How much more muscle can you give Fuad?

Not much. Maybe three hundred men.

Hardly enough.

Then hope that my messengers get lucky.

Two days later Megelin saw Sebil el Selib for the first time. He was surprised. He had been hearing about it for eight years. He had built a mental picture that only vaguely resembled reality.

How easy it is to destroy, he told Haroun. You see what your uncle has done? In a few days hes undone the labor of years.

Fields had been ruined. Hillside terraces had been undermined and allowed to collapse. Fuads men were still forcing their prisoners to destroy, daring the inmates of the two fortresses to try stopping them. Fuad was saving the vast barracks-city east of the new fortress to become a burning greeting for Nassefs return.

Radetic studied the situation for several hours. Then he located Fuad and asked, Is El Murid here?

Went with Nassef. To preach to new converts. He left his family, though. Theyre in the New Castle.

Radetic glanced at the huge fortress. We couldnt take that. The old stronghold we might. We can pound it a little, anyway. If we can come up with the lumber to build siege engines.

Fuad found the lumber in the barracks.

Radetic gathered the Wahligs officers. We probably wont have time for much before Nassef returns, he told them. But we wont get anywhere if we dont try. Those men had been involved in the war so long that other ways of life now seemed alien. What the Wahlig wants is a low-risk assault on these fortifications. Were likely to have little luck with the New Castle. Its up to modern standards and its in good repair. The old castle isnt. Itll be our primary target.

Well build a variety of siege engines, beginning with trebuchets and mangonels. Well start gathering suitable stones, lumber and so forth, right away.

Well work on the old castle wall a few yards to the left of the barbican. Thats a recent addition, and they weakened the wall during construction.

Ill want to keep several things going at once. Especially some obvious practice with scaling ladders, turtles, rams and siege towers. Well build the turtles right away and bunch them in the meadow as close to the old castle as we can. Well use them to conceal the head of a mine well run under the weak section of wall. Well dispose of the earth at night.

Radetics siege strategy was extensive. It would require every available body, including Fuads prisoners. But as he revealed it, the faces of Yousifs officers darkened. He was asking warriors to do the work of slaves. It was beneath their dignity. He considered their hostile faces. Haroun, he whispered, fetch your father.

The Wahlig did his convincing for him.