CHAPTER FIFTY FIVE

As the army prepared to leave its encampment and cross the river into Eujinni, messages were exchanged between Sigmar and Patra, his brother-in-law and exiled king.
Relations between the two men were formal; Patra, surrounded by his own noblemen, had maintained a separate establishment within the army, and although he occasionally allowed himself to be a guest at Sigmar's table, he preferred to act the part of a king in his own right, communicating with Sigmar via emissaries.
As a courtesy, Sigmar now offered him honorary command of the entire army, but was careful to avoid misunderstandings, and for two or three days emissaries hurried from one royal pavilion to another and then, on the eve of the crossing, and after the priests of Awarnhi had conducted a rite asking for the god's protection, he and Patra stood before the senior officers of the army and exchanged oaths of friendship. Sigmar handed Patra his sheathed two-handed sword, as a symbol of his authority, and as six horns were blown, Patra kissed it and buckled it on. Pointing at the bridge he shouted "Tomorrow I re-possess my kingdom. Loyal commanders, I charge you to do what is necessary!"
The following day the army crossed the bridge, and there was immediately another ceremony. Patra summoned Sigmar, made him commander-in-chief of the army and returned his sword.
Nothing had changed.
The Murak slavemasters, settlers, administrators and occupying troops retreated before the army as it advanced rapidly on the Eujinni capital of Sorrin. They burned the towns and villages which they abandoned, slaughtered the livestock and murdered the men and women who had slaved for them in their homes and in the fields.
It seemed at first that no one could have survived, but as the army moved forward people began to appear, emerging warily from their hiding places. They were emaciated and ragged, but more than food and clothes, they wanted revenge.
From the east, Sorrin is approached across a wide plain overlooked by a range of hills. The city is too distant to be seen from them, but there were rumours that if it was burning the smoke would be visible, and during the descent there was much pointing and straining of eyes towards the horizon. Chaldez was riding with a group which included Saminad and Vanchis, and he grew tired of their ceaseless speculations as to whether the Muraks had destroyed it. Sorrin had been a major disappointment to him; of its reputed grandeur he remembered almost nothing and he was indifferent to its fate.
The city eventually came into view, and it was not burning; the barbarians, it seemed, had decided to defend it.
Sigmar laid siege to it, and the Muraks, inspired by certain knowledge of their fate should it fall, were fanatical in their defence. Daily, soon after dawn, the city gates in one or other of the walls would open briefly to emit groups of assassins. The first two sorties cost the besiegers dear, having taken them by surprise. But the lesson was then learnt, and all the gates were kept under permanent watch. It made no difference. The squads continued to emerge at dawn, but now they rarely got more than a few paces before they were cut down.
Chaldez, who had invested several Karandi-held towns in Hizattia, supervised the building of a catapult, a siege tower and a battering ram. The ram, a tree trunk slung in a cradle and mounted on wheels, was manoeuvred into position by a company of men protected by a roof of shields. There was dull thud as it swung into the massive wooden gates, and Chaldez shivered with excitement. The sound brought back vivid memories of the Karandi war; good memories, for his battering rams had never failed. He knew that sooner or later the timber gates would begin to splinter.
While the men operating the ram did their work, another company pushed the siege tower near the city walls, and from its top, archers rained arrows on to the defenders. The catapult was also brought into operation, lobbing rocks over the city walls.
Once the gates began to break, they quickly disintegrated. The siege tower was pushed yet closer and then besiegers were swarming into the city.
Sigmar and Chaldez remained outside the walls. Regdag, spattered with blood, rode out to them.
"I'm having to kill women!" he exclaimed.
Sigmar scowled. "They fight like women?"
"They are women."
"All of them?"
Regdag hesitatd. "There are men," he admitted, "but I have seen no warriors."
Sigmar laughed, but not with amusement. "Idiot! The best fighting men are with Cregitzig and Jaejisir."
"Do we take prisoners?"
Sigmar shouted "My orders stand. No prisoners! I want every barbarian dead."
Regdag threw his sword to the ground. "I cannot do it," he said. "I'd rather die here at your hands. I'll have no part in murder."
To Chaldez's astonishment, Sigmar smiled. "Quite so, Regdag. Luckily not everyone has your scruples. Luckily for you because if they did, you would be dead," and he prodded the front of his jerkin with the point of his sword.
The army fell on the Muraks with the fury of a storm, and by the end of the day the massacre was all but complete. Four survivors alone remained. Sigmar had ordered their capture early on. They were brought to him, and pointing north he said "That's where your armies are. Go and tell your generals what I have done."
They were released, and uncomprehendingly scuttled away in the direction he had indicated.
Sigmar ordered the temples to Histigga, the Murak god, to be destroyed, he installed Patra in what remained of the royal palace, and continued his march, leaving behind a small personal bodyguard for the restored king of Eujinni.

* * * *