A few threw down their arms and with sheepish looks passed through
the gateway into the palace, and with the example of these to
bolster their courage others joined in the desertion from the old
chieftain of the north, but staunch and true around him stood the
majority of his warriors and when the last weakling had left their
ranks Ja-don voiced the savage cry with which he led his followers
to the attack, and once again the battle raged about the palace
gate.
At times Ja-don's forces pushed the defenders far into the palace
ground and then the wave of combat would recede and pass out into
the city again. And still Ta-den and the reinforcements did not come.
It was drawing close to noon. Lu-don had mustered every available
man that was not actually needed for the defense of the gate within
the temple, and these he sent, under the leadership of Pan-sat,
out into the city through the secret passageway and there they fell
upon Ja-don's forces from the rear while those at the gate hammered
them in front.
Attacked on two sides by a vastly superior force the result was
inevitable and finally the last remnant of Ja-don's little army
capitulated and the old chief was taken a prisoner before Lu-don.
"Take him to the temple court," cried the high priest. "He shall
witness the death of his accomplice and perhaps Jad-ben-Otho shall
pass a similar sentence upon him as well.
Pages:
357
358
359
360
361
362
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
381