Then, things went badly wrong. Crazed by magic mushrooms and an overdose of firewater, the painted man pranced forward, slashing at friend and foe alike. Two of Tom's men were cut down. He reined in his horse and shouted to the warriors, on the other side of the creek, telling them to go to the aid of the princess.
It was a fateful move.
He merely alerted a band of Morgon's troops.
He'd seen them earlier, galloping to and fro, heads stuck out over their Sun God shields, peering in all directions. The well-disciplined band of bronzed young men reeled their horses when they heard him. Tom watched in impotent horror as they sped towards Adrina, grey military cloaks streaming out in the breeze.
His men were battling to protect the princess as the assassins regained the initiative. One after another they were struck down. Adrina's shield was knocked from her. An arrow struck her in the breast and she collapsed into the mire.
The end seemed near.
One of the assassins leapt from his horse.
He grabbed Adrina by the hair and forced her neck back. But, before he could deliver the fatal cut, a spear struck him in the neck. Others followed ... delivered by young men in the grey.
For a moment all was confusion.
The assassins fell back.
Adrina was plucked from the ground. One of the young men cradled her in his arms and pressed his cloak against her wound to staunch the bleeding.
His companions sprang back onto their horses. Sun god shields turned outwards, they formed a protective barrier. Tom signalled to them to join him on the other side of the creek. But, before he could take further action, a trumpet sounded and Morgon's men were galvanised into action. Disengaging from combat, they set off in a headlong rush.
The young men protecting Adrina fought to maintain their position as Morgon's forces swept past and the Cattish warriors advanced, hitting out at anything bearing emblems of the Lord Sun and anyone wearing grey.
One moment he saw Adrina. The next she had vanished. He shouted to the tribesmen, telling them that the princess was amongst the people they were attacking but no one heard. The Catti continued their remorseless advance, pausing only to take heads.
Annihilation now seemed certain for Morgon's army. His men had broken ranks and were fleeing for their lives. Then, the Great Drum of the Catti sounded and a cry went out.
'They're attacking the wagons.'
Discipline evaporated.
Tom's well-trained force became like any other group of tribesmen. Their heavy shields were discarded as they took off towards the wagons, thinking only of their women and children.