could look. You are about to witness the strength of his knowledge right here. Take your place in the formation.”

Ymdaton bowed, armed himself with a spear and joined his brethren of High Crew. Soon the retreating force reached them and passed in the empty spaces between formations. Abimnupal, who was leading them, saluted Crewslayer with an axe.

Pursuers approached, some seventy steps away. There were too many of them. Enough to swipe even the best of kinani, a thought passed through Crewslayer’s head. That was going to be the direst battle of his life.

As soon as the last man of Abimnupal’s force passed by, Ymdaton felt the earth shake a little. Next moment the soil ahead split, deep trenches rapidly appearing. These pits were exactly as wide as a distance between kinani formations. They divided the recently flat ground into five narrow roads which started each at the feet of a crew. Many enemies fell into the landslide, others were caught on the remaining passages, their options reduced to moving forth or retreating.

“Advance!” yelled Azytenisar.

Crews projected their spears forward and began moving forward in a steady pace. There was just enough of them to completely cover the remaining strips of the high ground. Ymdaton glanced to the side and saw dead bodies piling in the pits. There was also a lot of wooden wreckage there, remnants of ingenious groundworks. Enemies used the sap to breach the walls. Their onslaught was shattered with the sap as well. The idea amused Crewslayer.

Soon two forces clashed. Foes who were pushing the attack just some moments before were confused now, meeting the attack of the shield wall. Crewmen pocked and pierced, killing foes and pushing them into the trenches. Difference in numbers meant nothing on such narrow passages, only resolution and bravery of those few who clashed. Slowly but surely Kinani pressed the attackers back. Drevlyani warriors supported them with bow and sling barrage over their heads.

Count of kills was always lost by Ymdaton when he fought in formation. It was a monotonous ugly task, like mincing the meat: stab to the joint, stab to the neck, push to the side, repeat. At some point he heard a thunderous roar in the distance. It was full of pain and frustration. Only one creature could have made a sound that loud. That meant that Sumiaton was successful at both battlefields.

They reached the wall finally. Enemies were escaping through the breach, their morale broken. Five crews joined ranks at the undamaged piece of ground just before the walls and together chased them out. Outside Crewslayer saw the chaos in enemy ranks. Those escaping from behind the walls stumbled into those who moved forth to reinforce them. The road upon which besieging forces stood was narrow for such a huge force, so they could not properly maneuver.

That was when Azytenisar unviled his next design. Two scores of steps away from the breach gates which were still intact opened. Out rode rank after rank of mounted drevlyani warriors. Ymdaton never saw their kind. Not only riders were heavily armored, but their steeds were also protected by coats of chainmail and plates upon their heads. These militiamen were armed with especially long swords or lances. They charged into the mass of the enemy and crashed them utterly.

“Support the cavalry, cleanse in their wake!” commanded Azytenisar.

That was where the true slaughter began. They were following the riders and slaying whoever survived the initial attack. Ymdaton was wielding his beloved axe again. He fought alongside High Crew. Them battling together was a rare and terrifying sight. He saw his comrades slay five and more enemies without assistance, tackle and beat to death champions, chase and strike down warlords alongside their bodyguard.

Ymdaton was trying to not get behind, his hands were sullied with blood of too many foes to count. They utterly broke the enemy, physically and spiritually. When forces of Khladnetz scourged half of their camp, foes broke into chaotic retreat, leaving their equipment and food behind. They were chased for several more leagues and then left alone to taste the fruits of their defeat.

And so was lifted the siege of Khladnetz.