Bartolo missed blocking a revenant's sword and felt fire in his arm as the blade tore into his fading armoursilk. Beside him he heard Shani's scream, a sound he never wanted to hear from the woman he loved. Turning, he saw her, high in the air in an avenger's grip. "No," he cried weakly. Tears ran down his cheeks as he saw the avenger's black sword rising.

Bartolo prepared to leap forward. He knew he wouldn't be quick enough, but he would destroy the creature that ended Shani's life.

Suddenly Bartolo heard a rumbling sound from all directions and felt the ground heaving beneath his feet. Were the walls falling down? What else could make such a sound?

Clarions sounded behind the enemy's lines. The avenger dropped Shani; she fell heavily to the earth, but she was alive.

"They're regrouping," Jehral gasped. "I don't know why."

As the enemy drew back into the gate and once more formed up ranks, the rumbling grew louder, and Bartolo turned around and looked at the hills surrounding the city.

It was the most beautiful sight he had ever seen.

61

61

ROGAN Jarvish and seventy thousand men from Altura, Halaran, Loua Louna and Torakon had marched for two days and two nights. They were exhausted but they were determined, and they were ready to fight.

"Are you sure?" Marshal Beorn asked.

"I'm sure," Rogan said. "There's a time to lay plans, and there's a time to roll the dice and join the battle. The gate is open, but the Hazarans are nearly done for. Proper battle order will have to take second priority. Marshal Scola has the left flank, Beorn you have the right. I'll take the centre. Call the men to arms immediately."

Heralds ran along the lines and messengers dashed to and fro. Rogan had hardly finished speaking when he heard the clarions, and then the thumping of the colossi drowned all other noise as they took positions up front.

Down below the enemy were starting to realise their grave danger. Some astute commanders were pulling the warriors back and reforming ranks, but Rogan intended for them to be too late.

Rogan drew his zenblade as he faced down the hillside at the city of Seranthia. "Let it end here, today," he whispered.

To the left the Alturan heavy infantry were formed up with Torak spearmen and Halrana pikemen, and the thousand Dunfolk archers stood side-by-side with their taller allies. There wasn't time to separate the men into their divisions, and in a way Rogan found the idea of them all fighting together somehow fitting.

To the right were Halrana animators and the ironmen they controlled, mixed-up with Alturan archers armed with rail-bows and the youngest, newest of the recruits, most of them farmers who had never held a sword.