Eagle in the Mathilde Sky

Screams of agony filled the northern region of Mathilde, the dead falling to the ground on both Mathilde's and Helferich's sides.

Oil barrels with lit fuses shot into the city, creating multiple explosions and devastating fires that could not be stopped by the water haulers from the wells. Not only did the soldiers fall victim, but so did the city folk. Children and women were trapped in the fires and burned to ashes.

Noah fumed, realizing he was in a real bind in this situation. He couldn't order his soldiers to retreat because that would be the same as allowing Helferich to continue destroying the city. However, the capacity of Mathilde's soldiers seemed far different from Helferich's.

Mathilde's troops were overwhelmed by Helferich's 50,000 soldiers, plus the three trebuchets that kept throwing rocks into the city. Mathilde's soldiers were torn between fighting and worrying about their families in the city.