The blazing sun hung high overhead.
Yet these werewolves, said in legend to appear only on nights of the full moon, were utterly unaffected. Their sharp claws dug into the rammed-earth walls as easily as cutting tofu, and they climbed with hands and feet alike.
Governor Rumi's bodyguard widened his eyes. "Lord Governor, these Tatars are practically monsters who sold their souls to the devil!"
Rumi raised an eyebrow. "What? Are you scared?"
The guard froze for a moment, then realized that although he was shocked, there was no real fear in his heart.
Under normal circumstances, who would not be terrified by such horrifying monsters assaulting the city? Only bodyguards like them, who had followed Rumi for years, could barely bring themselves to take up arms and fight.
As for the town militiamen who had been enlisted for less than half a month, they would be considered brave if they did not piss themselves on the spot.
Ashamed under Rumi's teasing gaze, the guard abruptly drew his sword and snapped, "Scared? Scared my ass! They're monsters, so we'll kill the bastards!"
Rumi smiled calmly and raised a hand. "Sound the horn. Let the Tatars have a taste of our war machines."
As the horns boomed, ballistae atop the two towers protruding from either end of the front wall were stripped of their camouflage and aimed at the werewolf vanguard waiting below to climb.
These were the only thirty giant bolt throwers in Huwayzeh's arsenal. Operated by mechanical winches, they required only two men each and possessed terrifying killing power.
It was said that more than a thousand such ballistae had been deployed atop the walls of Nishapur, which the Tatars had already breached, along with several hundred trebuchets. Relying on these war machines, Nishapur had held out for a