30

VIII

KEITH Galian, admired.

The king gave a decree put up for sale a ducat paying 1 gold coin a month to the soldiers. Baimei from his new throne laughed heartily, they sent him to bathe, they paid 5 gold coins a month. For each soldier of the king who fell under the edge of their weapons, the countess would pay 20 gold pieces.... If a battle would be won each soldier with 10 water buffaloes would pay. The worst thing was that everyone knew it was true. Baimei did not offer. Baimei kept every letter of his words, for better or worse.

So then, the Duchess Countess had soldiers to spare.

Although the strategy was designed by Baimei; the chief strategist appointed Keith Galian, the Mongol, desperate to fight ahead, placed Igor with his hammer, the catapult he took away from the sons of the desert, in a strategic place.

The king's soldiers were coming along the royal road. And from the mountains they began to hear.