The war continues. Again, Catholics gather huge armies of crusaders and try to crush the Venedic alliance. Again cities burn and crops are trampled, women and children cry, while men with weapons in their hands meet the enemy and die in battles. To stand their ground, the Venedians need help from allies: the knight Vadim Sokol brings from the steppes the Polovtsians and the Black Hoods, and from the banks of the Dnieper—Russian warriors. The punishing sword of retribution falls upon Poland and the Holy Roman Empire. The troops of the opposing sides clash, and a battle begins that will decide whether the Venedians will live on their lands—or flee.