Ronan and the others ate a little in silence, then took up their respective positions. Ronan's greatsword had been thrown away outside the castle as a weapon, so he now leaned against the wall with the Starfall Katana in hand. Two Templar Knights and three Terra soldiers stood behind him.
The battering ram hammered relentlessly against the castle gates, each impact seeming to strike Ronan and the others directly in the heart. More than half an hour later, with a sharp crack and cheers from the enemy army, the gates were finally smashed open.
The mixed-race enemy force cheered as it surged into the castle, then scattered in search of Ronan and the others hiding inside.
Hearing the commotion outside, Ronan knew the enemy would find them soon. The castle was not large, after all. He straightened up, took several deep breaths, and closed his eyes to steady himself. Then he gripped the katana with both hands before his chest, its blade straight and parallel to the centerline of his body, his feet spread one before the other in a ready stance.
Soon, amid hurried, chaotic footsteps, several Snow Bear Clan barbarians rounded the corner and spotted Ronan's group waiting in formation in the corridor. After shouting, "They're here!" they charged forward, axes and shields raised.
Ronan turned aside to evade a barbarian's downward axe strike, then pressed close and drove his right elbow backward with force, throwing him off balance. The Templar Knight behind him showed no mercy, thrusting a longsword into the man's neck while he staggered.
He parried another Snow Bear soldier's battle axe. With a slide and twist of his katana beneath the groove below the axe blade, he disarmed the soldier and sent the battle axe flying. He then smashed the hilt into the man's