Under the watching eyes of the small and medium tribes, the forces of the two great tribes gradually receded into the distance.
Slowly, other thoughts began to stir among the members of those smaller tribes. Their initial excitement faded, giving way to worries about the future. They had no idea whether their tribes could actually take the fortress before them.
Their chieftains, however, were still brimming with excitement. They intended to send the entire army into action as soon as the feast ended, determined to capture the fortress.
At noon, once everyone had finished lunch, the tribal chieftains mustered their warriors and began advancing toward the fortress.
The fortress garrison had actually noticed the commotion in the Barbarians' camp earlier and immediately reported it to James, but he had no idea what those large Barbarian forces marching away were doing.
James did not believe the Barbarians were withdrawing. Instead, he suspected a trick and ordered the garrison to remain vigilant, stay on guard, and ensure the fortress's defenses held.
Sure enough, when the Barbarians attacked again, James concluded that the earlier departure might merely have been a diversion. He immediately ordered his troops to defend the fortress strictly.
Just as the two sides faced off, poised to plunge into battle at any moment, great clouds of dust began rising from the grasslands on the side of the fortress away from the Barbarian army, to the southwest. One glance was enough to tell that a large force was on the march.
Although the direction was wrong, both the Barbarian troops and the fortress garrison assumed it was the Barbarian force that had just departed. Everyone found it very strange.
The small and medium Barbarian tribes could not understand why Heshima had brought his troops back, while the fortress defenders took it