Strong Enemies Attack

The early-winter wind howled more fiercely than in years past, carrying tiny grains of snow that lashed the vast but desolate Rhine Alliance encampment outside Florensburg.

The siege had dragged on without success. The defenders of the outlying blockhouses had been wiped out, and the fortifications captured. In a fit of rage, Rudolf launched repeated assaults on the city, and the fighting lasted from morning until noon the next day.

Florensburg's defenders suffered heavy casualties. Yulmand was wounded when Becher and Pfalz attacked him together.

Preben launched a surprise attack on Rudolf. Hegel managed to stop him, but the shaken Rudolf ordered a retreat. Their efforts came to naught, wasting vast amounts of supplies. Magic crystals were especially depleted, and ammunition, cannonballs, and medicine had also been lost in large quantities.

The atmosphere inside the king's tent was even colder than outside.

Rudolf was wrapped in a thick bearskin cloak, yet he still felt a piercing chill. Most of it came from deep within.

He stared at the supply list Count Pisto had presented and said irritably, "Pisto, this is the answer you have for me?"

"We have enough food for barely ten days, and we're almost out of magic crystals. How do you expect my army to take Florensburg?!"

Count Pisto looked ashen. Sweat beaded on his forehead as he bowed his head and said, "Your Majesty, please calm yourself! I... I have done everything in my power!"

"The roads to Red Waterwheel Village have been repeatedly harassed, and our supply convoys have suffered heavy losses... The nearby villages and towns... have already been stripped bare..."

The claim that they had been harassed was false. The truth was quite another matter.

Pisto thought of Sir Wright. When he had set out, Wright's forces had seized a large village to